Remake, reuse, upcycle
3rd annual Creative Upcycling Contest is accepting submissions until March 20
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW — Each of the sculptures in the Creative Up cycling Contest are at least 75 percent old books, making the contest uniquely environmentally friendly.
Photo Credit: Ty Hester
Liberty University’s Jerry Falwell Library will be holding the 3rd annual Creative Upcycling Contest: Art Made from Books.
Students can submit their admissions by March 20, with the chance of winning special prizes and can take part in voting in the
competition.
Those competing for the prizes will have to create a sculpture that is made predominately out of old book pages — a minimum of 75 percent.
The categories students are eligible to win include Best in Show, Most Original, Most Intricate, Most LU School Spirit and a People’s Choice award. The prize amounts range from $150 to $300, according the library’s website.
According to Cynthia Schmidt, the library’s head of communication and customer services and overseer of the event, any current student — online or residential —
can compete.
“It would be a way to be environmentally-friendly and repurpose something that has ended its life cycle,” Schmidt said.
The judges consist of Liberty staff and external judges.
The judges from outside Liberty include a sculptor, an artist and a craftsman.
According to Schmidt, bringing in outside eyes to judge the competition is a way to ensure unbiased judging opinions.
While the judges select the winners, voting for the People’s Choice award can be done at the library or online at facebook.com/LibertyULibrary.
“This is a way for the students to make their own choices as well,” Schmidt said.
“I would encourage everyone to come in and look.”
In order to vote online, students can “like” the picture of their favorite entries on Facebook — one “like” equals one vote.
Although most of the students who apply are associated with the creative arts, the winners in the past two years have been from other majors such as business, according to Schmidt.
In the past, about 40 people have submitted entries into the contest.
According to Schmidt, the best part of the competition is the finished product.
“I am most excited to see the creativity — we have so many creative students,”
Schmidt said.
Entries will be on display from March 22 to April 5, and voting for People’s Choice will be open from March 23 to 27. Students can enter at Liberty.edu/library/upcycling.
Hernandez is a feature reporter.