Photographers from all levels of experience have until August 1st to apply for Hearst's third 8x10 Photography Biennial. Open to artists aged 18-35, the competition is an effort to showcase the work of under-acknowledged, gifted young photographers. To preserve an air of openness to the inexperienced, all entries are judged on the (anonymous) set of images alone. The work of the eight winners will be featured in two exhibition spaces in the atrium of the Hearst tower in New York. "This year's panel of judges is made up of editors, creative directors, curators, and renowned photographers including Elle's Roberta Myers, Town & Country's Alexandra Kotur, Gallerists James Danzinger, Yancey Richardson and Yossi Milo, collector John Demsey and photographers Matthew Pillsbury and Timothy White." Click here to learn more about the contest and how to enter.

ShowPDX is a local biennial exhibit of innovative and functional furniture design. They're looking for furniture designs from regional artists where furnishings as defined as "movable, functional objects that make a room or other area ready for occupancy and activity by humans." That seems pretty open-ended to me. Nonetheless, practical limitations can give birth to some of the most inspired projects (neatly wrapped in standardized packaging). The deadline to apply is July 6th. Here's more information about the call.

Have you ever had that aching desire to have your original work up on a giant billboard just like your esteemed idol F G-T? Do you want a reason to fly to Poland? Well, take a look at the annual Art Moves Festival's billboard competition. This year, they're looking for billboards that respond to the theme/question: "Where is the meaning? At the top or at the bottom?" They further (although the translation seems a bit off...): "We live in the time of crisis and we perceive it as a disease of sorts – a disease, we would like to treat as quickly as we can. On the other hand this "disease" can be the only chance for us to slow down a bit in our fast-paced world and think again about where we are heading and why we chose this particular direction. Are we happy with the way the reality we created works? Are we reaching for the top or for the bottom? Are we happy with the goals we are setting for ourselves? Are these goals ours or are they imposed on us?" Click here to find application instructions.

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For those dabbling in brush, the Pacific Coast leg of the New American Paintings competition will enter the review process after this weekend. New American Paintings is a widely distributed resource that bridges artists and arts enthusiasts. They claim "from post-modern pastiche to the landscape, from recognized artists to recent MFA grads, New American Paintings does not discriminate against or yield to Art World trends." Find more information here.

I highly recommend that photographers submit to Hearst Biennial. My experience being part of the 1st Hearst Biennial 2009 was great. Very good people to work with and it will give you wonderful exposure.