El Jeep 6th Annual Art Competition.

Take the steel metal complexity of a vehicle and fuse it with your lifestyle, your family, your heritage. Now capture that image with paints on canvas to demonstrate the essence you have created. That’s the challenge and opportunity DaimlerChrysler is offering artists from across the country this year in its “El Arte Que Nos Mueve” (“The Art that Moves Us”) Jeep®, national art competition, which focuses on the all-new Jeep Liberty, the recently introduced new sports utility vehicle for the Jeep brand. With more than $20,000 in prize earnings at stake, the challenge is on!

“The all-new Jeep Liberty symbolizes action, freedom, ruggedness, on-road refinement and adventure. These exciting works of art must capture that same one-of-a-kind spirit,” said Charles D. Hudson, Director of Diversity Marketing and Special Projects, DaimlerChrysler Corporation. “Jeep Liberty has a ‘go-anywhere’ attitude; the Jeep art contest gives artists the chance to break loose and take their talent anywhere in the Hispanic world. By the same token, Jeep owners feel a special emotional attachment to their vehicles. And that’s what we mean by the title of the art contest – El Arte Que Nos Mueve – Art that Moves Us.”

Three finalists will receive national exposure plus all-expense-paid trips to the awards reception this October in New York during Hispanic Heritage Month. They will compete for a $10,000 first-place, $8,000 second-place and $6,000 third-place prize. A panel of professional artists, community leaders and DaimlerChrysler officials will judge the entries based on originality, design and creative interpretation of the “El Arte Que Nos Mueve” theme.

Jeep started “El Arte Que Nos Mueve” in 1996 as a regional competition in California and South Florida. The competition was expanded to the national level in 1997; since then, it has received more than 500 entries each year.

Last year’s winners included ex-boxer turned artist, José Santos Lastra Jr., 27, of Portsmouth, Va., and native of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, who took top honors for his oil on canvas, “Jeep, Mi Pueblo y Yo” (“Jeep, My People and I”). Second place went to Sergio Quispitupa, 39, a muralist from Peru who lives in Hollywood, Calif., for his work, “Los Cuatro Amigos – Paseando por Latinoamérica” (Four Friends Riding Around Latin America”). Santa Fe Springs, Calif., artist Tony Leiva, 42, a native of Santa Ana, El Salvador, took third-place honors for his acrylic on canvas, “Dos Mundos” (“Two Worlds”).

The 2001 “El Arte Que Nos Mueve” art competition call for entries begins this month. The deadline to submit art entries is Sept. 14; contest winners will be notified by Sept. 29. Artists must be U.S. residents and be at least 18 years of age. Winning entries become the property of DaimlerChrysler and may be used for promotional purposes without further compensation.

All entries must be postmarked by Sept. 14 and mailed or delivered to: El Arte Que Nos Mueve, c/o Del-Com, 4310 Tejasco Road, San Antonio, Texas 78218. The competition is open only to two-dimensional paintings developed around the all-new Jeep Liberty. Artwork must be no larger than 48″ wide by 48″ high. All paintings on canvas must be stretched.

To find out more about the all-new Jeep Liberty or how to participate and obtain forms for the “El Arte Que Nos Mueve” competition, call toll free to 1-800-756-2462 or stop by and visit your participating Jeep dealers.