INOVA Invites Artists to Submit Work for Community Campaign --Deadline extended to September 14, 2020!
 
This campaign is an art competition will include a purse total of $10,000, with first, second and third place winners across three different categories chosen, as well as a Best in Show. Categories include photography, painting and sculpture. The top 50 entries will be included in a book, “The Art of Innovation” with the artists’ information and the cost of each piece shown.
 
Artists are invited to present existing work as well as original works of art yet to be produced. The deadline for the last submission will be August 30, 2020 and a $10 entry fee will be collected per entry. In addition, The Sierra Arts Foundation, a nonprofit art organization working with integrating art in schools, will work with local schools as they try to spark creativity with their students from home. INOVA will be awarding $3,500 for this unique student contest.
 
This campaign invites local Reno artists, as well as others from across the nation, to create a visual expression that demonstrates what innovation means to them. Contest judges include Burning Man artist Andrew Johnstone; Executive Director of Artech and Project Manager for Playa Art at Burning Man, Maria Partridge; and retired Manager of Arts and Culture for the City of Reno, Christine Fey.

On behalf of David J. Drakulich Foundation For Freedom of Expression, I wish to thank you for your support of this organization.  We are so grateful to Nettie Oliverio for enlisting her friends and family to support our art programs for veterans in honor of her beloved Tony Oliverio. Tony was WWII a veteran who participated in D-Day. We are saddened to hear that, at the age of 94, he lost his battle with COVID-19.  As you are aware, Tony was a valued member of the local art community.  We are told that he would be happy to know that his legacy will be carried on through your generous support.

With your generous support, we are well on our way to our $7000 quarterly goal helping us with operating  and employment costs for veterans who run programs such as Veterans Art Project and Combat Paper Nevada. We wish to give an additional and special thanks to our community partner, Reno Little Theater who contributed so much to this campaign.

Additional thanks go to the COVID-19 Relief Fund of Northern Nevada held at Community Foundation of Western Nevada and Nevada Humanities CARES Grants! With this generous grants, DJDAF was able to balance the books on the Task Force: Covid-19 Mask project; and ensure further employment to those veterans working to keep art for veterans and military families alive in Reno!

We are very grateful to the many community members donated to this project. With all of this support, nearly 3,000 masks were made and donated! Artist and board member, Rob Garret will continue to fill your order if you want artistic, classy, hand made masks! Order from Rob here.

DJDAF is now offering KN95 respirators which are protective for self and others in the COVID-19 landscape.  They are available to DJDAF through our very good friend, Quiet Terrain LLC, a Service Connected Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise.  This tends to a public health need and is a natural accompaniment to the hand-made masks. Tina can tell you that they are very comfortable; see the image below. These respirators are durable and convenient! These masks are available for a competitive price, under $4.00 each, and each purchase provides a percentage to DJDAF's quarterly goal of $7000!   Contact Quiet Terrain LLC to order these masks here.