MIGreatArtist Finalists Announced

Five finalists in Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson's MIGreatArtist competition have been announced.

Katharine McGilsky of Berkley and Jodie Stein of Huntington Woods each entered in the contest, but are not among the finalists, which include:

• Douglas La Ferle of Royal Oak
• Charles Boike of Flint
• Kim Fujiwara of Rochester Hills
• Deborah Hyde of West Bloomfield
• Molly Landis of Pontiac

The competition was launched by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Park West Gallery Founder/CEO Albert Scaglione for the Economic Growth Alliance region, which includes Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Genesee, Lapeer and St. Clair counties.

"On behalf of Brooks, congratulations to the MIGreatArtist finalists," Chief Deputy County Executive Gerald Poisson said in a press release. "Brooks' inaugural regional art contest truly enhances the quality of life in the EGA region by promoting creativity."

Poisson spoke on behalf of Aug. 10 after a car accident.

The top MIGreatArtist prize is $1,000 and framing by Park West Gallery for the artist's five submitted works. The winner's works will be exhibited at Park West, Lawrence Technological University and McLaren Hospital in Pontiac, and featured on a poster to promote an Oakland County event.

There's also a business connection for the winner, who will receive a scholarship to attend entrepreneurial training offered by Oakland County's One Stop Shop/Business Center.

A five-member panel of judges selected the five finalists from the top 20 public favorites; the winner will be determined by a combination of jury score and public vote.

Competition judges are Scaglione; Elliott W. Broom, vice president of museum operations for Detroit Institute of Arts; Dominic Pangborn, founder of Pangborn Design Collection; Kristie Everett Zamora, coordinator of arts, culture and film for Oakland County; and artist Don Tocco, whose works include award-winning photography, paintings sold to high end collectors and portrait sculptures of global leaders.

The finalists' art will be on exhibit to the public at Park West Gallery from Sept. 4 to 28, according to the press release; the winner will be announced at an award ceremony and reception Sept. 14 at the gallery.