First world competition in . . . water sculpture?

Thirty artists from nine countries were selected as pre-finalists for the First International Water Sculpture Competition sponsored by the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition.

Eventually, 10 finalists will be selected and their work - made up of constructions complemented by water, ice, steam, or fog - will be featured at the exposition. The exposition itself will take place from May 12 to Nov. 11 on an 82-acre plot on the Mississippi River.

International Water Sculpture jurors met in New Orleans in December for the selection process, completing the first part of the competition. In this phase, artists submitted slides of existing works of art, which were judged on their potential to combine water with an art form. (The jury had received 472 entries from artists in 32 countries around the world.)

During the second part of the competition, artists will be asked to design a water sculpture by submitting a rendering, a drawing, a ma-quette, or other documentation of their design.

The pre-finalists' work will be on view at the Museum of Art here starting May 15 and then form a national traveling exhibition, going to United Nations Headquarters in New York in November and from there to five other cities.