The Homewood Art Council wants to display the visual creations of local residents, while keeping the community healthy at the same time.
HAC’s facemask design contest asks people to submit their own drawing for a chance to have their creation printed on facemasks that will be available for sale.
The competition is open through Saturday, Aug. 15. Designs should be submitted in a digital format by email to [email protected].
“(Wearing masks) is something that we have to do, so why not use it to bring people together?” said HAC board member Candi Helsel-Wilk. “We’ve got to do what we can to turn a bad situation into a good one.”
When the coronavirus pandemic hit in March, some people started wearing facemasks as a health precaution.
A smattering of confusing directives followed from state and federal health officials about the efficacy of wearing a mask to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
On May 1, with most health experts agreeing people should wear masks, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a mandate requiring the use of facemasks within public places.
Now, most retail stores and other businesses will not allow patrons to enter without wearing a facemask. Many people also wear facemasks while engaging in social interactions in non-public settings.
Among the design submissions, board members will be looking for one suitable for adult masks and another for children’s masks. Designs in a digital format can include imagery of different shapes, colors or words.
“Whether they’re a doodler while they’re talking on their phone, or they love to draw — whatever your art is, if you think it’s going to look good on a mask, we want you to submit it,” Helsel-Wilk said.
Winning designs will be announced on Aug. 22, and then HAC will produce a limited number of masks that will be for sale at local businesses. Proceeds will benefit HAC, a nonprofit organization.