Young artists put colorful spin on group’s anti-meth message. "Not Even Once" theme on display across Montana.

Tim Seery likes Pablo Picasso’s artwork.

And with a few creative touches, Seery found a way to use Picasso’s style to share an important message about the dangers of methamphetamine. He used the despair conveyed in some of Picasso’s works to illustrate the despair of meth in a mural-sized painting.

Seery spent two and a half weeks painting the 8-foot-by-8-foot display of a depressed young woman and the words "Not Even Once."

"It pretty much speaks for itself," said Seery, 13.

Seery’s work is on display at L’Heureux Page Werner Architects, 15 5th St. S. He is one of several young artists who have artwork with the "Not Even Once" theme on display across Montana.

The "Paint the State" campaign is offering $300,000 in prizes. Each county will award three cash prizes to teens. Winners at the county level compete statewide for a $10,000 award.

By SONJA LEE
Tribune Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060710/NEWS01/607100301/1002

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Teenagers plan to shock with artistic anti-meth messages

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

Expect to be startled this week by dramatic public art that makes powerful statements about the realities of methamphetamine use.

The Montana Meth Project is sponsoring a “Paint the State” contest and is calling teenagers ages 13 to 18 to use their imagination to create art work that gets people’s attention.

By late Sunday, many art installations were on display and causing some serious rubbernecking.

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2006/07/10/news/local/news03.txt