Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park announces its first Memorial Day Weekend Art Show, to display the creative talents of K12 education students from Southside's regional public and private schools.

The three-day event will run from May 26-28, at the park's new visitor center with display set-up and judging on May 25.

The purpose of the event is to encourage students at all levels artistically to interpret themes on the American Civil War, especially the 1865 Appomattox Campaign (and the Battles of Sailor's Creek) that ended the war in Virginia.

Students who have an ancestor or family member who served in one of America's other wars, as an option, may wish to express themes directly on the meaning of Memorial Day.

Specified artistic media for the show, for both the American Civil War or Memorial Day themes are: painting; drawing; photography (on CD or USB drive); 3-D art (e.g. sculpture); and an open category for all other media. To provide maximum opportunity, entries are limited to one per student. Additionally, flat media submissions are limited to maximum dimensions of 24″ x 30″ to allow optimum use of the visitor center space.

All entries must be submitted with a completed and parentally signed entry form available at the park's visitor center, or, upon request, by a reply email attachment. Blue, Red, White, and participation ribbons will be awarded for entries in each theme category and specified media, on May 25, prior to the opening of the show.

The public is invited to this event throughout the holiday weekend. A donation in any amount to the Friends of Sailor's Creek is suggested.

Notice of this inaugural event is being sent to schools in the region to encourage student participation. However, any parent or guardian who has a school-aged child who attends a school that is not participating may submit a signed entry form for that student who may then submit an entry directly to the park.

For more information, please contact the visitor center at 804-561-7510 or email at sailorscreek@dcr.virginia.gov.

The purpose of Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park is to preserve the cultural landscape as it was in 1865, and to provide the historic setting to tell the story of the last major battle of the Civil War in Virginia before the surrender of Robert E. Lee's Army at Appomattox Courthouse, and its impact on the citizens of Southside Virginia.