Now you can, but you'd best hurry.
Deadline is Friday for the new media arts competition at the Western Montana Fair, which opens Aug. 5 at the Missoula County Fairgrounds.
Documentaries, current events, comedy, fundraisers, music - the sky's the limit, or almost.
“We'll kind of see what the turnout is like, what the feedback is like,” said co-Superintendent Brent O'Conner of Irish Luck Productions in Missoula. “If it all works out well, we might open it up to professionals next year, as well as opening up a few other categories and really move into a media arts category, where you can get some really bizarre stuff that only artists can think up.”
The media arts venue will be in the old photography building in the middle of the fairgrounds. Photography has been moved to the second floor of the nearby Culinary Building, which was reroofed this year and is back in use.
The modern-leaning department is the first new department at the fair since the rodeo queen pageant was added in 1999. It's part of a movement to attract a new breed of fairgoer. Also new this year, a Teen Zone for people 12-18 years old. The U.S. Army-sponsored entertainment center will feature such activities as Guitar Hero, a climbing wall and a laser gun game.
Located south of the Glacier Ice Rink on the west (Russell Street) side of the grounds, the Teen Zone will be adjacent to another new feature - Rock Band. The play-along music game is for all ages. Up to four players form a virtual band and groove out/boogie down on various phony instruments.
“We're trying to involve young people more,” said Eunice Misbe, the fair's administrative assistant. “All the departments we've had for years - I wouldn't say they're irrelevant to young people, but nobody cooks and sews as much as they used to. These are things that will engage younger people.”
The media arts competition isn't just for youngsters, though.
“From what I can see there's a lot of optimism at the fair for new ideas and fresh ideas and really just kind of an update of what the county fair is,” O'Connor said. “I think everybody there realizes it's time to kind of let go of some of the old thought processes and really try to move into something new and more creative.”
The inaugural department will start cautiously, with one projector and screen displaying winning videos - or all of them, depending how many are entered.
“We're really hoping to make it like a nice theater that people can come in and sit down and just kind of sit awhile and enjoy what's happening,” O'Connor said.
If it catches on, look in future years for booths with multiple plasma screens, each equipped with headphones. You choose a station, perhaps for documentaries or commercials, and enjoy.
O'Connor is a University of Montana graduate and a former producer at KECI-TV in Missoula. He is executive director of Irish Luck Productions, an award-winning production and photography company in Missoula.
O'Connor was approached to put together the technical aspects of the new department at the fair by Jonny Rocket, director of media arts and technology for the South Hills Evangelical Church in Missoula. Rocket is co-superintendent of the department.
Media arts entries should be delivered directly to the fair office, which is across from the east end of the Commercial Building at the fairgrounds. Format requirements and other stipulations are listed in the fair premium book, which is available online, westernmontanafair.com, at the fair office, major grocery stores, craft stores, and other outlets across western Montana.
Deadlines approaching for fair exhibitors
Like a lot of summertime things, the Western Montana Fair tends to sneak up on you.
Potential exhibitors should be thinking now of not only what they want to enter, but also how soon they need to do it.
The six-day fair opens Tuesday, Aug. 5. That's three weeks away.
Entries for many nonperishables must be dropped off a week before, on July 28 or 29. They include ceramics and pottery, culinary, fine arts, most home arts and photography entries. Photography exhibits can also be submitted Sunday, July 27.
Most of the others, including perishable culinary items, are due on the grounds Monday, Aug. 4. Exceptions include animals, which should be brought Aug. 5, and a couple of floricultural show entries. Bring flowers for the standard and gladiolus shows Aug. 4. But don't bring those for the dahlia show on Aug. 9 or the rose show on Aug. 10 until the morning of the show.
Fair staff and department superintendents urge exhibitors to preregister online at westernmontana
fair.com. Click on the “Enter Exhibits” link.
“It will really save time and it will alleviate some of the congestion in the buildings on exhibit delivery day,” said Eunice Misbe of the fair staff. She pointed out there's no more writing of your name and address over and over again for multiple entries when entering online.
Those who do will also get their names dropped in a hat for a chance at two free night show tickets. There'll be a drawing for each show.
Online registration will close the day before exhibit delivery day. For help, go to the information window or the fair office at the fairgrounds.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)