There’s a battle brewing in Fortville this weekend – an art battle.  An international painting competition that’s been seen in major US cities since 2001 is being brought to Hancock County by two women who want to bring affordable art to their community.  Ball State student reporter Holly Westerfield reports.

Art Battle artists compete in brackets and have only 20 minutes to complete their work. The audience selects the winner from each round and competitors advance until a champion is selected.

Coordinator Libby Wyatt learned about the parent organization from a video shared on Facebook and later convinced her friend Lacey Willard to help.

“We are trying to establish that we are more than just a rural town,” Wyatt said. We’ve got brilliant people, creative people in this community, and we’re trying to bring art and music to our little town.”

Wyatt said the time limit makes things more exciting for both the artist and the audience.

“It’s a whole different beast when you say you have 20 minutes to create a masterpiece,” she said. “I’m like, there’s no way. But there’s a way. It’s really exciting.”

The first Art Battle took place in 2001 in New York City and the event has since been held in cities such as Tokyo and Las Vegas. This weekend’s artists mostly live in central Indiana, but some are coming from as far as Detroit, Chicago and Louisville.

The art created during Art Battle in Fortville will be auctioned at the end of each round. The proceeds will go toward another art and music festival planned for next year.

Holly Westerfield is a reporter for a Ball State University arts journalism class.