Newspapers are art

For Artopia competitor Phillip Hua, a digital media instructor at the Academy of Art, his piece, “Re: action,” is a mixed-media work using everyday objects such as newspapers (The Wall Street Journal), plastic and aluminum. His creation tells the story of the environment and its relationship to the economy, and how everything is related and degrades over time. The quality of the other finalists’ art “is great here, I do feel a little intimidated but it’s been fun.”

The third annual Artopia contest, hosted by SF Weekly, is meant to reach out to the San Francisco arts community and provided a platform for artwork, film, performing arts and fashion, said Melissa Glass, marketing coordinator for SF Weekly.

Twelve mixed media artists vied for three $2,500 grants. The event showcased art as varied as a collaboration mural, dresses and a mechanical moving bird sculpture. It was held at Project One gallery and lounge in Potrero Hill.

Hua said he was drawn to using print products because of its color, design and how it holds information, which adds another metaphorical layer to his artwork. He said the seductive quality of holding a newspaper appealed to him even though he consumes most of his news online.

The winners of the event were Misako Inaoka, Packard Jennings and Mary Van Note.

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