The briefs

VFW sponsoring patriotic art contest

The VFW National Ladies Auxiliary is sponsoring a Patriotic Art Contest, and the Bartlett Ladies Auxiliary Post 11018 is taking part. The competition, which carries a $10,000 first place national scholarship, is open to all high school students.

The art entries need to be on paper or canvas. The mediums would be watercolor, pencil, pastel, charcoal, tempera, crayon, acrylic, oil, or pen-and-ink. Digital art may also be used, but must be on paper or canvas.

The deadline is today. For more information or an application, call Rochelle at (630) 830-0422.

Art invitational to begin at Harper

Harper College's 40th Anniversary Art Invitational will run from today to April 24 in Room C200 of Building C. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, with extended hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 7-11.

Featured artists are Fletcher Benton, John Fraser, Roland Ginzel, Carol Mickett, David Sharpe, Geoffrey Todd Smith, Mary Snyder Behrens, Robert Stackhouse and Frank Trankina. Guided, hourlong walking tours of Harper's existing art collection -- featuring work by Picasso, among others -- will be offered at 5:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. April 9 and 10 and at 12:15 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. April 11.

Tours and admission to the exhibit are free and open to all. Advance signup is required for the tours. Register at (847) 925-6336 or harpercollege.edu/arts. For more on Harper's 40th Anniversary Arts Festival, visit harpercollege.edu/arts.