Talk about dumb moves.

When you have a brand name that took decades to build up and is as widely recognized, as deeply respected and as affectionately thought of as "Special" or "Very Special" - as in Special Olympics or Very Special Arts - why would you want to go to some bland acronym like VSA that no one understands and that forces you to constantly explain what it really means parenthetically ("formerly Very Special Arts")?

It's just not good for quick and easy identity recognition.

Which is to say it's bad public relations for good art, such as the 2007 adult award-winning work "Prophetess" (see top left) by Marcella Paliekara of Fond du Lac.

One suspects that the Word Police in the Bureau of Sincerely Good Intentions within the Department of Political Correctness had a hand in that kind of action.

In any case, this call for art arrived via e-mail and deserves sharing, so share it Art Talk will:

"VSA arts of Wisconsin (formerly known as Very Special Arts) invites all Wisconsin artists with disabilities to participate in the annual Call for Art.

"Children (ages 5-15) and adults (ages 16 and older) with disabilities are encouraged to explore their creative abilities and submit their original artwork for review by art professionals who will be looking for originality, creativity and craftsmanship.

"Five pieces will be selected for VSA's Traveling Adult Art Exhibit and five pieces will be added to VSA's Traveling Children's Art Exhibit. The traveling exhibits are displayed year-round at corporations, libraries, museums and galleries throughout the state. Additionally, five honorable mention recipients will also be selected from both children's and adult submissions.

"All artists who submit work to the Call for Art will have at least one piece of their work exhibited in "Visual Expressions: A Call for Art" exhibit at Common Wealth Gallery (100 S. Baldwin St., third floor) in Madison, Feb. 12-20, 2008; opening reception is Friday, Feb. 15, 5-8 p.m. Adult artwork in the exhibit will be available for sale.

"The five adults whose work is selected for purchase awards will receive $400; honorable mentions receive $100. Children's award recipients will be given a $100 gift certificate for art supplies; honorable mention honorees receive a $50 gift certificate. Award recipients and honorable mentions will be recognized at the annual Awards Ceremony, March 29, 2008, at the Warner Park Recreation Center in Madison.

"Selected artwork stays in the VSA traveling exhibits for three years, after which it may be used as recognition gifts or sold by VSA to help support the program.

"The deadline to submit artwork for the Adult Call for Art is Jan. 22, 2008.

"The deadline to submit artwork for the Children's Call for Art is Jan. 28, 2008.

"For more information or downloadable registration forms, please visit the VSA web site at www.vsawis.org/callforart.htm or call 608 241-2131."

Let Art Talk and its readers know whether you prefer the name "Very Special Arts" or "VSA," and why.