Changamiré, a Washington, DC jazz/R&B vocalist, whose style is a contemporary blend of music described as “so darn compelling” launched an international CD cover art competition today. The competition period runs until January 18, 2008. The winning artist will receive a cash prize of 500 USD ($500) and the winning image will be the cover design of Changamiré’s 2008 release, “LOVE.” The winning visual art work will also grace the cover of new CD’s promotional materials including posters, fliers and will be showcased among 12 finalists at Washington, DC’s premier fine arts gallery, Parish Gallery, located in Georgetown, 1054 31st Street NW, Washington, DC. Artists are to enter the competition on Changamire’s website at www.whensunnygetsblue.com

“This visual art competition is a unique expressive blend of musician and artist in artistic harmony and will allow artists the opportunity to showcase their work to a broader audience and become engaged in cross media exposure into the worlds of music and art, “said project innovator and musical champion, Changamiré, who is also owner and Executive Producer of Sonnig Records. “When we release the new CD, we will not only promote the musical artist, but the visual artist as well”.

The competition is opened to all artists 18 years and older. Original paintings and photography with the maximum dimension including frame should not exceed 18 inches (w) x 24 inches (l). Sculpture submissions should be approximately 20 inches (h) x 20 inches (w) x 20 inches (l). Reproductions are not acceptable and all work must be presented professionally to conservation standards. Artists may send their inquiries for consideration of larger sculpture dimensions to general@sonnigrecords.com. Artists interested in participating in the competition can hear excerpts of the “LOVE” CD under Additional MP3’s on the Sound page by visiting www.whensunnygetsblue.com.

Selection and notification of 12 finalists will be made by February 1, 2008 and final rendering to be used for the exhibition and ultimately as cover design must be submitted by March 1, 2008. Public announcement of the winning art will take place at the exhibition opening at Parish Gallery on March 28, 2008.

The Blue Ribbon Panel of Adjudicators for the competition include some of the finest gallery owners and artists of today. They are Norman Parish of Parish Gallery in Washington, DC; Myrtis Bedolla of Galerie Myrtis in Washington, DC; George Hemphill of Hemphill Fine Arts of Washington, DC; Margarida Kendall, world renowned painter; Florence Lynch of Florence Lynch Gallery in New York; and Jean-Claude Bertrand, contemporary jazz painter of Astaffort, France.

Competition sponsors are Art Whino in Alexandria, VA and the Washington Chiefs Distro League by way of New York, NY.

About Chanfamiré:
The brainchild of the competition is Changamiré, a Washington DC jazz and R&B vocalist, whose first CD release, “Only Human,” took the music world by a storm as she smoothly blended the melodic sound of jazz, R&B, rap, and soft rock, began singing jazz in her late teens, resulting in critically-acclaimed performances, recordings, events, and awards. Her performance on “Only Human” received rave reviews and featured a provocative red cover with the singer’s black silhouette. The cover was featured in CD manufacturer DiscMakers’ catalogue and has garnered sales through the CDBaby.com CD cover browse feature.

Having enjoyed great success with her “Only Human” CD, Changamiré’s goal of this competition is to find a cover for “Love” that will project the same or greater visual appeal.

As a collector, supporter, and appreciator of all art genres, Changamiré is a member of the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington and produced the “Salute to Bearden” to complement the National Gallery of Art’s Romare Bearden exhibition, a commissioned “Come to Washington” painting, exhibition tour, and auction, multiple CD cover and promotional concepts, and has had works from her private collection exhibited in galleries. She is currently in negotiations for an artist exhibition in France.

For more information on the competition, please visit www.whensunnygetsblue.com or email general@sonnigrecords.com