Local & National Artists Invited to Submit Entries

Alys Beach, Florida – (May 6, 2008) – A unique new festival is coming to Scenic 30A this Labor Day weekend.

"Digital Graffiti" is a new event created to celebrate and recognize some of the world's most talented and innovative digital artists. But like almost everything at Alys Beach, the festival has a very unusual twist.

"We're inviting artists to project their original artwork onto our famous white walls using the latest projection technologies," said Kelli Arnold, the town’s Events Coordinator. "The town of Alys Beach will literally become their blank canvas."

Sometimes referred to as "Photon Bombing," Guerilla Projection," “Projection Bombing" or "Urban Projection," underground artists around the globe have started using the latest design, animation and projection technologies to cast their unique works of art onto skyscrapers and other urban structures, as a means of artistic expression.

"Some of the talent we're finding is stunning," said Arnold. 'We're extremely excited to help promote this emerging new art form."

To help lure such talent to the Emerald Coast, Alys Beach has announced numerous award categories and prizes, including a $2,500 "Best of Show" award sponsored by The Alys Foundation, and a $1,000 "Best Local Artist" award sponsored by www.30A.com. To qualify for the Best Local Artist award, the winner must reside full-time in Walton, Okaloosa, Bay or Washington County.

The festival will be hosted by several celebrity and industry expert judges, including Alan Hunter—MTV’s very first "VeeJay," co-host of the "Big 80’s" channel on Sirius Satellite Radio, and co-founder of the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, and Warren Heaton, an award-winning digital media artist and UCLA professor, whose film, video and interactive media projects include such clients as Adobe, Aquantive Microsoft, Concorde-New Horizons, DirecTV, Motor Entertainment and Walt Disney Imagineering.

Artists are encouraged to submit their original works of digital art for consideration as soon as possible. Entries may include new or existing abstract digital imagery, short films, photography, VJ sets, animations, YouTube videos, Adobe PhotoShop creations or entirely new interactive concepts. All subject matter is eligible for the festival, although a special $1,000 prize will be awarded to the best entry with a "green" or environmental theme.

The deadline for all submissions is Friday, July 11, 2008. The festival will be held on the evening of Saturday, August 30.

An informational meeting will be held for interested locals and artists at Fonville Press on Monday, May 19th at 7pm. The meeting is open to the public.

Alys Beach is located on Scenic Highway 30A, between Destin and Panama City Beach. In April, Forbes.com named Alys Beach one of America's top spots for second-home buyers and the "Best Spot for the Design-Savvy."

For more information about Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach, visit www.alysbeach.com/DG, call toll-free 1-866-481-8387, or email events@alysbeach.com.