Painters, sculptors, photographers and other artists in the Chico area and beyond are encouraged to submit their artwork to the office of Diversity and Inclusion to be included in the eighth annual Diversity Art Exhibit.

Submissions of up to four pieces of artwork per artist will be accepted until Feb. 18.

Spokesperson for the art show, Josh Whittinghill said the Diversity Art Show is a great opportunity for artists who think their work is not for a certain type of show or theme.

“The idea of diversity really then encompasses pretty much everything. So this makes it open to a wide variety of different artists,” Whittinghill said.

Being the host in the previous Early Opportunity Program art shows at Chico State for 14 years, Whittinghill said he thought the community needed to dedicate a show to diversity.

Whittinghill teamed up with Tray Robinson, the Diversity and Inclusion office director, and together they created the Diversity Art Exhibit, holding their first show in 2008.

“The art show is an opportunity to illustrate diversity in a different way. A creative way,” Robinson said.

This being the eighth year hosting the exhibit, Whittinghill said it has progressively grown more popular with each year. With only 17 participants in the first show, over 55 artists came out to showcase their artwork in last year’s exhibit.

This year, visitors can expect to see art just as diverse as their creators.

From sculptures, photography and chalk-painting to spray painting and acrylic work, the exhibit will also have a participant who will be using natural mediums such as coffee, dirt and fruit peels to illustrate their work.

But the diversity doesn’t stop there.

Whittinghill said the artists themselves prove to fit the script. He said they have had artists ranging from a class of eighth graders to a 94-year-old photographer who participated in the exhibit. Whittinghill also said he is expecting to receive artwork from an artist who lives in Japan, as well as another artist from San Francisco.

Sandora Nishio, 62, an artist who has participated in all of the diversity exhibits, said she has had nothing but a great experience being involved.

“The show provides an opportunity to really express myself on a topic so significant,” Nishio said.

She is currently working on the finishing touches of her acrylic painting that will be entered in this year’s art show.

Whittinghill mentioned that there is going to be new hardware used in hanging the art that would give a more professional and cleaner look. It would allow the artwork to be suspended from a wire, instead of having to use screws or nails that would damage the walls.

Thirty percent of all artwork sales will go directly to the office of Diversity and Inclusion.

On March 24 all artists and visitors are invited to attend a reception from 3:30-5 p.m. for food and drinks as well as an opportunity for the artists to meet one another.

Whittinghill said that because people will be at work in the building during show hours, there will be no extra events or music at the show.

The Diversity Art Exhibit will be on display in Kendall Hall from March 2 to March 27, open Monday through Friday, 8-5 p.m.

Michael Arias can be reached at [email protected] or @mikey_arias on Twitter.