<sub>ca·thar·sis /kəˈθɑrsɪs/ [kuh-thahr-sis]
–noun,
plural -ses /-siz/ [-seez]
1. the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, esp. through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music.
2. Medicine/Medical. purgation.
3. Psychiatry.
a. psychotherapy that encourages or permits the discharge of pent-up, socially unacceptable affects.
b. discharge of pent-up emotions so as to result in the alleviation of symptoms or the permanent relief of the condition.
-dictionary.com</sub>

A new bimonthly contest from *ItDoesNotHaveMe

I have it, but it does not have me.

What is *ItDoesNotHaveMe?

*ItDoesNotHaveMe is an awareness group on deviantART started by ^opioid after unexpected but incredibly positive feedback for her Lyme Disease article on dA's editorial news. It is a place where artists coping with illness--either physical or mental, their own or a loved one's--can seek out a headquarters for awareness and expression.

*ItDoesNotHaveMe is based on a kind of positivity that can be brought about by a single catharsis: the arts. Joining the group only requires adding it to your devwatch, and adding work requires merely sending a note and a link. The group's "favourites gallery" acts as its member gallery, showcasing art that artist-members have specifically identified as dealing with the pain and frustrations of less than perfect health.

How can I get involved?

*ItDoesNotHaveMe will be holding bimonthly (every other month) contests that are open to all media and genres. The grand prize for these contests will always be the same: a thoroughly researched awareness article to be written and published on deviantART by the group to raise awareness for an issue of the winner's choosing (preferably the one the winning piece is about, but this is not a requirement).

The Task:
Create a work of art based on the usual requirements for the group's member work, that is, artwork that is inspired by the pain of mental or physical illness.

One entry per person per contest. Contests will occur every other month and winners are not barred from participating in future contests.

Entries must be new for the contest; that is, submitted to deviantart after today, and must be created specifically with the contest's purpose (catharsis and awareness) in mind.


It would be great if you mention the cause and a word or two about it in the work's description. This way, even pieces that don't place are spreading awareness of the issue you want to tackle


Start date: Tuesday, January 15, 2008.
End date Friday, March 28, 2008. Please have your entries in by midnight EST.

How to submit: Note your entry to *ItDoesNotHaveMe with the subject line "Contest entry" and include and thumb of your submitted work. Include in the description that it is officially an entry for the contest.

Prizes
Grand Prize Package
Awareness article written published by the group
dA keychain _{donated by ^JunkbyJen}
1 print from your wishlist ($25-30) _{donated by ^PurpelBlur}
3 month sub _{donated by `switchbladeserenade} + 3 month sub _{donated by *motionlessSndtrk} (6 months total)

Second Place Prize Package
1 month sub _{donated by ^JunkbyJen} + 3 month sub _{donated by =ShwarzEngel} (4 months total)

Third Place Prize Package
1 month sub _{donated by ^JunkbyJen}

Winners will also receive journal features from the following deviants*: *motionlessSndtrk, ^StJoan, =mom-the-bomb, ~CarnivalChild, =robinism, =feetpeet, *Fixxen, ^Helewidis, =moofied1, =IBinsanity, ^PurpelBlur, ^JunkbyJen, =diamond281, =volcomchick, =just-an-artist, `switchbladeserenade, `RockstarVanity, and ^opioid

*_{deviants donating journal features are still allowed to participate, as long as they are not judges}


Any literature submissions that place will receive an interview to discuss the piece in dA news and on dAmn in #dAlit

Judges:

keep an eye on the article for updates regarding prizes and judges, and don't forget to tell your friends

if you would like to donate small prizes or journal features for this round or future rounds of Art is Catharsis, don't hesitate to note the account!

^opioid
administrator of *ItDoesNotHaveMe