This year we are asking students to submit artwork related to the theme of “Our Home in the Universe.”
Imagine, for a moment, that the city of Chicago represents the Milky Way galaxy, with its diverse and interconnected neighborhoods.
One part of this galaxy is the South Side, a vibrant, unique community made up of dozens of neighborhoods, each acting as its own solar system that holds your home.
Explore how you connect to the world around you, on Earth and in the cosmos. Or, let your imagination wander: what might “home” look like for life beyond Earth?
Judging
Artwork submitted to the contest will be judged on the artistic skill demonstrated in the work as well as creative interpretations of the theme. Members of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Department will judge the work.
Students may include a description of their work and its connection to “Our Home in the Universe” upon submission. This is particularly encouraged for abstract pieces.
First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded within each age group.
Age Groups
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Elementary (Grades K-5)
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Middle School (Grades 6-8)
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High School (Grades 9-12)
Prizes Per Age Group
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Grand Prize $100
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First Runner-up $50
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Second Runner-up $25
An additional award of $100 will be given to the UChicago Astronomy & Astrophysics Department favorite, independent of age group.
Submission Requirements
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One submission per student.
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Drawings/paintings will be accepted. Digital works can be printed out, please contact the art contest organizers if you cannot print the work yourself. Due to storage constraints, sculptures will not be accepted.
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Submissions must be dropped off in Eckhardt Research Building (5640 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, 60637), in the drop-off bin outside Room 599, between 8:30 am - 5 pm until February 28th.
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All submissions must have an attached submission form (linked above) in order to be considered.
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Note: Because we are not affiliated with Chicago Public Schools we cannot send emails to children’s CPS email accounts. Please include the email of a parent/guardian or a teacher for each submission, NOT the child’s CPS email.
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For questions about dropoff, please contact the organizers at southsideastroart@gmail.com
Winners will be notified April 8. A reception for all participants will be hosted at the Eckhardt Research Building, Room 161, on Tuesday, April 22, at 5:30 pm.
More information for Teachers, Guardians, and Parents
Our home planet, Earth, orbits a star we call the Sun, one of billions in the Milky Way Galaxy. The Sun has been shining for 4.6 billion years and is halfway through its life cycle, providing the energy that sustains life here on Earth. It is located roughly 150,000 trillion miles from the center of our galaxy.
The Milky Way, our home galaxy, is a massive spiral filled with stars, planets, gas, dust, and even something called dark matter—an invisible substance that makes up most of the mass in the galaxy but can’t be seen directly. At the center of the Milky Way is a supermassive black hole, whose gravity influences everything around it. While we can’t see dark matter, it plays a key role in holding the galaxy together, reminding us how much is still unknown about the universe.
The Milky Way is only one of billions of galaxies out there, yet it’s the one we call home. It’s a place where life exists and where we find our roots. The universe is full of mysteries that encourage us to keep exploring, and in doing so, help us understand our place in the grand story of the cosmos.
Resources:
[1] https://scaleofuniverse.com/en
[2] https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/menu/play/
[3] https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/astronomy/the-milky-way-galaxy2
[4] https://science.nasa.gov/universe/exoplanets/our-milky-way-galaxy-how-big-is-space/
[5] https://sites.astro.caltech.edu/~george/ay20/Chiappini-MilkyWay.pdf