Wishing Well will be collecting art submissions at the Shore Art Gallery Saturday for their first art competition.

During the months of March and April the art will be on display at the Center for Contemporary Arts. There will be a reception for the artists on March 21 during the Abilene Art Walk. The competition is open to all students and will support efforts for Wishing Well’s next clean water well project.

Wishing Well is a student-led social justice organization committed to bringing clean water to people around the globe. The subject of the show is, “What does water look like?”

Students are encouraged to create art that reflects their perception of water.

“For example, you could portray how you see water as an accessible resource and commodity to us or you could show the injustices you see around the world when some countries lack access to resources like water, health, and education due to the water crisis,” said Wishing Well’s student director, Brady Rains, senior art education major from Fort Worth.

ACU students and members of the Abilene community are being asked to support this cause by bringing one dollar to vote for their favorite piece. One dollar gives clean water to one person for a year.

“This event highlights the global need for clean water and promotes local artists. Having the exhibit open during Art Walk makes it even more accessible. We will raise funds; we will raise awareness. What’s not to love about that?” said Dr. Curt Niccum, associate professor of New Testament and Wishing Well faculty sponsor. “I’m particularly eager to see the numerous ways people interpret water. The juxtaposition of Rwandan and American artistic renderings will, I think, tell an amazing story.”

Submissions are to be inspired by the water crisis and all are due on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon in the Shore Art Gallery next to Cullen Auditorium. All forms of media are acceptable. Two-dimensional art must be framed.

“I’m a little nervous because we have never done anything like this before,” said Rains. “This is by far one of the biggest and most public events we have attempted so it has been challenging. However, we experience a lot of success with our events that are student focused and different from the typical fundraising scene.”

Students can look to www.wishforwater.com for inspiration. For questions they can contact director Brandy Rains at blr09a@acu.edu.