Pennsylvania artist Kurt Long won the top prize in the contest, which required draftsmen to depict one of the specimens in "BODIES...The Exhibition," at New York City's South Street Seaport.
 |
| Long poses beside the specimen he sketched for his award-winning drawing. |
Kurt Long, of Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, recently won the Drawing BODIES Competition for his colored pencil drawing of exhibit #13 in the Muscular Gallery at BODIES...The exhibition, which has been on view in New York City for nearly three years, features cadavers that have had the water in their cells removed and replaced with a polymer to allow for stable museum display. BODIES... immediately gained popularity among working artists, and the show's organizers responded by hosting Sketch Nights, during which artists could work after hours in the exhibition space with dry media, easels, and chairs. Drawings done during Sketch Nights or during regular business hours were eligible for the competition.
 |
| Kurt Long’s winning entry. |
Long won two lifetime passes to any BODIES exhibition anywhere in the world, a gift certificate to Sequoia Restaurant, and a private master class in anatomy drawing with instructor Lori Sikorski, of the Pratt Institute. The artist will also be featured in the Summer 2008 issue of Drawing magazine along with several finalists in the competition.
Long's drawing was unveiled April 23 at a special ceremony held in the BODIES exhibition lobby. The full-time artist's dedication was on display in more ways than one: Less than a minute after the ceremony concluded, Long was overheard asking Ken Talberth, the manager of operations for the show, when the next Sketch Night was scheduled. (The remaining two Sketch Nights this Spring are May 6 and May 21.)