Looking ahead to the annual Freedonia Marxonia event to be held in the fall at The State University of New York at Fredonia, all are invited to participate in the Freedonia Marxonia art contest.

Using any medium (including items found around the house or in nature), creative renditions of one or more of the Marx Brothers are welcome. Artwork can be realistic, stylized, caricatured, etc. It can be drawn, painted, sculpted, constructed, or formed in any original way.

All ages and skill levels are encouraged to participate. The art contest is intended as a fun activity to acknowledge the Marx Brothers and their connection to Fredonia. Entries will also be eligible for monetary prizes: $100 first prize, $75 second prize, $50 third prize.

The Marx Brothers were comedic stars of vaudeville, Broadway, movies, radio, and television in the first part of the 20th century. Their 1933 movie Duck Soup is set in the fictional country of “Freedonia.” In 1987, SUNY Fredonia students created Freedonia Marxonia: Marx Brothers Film Festival and Symposium to celebrate this connection. Information about this year’s event, themed “The Marx Brothers and Music,” can be found at the Freedonia Marxonia website – fredonia.libguides.com/marxonia.

Artwork will be displayed as part of the Freedonia Marxonia exhibit in the University’s Reed Library. The exhibit will run from Sept. 29 through Oct. 16. Artwork is due by Sept. 26. Please submit to Cindy Yochym in Reed Library. For any questions, please contact Cindy at Cynthia.Yochym@fredonia.edu or (716)673-4966.

Freedonia Marxonia is supported through the Hahn Family Freedonia Marxonia Fund of the Fredonia College Foundation.