NAMTA's Window Display Contest - Art Month 2008

For the third year in a row, NAMTA hosted a Window Display Contest for member retailers to promote Art Month in October. This year's winner and the recipient of a $500 check from NAMTA was Staunton Art Supply in Staunton, VA. Owner Leslie Banta explains below how the colorful window attracted potential customers who may not have otherwise stopped by.

Combining a desire to highlight Art Month, as well as add some luminescence as a nod to fun Halloween decorations, I used fluorescent paint and blacklights in our window. Our store is located in historic downtown Staunton, VA, which has a growing business district, but we tend to be just off the popular path. So this display served to give us extra notice in the community this month. I had numerous people stick their head in the door to comment on the "stunning" or "striking" lighting display, which they noticed picking up kids from ballet rehearsals across the street, or walking to their cars after work, or simply driving by in the evenings.

Since it is a well-known work of art, I chose Van Gogh's "Starry Night" as the subject of my Art Month tribute - Vincent is inspiring to folks within and outside the traditional art world, as an expressive and prolific painter. What better way than his famous night sky to say to this community, "Find your glowing inspiration - this is Art Month!" Thank you for the challenge of the competition - it was great fun for me and for my customers.

Thank you to all the retailers who participated this year! Below is a slideshow of images from all of our participants.