Sixpoint–Beer is Culture Art & Design Expo

Ever have a raging good time at a rock concert?  Or enjoy a great meal at home or at a restaurant?  Or simply just been walking down the street and admiring a really nice building?  There is a fascinating story and historical connection behind all of this, and perhaps it is even one you are already familiar with: all of these cultural treasures come from civilization, and civilization is founded upon beer. Beer is Culture.

We are beginning to think you understand this concept better than we do, simply based upon some of the original artwork you have submitted the past two years! Now our third-annual art and design exhibition, which showcases original art and lets you decide on a favorite, begins this week. Ever since the first entries of the inaugural Beer Is Culture event began trickling in, we have been wowed by the creativity.

Some highlights from last year are displayed in this message, and also can be viewed in gallery form here. We also conducted interviews with each of the top six finalists from last year’s exhibition on our blog. This year, we’re psyched to check out fresh and new inspiring work, and expand the narrative of how Beer is Culture.

The name of this event is not simply a nod to yeast cell cultures, but it is an allusion to a historical fact: the earliest civilizations cultivated cereal grains and made crude fermented beverages. It was during this precise moment in human history when occupations became highly specialized, and culture sprang forth. This was the dawn of civilization – the proliferation of architecture, artisans, culinary arts, literature, sports, theater, and countless other extensions of creativity. This marked the explosion of human culture.

    Anyone is able to participate in Beer Is Culture, and we welcome all kinds of appropriate original work that can be submitted in jpeg format — illustration, photography, graphic design, sketches, etc. Here’s how it works:

From now until April 30, submissions may be uploaded directly to the Sixpoint wall, or sent directly to us at [email protected]. All of the submissions may be viewed and voted for here.

Anyone may also vote for his or her favorite entry by clicking the “Like” button on the piece. On May 1, the top six audience-voted entries will move into a final round of audience voting before a winner is announced May 7th.

If you are a professional artist or designer, please make sure to include your website with your submission so we can help further promote your work.  And of course, we will be hooking up the finalists with and annual memberships to the art museum of their choice, and also custom care packages from the brewery.  Each finalist will also be featured in interviews on Sixpoint.com. Finally, the winner’s artwork will receive exposure for the next entire year as the profile picture for Sixpoint on Facebook. We’ll be sad to witness the departure of 2011 winner Melissa Schmechel’s hilarious and design-savvy infographic, yet excited to find what will replace it.

So break out your pencils, Sharpies or MacBooks, or pass this onto to artistic folks you know. Check out the exhibition as it trickles in to “Like” your favorites and push them into the finals.