The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art has teamed with Google to serve as the North Carolina exhibition site for this year’s Doodle 4 Google™ contest.  A Google “doodle” is the artistic interpretation that Google sometimes gives its logo. Google doodles often appear on the search engine’s homepage to mark interesting people, events and anniversaries that reflect Google's personality and interest in innovation.

Now in its fifth year, the Doodle 4 Google contest encourages and celebrates the artistic ability of young people by asking K-12 students throughout the U.S. to create their own Google doodle. Doodle 4 Google gives students a blank canvas to harness their curiosity and imagine the past, present and/or future anywhere in the world. The 2012 theme was “If I could travel in time, I’d visit...” The doodles were judged this year by a team of Googlers as well as celebrity guest judges including Katy Perry, Phineas and Ferb creator/executive producer Jeff “Swampy” Marsh and American Idol finalist Jordin Sparks.

A special exhibition of doodles by the 10 North Carolina finalists opens May 23 in the Bechtler café. The colorful and creative doodles of the North Carolina state winner, four finalists and five runners up will be on view through September 30, 2012. Three of the North Carolina finalists are from Charlotte. Museum admission is not required to view the doodles.

“The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is pleased to exhibit the North Carolina Doodle 4 Google winners. It is our hope that these artworks will inspire the children who visit the Bechtler to try and create their own works of art and discover the rewards that come from artistic expression,” said Christopher Lawing, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art Vice President for Programming and Research.

Google received more than 114,000 submissions and millions of votes during this year’s contest. Second grader Dylan Hoffman of Caledonia, Wis. was selected as the national winner. Google featured his doodle “Pirate Times” on the Google homepage May 18. His winnings included a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology grant for his school. As an added bonus, Dylan’s doodle will grace the front of a special edition of the Crayola 64-crayon box, available this fall.

Exhibition-related Programming

Family Day (June 16). Learn about the art and artists of the Bechtler collection and engage imaginations through special museum tours and hands-on art activities during Family Day on Saturday, June 16 from noon to 4:30. Admission is free for everyone under 18 years old; all others receive a discounted ticket price of $4. (Museum members enter for free.)

Family Day art activities are recommended for ages 5 and older and will take place in the lobby and classroom. Based on the Doodle 4 Google contest, the Bechtler will conduct its own doodle art activity and contest throughout the day. Winning entries will be posted on the Bechtler’s Facebook page.

MEDIA CONTACT: Pam Davis, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art Director of Communications and Marketing, office: 704.353.9204 mobile: 704.975.2363