he decade-long tradition of having a theme for the Annual ASA Art Exhibit has become a hallmark. Themes are chosen by the Committee on Art Exhibits to reflect an image of the meeting city. Prior themes for San Francisco have included “Faces” and “Flower Power.” This year the committee opted for something perhaps less abstract by selecting “Bridges” (see image above).

Metaphorically, however, this theme will hopefully promote artistic creativity going far beyond the literal image of a bridge.

An additional tradition stemming from the theme concept is a “logo” for each exhibit. The committee has chosen a composite of the Golden Gate Bridge with San Francisco in the background and a striking medical image. The logo was a collaborative effort that included input from Govind P. Garg, M.D., and Alfred Feingold, M.D., both members of the committee. The photograph of the bridge is the work of Jim Zuckerman, a San Francisco photographer and friend of Dr. Garg. Dr. Feingold modified the photograph and added his own work to complete the logo.

Since 1967, all members of ASA and their immediate families have been invited to display their artistic talents during the Annual Meeting. Exhibitors may enter works based on the theme as well as the more traditional venues. These include: painting in oil, acrylics, watercolors, tempera and gouache; traditional and digital photography in both color and black and white; graphic works on paper, including drawings, prints and pastels; sculpture and crafts, including needlework, weaving, pottery, stained glass, jewelry, construction and metal work; the popular junior exhibit (for those under the age of 18); and literature.

Guidelines for the exhibit appear on the Annual Meeting section of the ASA Web site. Please review them before submitting your work. Artists whose applications were received before June 1 will be listed in the Annual Meeting program book. Entries received after that time will be accepted but not published in the formal program. Entries in the literature category, however, must be received by the committee chair no later than July 1 to facilitate judging in advance of the Annual Meeting. We also will accept “walk-in” art (with the exception of literature) as long as it arrives at the site of the exhibit prior to 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 13.

Please note that due to the type and configuration of the walls that will be available to hang the work, the only acceptable method for hanging is a wire-like material that is suspended on the back by two attachments (e.g., screw eyelets). To avoid the potential for damage from falls, art supplied with sawtooth hangers may not be hung.

At this writing, the committee is selecting two artists from the San Francisco area to serve as jurors. Marcia Day Childress, Ph.D., will again judge the entries in the literature category. Dr. Childress is Associate Professor of Medical Education and Associate Director of the Center for Humanism in Medicine at the University of Virginia. Her interests include the healing power of art, creative writing and choral music.

Finally, as chair of the committee, I ask you to consider submitting a suggestion for the theme of the exhibit to be displayed at the 2008 Annual Meeting in Orlando. The committee will consider all input and thanks you in advance for your interest.

William P. Arnold III, M.D., is Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia.