Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is spreading the wealth–$25,000 worth to be exact. The museum recently opened a four-month exhibition of the 2010 James and Audrey Foster Prize finalists. The award, originally known as the ICA Artist’s prize, has changed dramatically over the past few years. What began as an annual in-house recognition for a single artist is now the biannual who’s who of up-and-coming Boston area artists. One of this year’s finalists, video artist Amy Siegel tackles the foreclosure crisis in her 20-minute film “Black Moon.” The narrative video, shot near Los Angeles, follows a post-apocalyptic band of women as they meander through an unfinished housing complex. It is an eerie look at the current economic downturn. With its unexpectedly surrealist ending, this is definitely more than a political movie. Initially conceived in 1999 with a generous donation by James and Audrey Foster, the Foster Prize is swiftly becoming a comprehensive view at the local contemporary art scene. Boston notables like Ambreen Butt and Alice Swinden Carter are among past years’ recipients. Artists are nominated by their peers. Art professors, writers and working artists are given the opportunity to suggest a local artist that lives or works in the Boston area with “exceptional artistic promise.” At the end of the nomination cycle, a committee narrows the 70 nominations to nine. “The best way for an artist to get nominated is to get out and engage the community,” explained Randi Hopkins, the show’s curator. The nine finalists display their work at the ICA, and a second committee of art professionals from across the country selects the winner in December. While being nominated is in and of itself a tremendous honor, according to Jill Medvedow, the museum’s director, it also provides the museum a venue to “take a chance on the artist.” And what a chance the Museum has taken. This year, the Foster show includes a wide array of mediums and themes, proving that there is a wealth of talent in the Boston area. In a room nearby Siegel’s movie, Fred H. C. Liang deals with issues of identity. Liang works with wood and traditional Chinese paper cutting techniques. His piece, “Untitled (Nushu),” is a 10-foot high instillation, made especially for the Foster Prize exhibit. It is a paper accordion book placed on a Baltic plywood table. Each fold of the accordion contains a Chinese character from Liang’s young daughter’s name. Liang said his work is about inserting his child into the traditionally male dominated culture. The range of work is breathtaking, yet somehow this exhibit makes sense of the different styles and subjects. It’s truly the best that the city’s contemporary art scene has to offer. Admission to the ICA is $10 with a student ID. For more information visit