Digital Graffiti will be held on Saturday, June 6th.

Organizers of the second annual “Digital Graffiti” festival said that they were overwhelmed by the high quality of submissions from local, domestic and international artists.

Digital Graffiti is the world’s first outdoor projection art festival, where artists use the latest technologies to project their original animations, videos and abstract imagery onto the iconic white walls of Alys Beach, Florida.

“We received entries from digital artists all over the United States and from 14 different countries, as far away as Thailand, Belgium, India, Italy, Australia and Brazil,” said Kelli Arnold, Events Coordinator. “The panel really had a tough time choosing our 2009 finalists.”

To help attract artists, the festival is offering $6,000 in cash prizes, including a $2,000 “Best of Show” award sponsored by the State of Florida Governor’s Office of Film & Entertainment (www.filminflorida.com) and a $1,000 “Best Local Submission” award sponsored by 30A.com. All winners will ultimately be decided by a panel of celebrity and industry judges, including Andrés Duany, founder of “New Urbanism”; Alan Hunter, film producer and MTV’s very first “VJ”; Lucia Fishburne, The State of Florida ’s Film Commissioner; Terry Slaughter, President of Slaughter Group, an award-winning strategic design and branding firm; Colleen Duffley, professional photographer and owner of Studio b; Brett Phares, professor of interactive media at Marist College in New York; and author and marketing guru, Jonathan Salem Baskin.

India Hicks will host the 2009 festival (photo by Colleen Duffley / Studio b)

This year’s Digital Graffiti festival — presented by Cinemin™ Swivel pico projectors — will be hosted by international style icon INDIA HICKS, an author, Ralph Lauren fashion model, and host of Bravo’s Top Design television series. India is Prince Charles’ cousin, and is in line to succeed to the British throne. In fact, in 1981, India served as bridesmaid to Diana, Princess of Wales. She is also the daughter of legendary interior designer David Hicks, who was hailed by The New York Times as “the most famous decorator of his day.” India’s visit is sponsored in part by Studio b.

Tokyo-based VJ Shantell Martin — recently named one of the “Top 10 VJs” in the world — will perform during the festival, which will be held from 8:30pm until Midnight on Saturday, June 6th, rain or shine.

To purchase tickets or for more information about Digital Graffiti at Alys Beach, please visit www.digitalgraffiti.com.

2009 DIGITAL GRAFFITI FINALISTS

The following works have been selected for projection and competition during the 2009 Digital Graffiti Festival at Alys Beach:

• “12 Seconds” by Florence Artur (Montreuil, France)
• “Afterburner” by Gwen Vanhee (Zedelgem, Belgium)
• “Bioform” by Matthew West (New Brunswick, NJ)
• “Bubblegum Fantasy” by Devan Siumunovich & Nika Offenbac (New York, NY)
• “Bulbs” by Zlatko Cosic (St Louis, MO)
• “Coastal Dune Lakes: Beaches of South Walton” by Elam S. Stoltzfus (Blountstown, FL)
• “Generative Flowers III” by Don Relyea (Dallas, TX)
• “Ghost of the Walls” by Tim Portlock (Philadelphia, PA)
• “JD’s Fun House” by John Daniel (Panama City, FL)
• “La Sinceridad del Humo” by Walt Hartley (Minturn, CO)
• “Lure of Sirens” by Lustre (Venice, CA)
• “Metamorfosis” by Mauricio Rodriguez & Said Dokins (Cuauhtemoc, Mexico)
• “Morphing - Aging Beauty part II” by Gwen Vanhee (Zedelgem, Belgium)
• “Origami Butterfly” by Jonathan McCabe (Ainslie, Australia)
• “Outside In” by Eric Marcus (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)
• “Santa Rosa Beach Sand Prints” by Andrea Normand (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)
• “Shine of the Ever” by Bryan Beasley (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)
• “Stormcc1″ by Jonathan McCabe (Ainslie, Australia)
• “Study on Human Form & Humanity #01″ by Lemeh42 (Italy)
• “The Astronaut” by Mario Chejab (London, UK)
• “The Color of Time” by Florence Artur (Montreuil, France)
• “Ugly Mug on Lovely House” by Sean Michael (Birmingham, AL)
• “zc-100-00a” by Matthew West (New Brunswick, NJ)

Although not selected for competition during the 2009 festival, the following “Honorable Mentions” will also be projected as part of a special courtyard presentation:

• “Blue Monkey’s Maiden Flight” by Janis Sawyer (Seaside, FL)
• “Conspiracy Theory” by David DeGregerio (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)
• “Evolution” by George Cannon (Trumansburg, NY)
• “Family Vacation: From City to City” by Lynn Nesmith (Seagrove, FL)
• “Grave Concerns” by Karen Joslin (Tallahassee, FL)
• “Icons of 30A” by Paul de Denus (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)

CONGRATS AND BEST OF LUCK TO ALL OF OUR 2009 FINALISTS!