But is it ART?

Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, September 11, 2007

BAKER CITY – Whit Deschner couldn’t help but admire the artistic shapes that salt licks take with use and over time. He figured they might make a pretty interesting subject for an art show.

“It’s one of those ‘what’s art?’ questions,” he said.

That question will get a full airing next month in a display of salt lick creations at Crossroads Art Center in Baker City.

Deschner is welcoming entries for the exhibit until Sept. 27 at Richland Feed & Seed in Richland, Oregon Trail Livestock Supply and Crossroads Art Center in Baker City.

The contest has a few rules, including:

? All entries must be salt blocks licked by cows, other livestock, or wildlife – but no human-formed creations will be allowed.

? All entries will be first displayed at Crossroads Art Center during October, unless the salt block suppliers really want the art returned right away.

A judging committee will judge the blocks for originality and artistic flair. At the end of October the sculptures will be auctioned off for charity. Cows caught using steroids will be canned.

? Entry forms should include the ranch and/or person representing the animal, type of cattle/horse/sheep/goat, name or number of animal and name of the sculpture (if a name will help the entry to win).

The salt lick artistry will be on display at Crossroads during October. At the show’s end, the licks will be auctioned off with proceeds going to Crossroads and

Parkinson’s Disease research at OHSU.

For more information, call Deschner at 541-893-6403 or e-mail (whit@pinetel.com) for more information.

– Contributed by Lisa Britton

Baker City Herald