08/20/2010-09/04/2010
The Allegany Arts Council, the Allegany County Oral Health and Prevention Consortium, and the Western Maryland Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic are sponsoring a special "Mountain Smiles" photography contest and exhibition at the Saville Gallery in Downtown Cumberland from August 20 through September 4, 2010. A public reception and fundraising event will be held at the Saville Gallery on Saturday, August 28, from 5-7PM. The purpose of the “Mountain Smiles” contest and exhibition is to foster awareness of the oral health crisis in our area, to support the establishment of an adult dental clinic to serve low-income and underserved populations, and to promote the Western Maryland Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic that will take place on October 29 & 30, 2010 at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.

The “Mountain Smiles” exhibition will feature photographs of smiles and teeth; from perfect to imperfect and everything in between, even those who won’t smile. Photographs can show the whole face but do not have to. It is fine just to show just the mouth. In addition to having photographic artwork on display in the Saville Gallery, the contest judges will select three photographs to receive cash awards: $100 for First Place, $50 for Second Place, and $25 for Third Place. Prizes will be awarded at a public reception and fundraising event at the Saville Gallery on Saturday, August 28, from 5-7PM. The winning photographs will also be published in the October issue of Allegany Magazine and featured in a companion article about the Western Maryland Mission of Mercy.

The contest is free and open to anyone with any kind of camera, and all are encouraged to submit entries. The drop-off dates for entries at the Saville Gallery (9 N. Centre Street in Downtown Cumberland) are Sunday, August 15 (11AM-4PM), Monday, August 16 (9AM-5PM), or Tuesday, August 17 (9AM-5PM). To encourage as many entries as possible, photographs need only be mounted on mat board or heavy cardstock. Photographs should be a minimum of 4” x 6” and a maximum of 8” x 10”. Mat board or cardstock should not exceed 9” x 12”. For those who need help, the Consortium, Mission of Mercy and the Allegany Arts Council will provide mat board and assistance for mounting your photographs correctly. For questions about the “Mountain Smiles” contest and exhibition, please call the Allegany Arts Council at 301-777-ARTS (2787).

In Western Maryland and the surrounding area, a profound need for access to affordable oral health care exists for low income, uninsured and underserved adults. Allegany County leads the state in natural tooth loss. One in ten people here have lost all their natural teeth. Almost 16% of county residents have not seen a dentist in the past five years. Conditions in nearby West Virginia and Pennsylvania are equally bad or worse. Infections that start in the mouth can travel to other parts of the body greatly affecting overall health in ways that can lead to heart attack, stroke or death.