The results are in and five artists have been declared winners of Oaksterdam University’s first-ever digital art contest for an NFT drop. The contest was designed to inspire creative thought about the oppressive effects of marijuana prohibition. It commemorates the 50-year anniversary of Nixon’s declaration of the War on Drugs by asking artists to create a virtual art piece that shows their passion to deschedule cannabis.
The digital art contest makes a statement while helping up-and-coming artists break into the emerging NFT marketplace. Their art will be unveiled in an NFT drop on OpenSea to be announced soon.
“We are excited to merge the worlds of cannabis, art, and NFTs with a potential cryptocurrency prize with this contest, which is a first for us,” said Dale Sky Jones, long-time cannabis legalization advocate and chancellor of OU. “We’re looking to utilize these new platforms to inspire the end of the War on Drugs.”
Contest entries were judged by a panel of Oaksterdam-appointed faculty and staff. Five winners were selected to receive a monetary prize and a scholarship to OU.
The Winners Are:
iLonah “Luna” Angel
This Bay Area digital artist is based in Milpitas, Calif. She describes herself as a Filipino mother, wife, sister and cannabis lover. She believes the Oaksterdam University digital art contest inspires others to fight for change and progression of the movement to deschedule cannabis.
Jeremy Smith
Jeremy Smith
Based in Lebanon, Mo., Jeremy is a self-described designer and artist of all mediums, cannabis enthusiast and God-fearer. Jeremy has a great interest in re-educating people about the benefits of cannabis and encouraging them to research things for themselves. His bright and colorful illustrative art brings the futility of the War on Drugs to light.
Nadia Dehkordi
Nadia Dehkordi, MBA
An award-winning fine artist from West Bloomfield, Mich., Nadia is also a trained philosopher and global executive serving in the IT, medical, and cannabis industries. She creates paintings that deconstruct and investigate the many representations and seemingly concrete forms that we collectively believe as ‘truth.’ Her winning piece is part of The_Phirst_Artist collection on OpenSea.
Travis Glines
Travis Glines
Travis is a digital artist based out of Los Angeles who uses AI, neural networks, images and original pieces of art to create a final product that is both unique and inspiring. He’s frequently inspired by technology, nature and interesting people doing great work in the world. His winning digital piece is the first in an ongoing art collection.
Courtney Aura Freeman
Courtney Aura Freeman
This Los Angeles-based entrepreneur created a piece to honor the work of cannabis pioneer Bruce Margolin, an advocate for criminal justice reform and legalization. Margolin has been publishing “The Margolin Guide” to help people know their rights for over 20 years, which has contributed to Oaksterdam’s curriculum. Courtney’s NFT is an iteration from “The Oracle of the Green Rose” project from White Buffalo Spirit, with graphic design by the talented artist Amber June Cross.
For more details and contest announcements, visit OaksterdamUniversity.com/nft/. The art is available for bidding NOW on OpenSea through Sept. 1, 2021.
