CALL TO ARTISTS

2010 Kent Summer Art Exhibit

Purchase Awards: $5,000

Exhibit Awards: 4 solo exhibitions in the Centennial Center Gallery during the 2011 season

Artist Selection Process: Open to Washington State artists

Deadline: Monday, March 8, 2010 (a postmark deadline)

OPPORTUNITY

The City of Kent seeks prints, photographs, paintings, works on paper and other types of artwork for the juried Kent Summer Art Exhibit. All accepted artwork is then eligible for City Art Purchase Awards and Kent Arts Commission Exhibit Awards. The City Art Purchase Award totals $5,000 - artworks from several different artists may be purchased. In addition to potential purchase, the awards panel will also choose up to 4 artists to receive Kent Arts Commission Centennial Center Gallery Exhibit Awards for the 2011 season.

This annual juried art exhibit is hosted in the Centennial Center Gallery in two parts to accommodate over 40 regional artists. Large Work will be on display June 4 through July 11, 2010. Small Work will be displayed July 7 through August 27, 2010.

The two displays will overlap during the exhibit Gala and Kent Cornucopia Days festival. Artworks from both displays will be exhibited salon style in the gallery and an adjacent conference room during the festival weekend. The Summer Art Exhibit Gala on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 is free to artists and their guests. Last year, the gala received generous private sponsorship by Bella Home and Garden.

BACKGROUND

More than 30 years ago, the citizens and leaders of Kent recognized that the arts are a significant part of the quality of life, growth and vitality of a community.   The mission of the Kent Arts Commission is to provide leadership in establishing cultural opportunities and arts education; to improve the quality of life and enhance the aesthetic environment; and to promote Kent as a center for great arts.  Over its 30-year history, the Commission has provided Kent residents access to the region’s best performing, visual and literary arts. 

EXHIBIT GUIDELINES / REQUIREMENTS

• The jurors will determine whether the work is “large” or “small.” Generally, work that is 24” x 24” or less will be “small,” but there are exceptions. You will be notified accordingly.
• Work must be for sale.  To help cover exhibit costs, the City of Kent charges a 25% commission on work sold to the general public during the Kent Summer Art Exhibit. The price will be calculated based upon the amount listed on the label, plus tax. (If the City of Kent chooses to purchase your work for the City Art Portable Collection, we will purchase your work for its full price, including sales tax. Artists who receive Exhibit Awards can choose whether or not to make their work available for sale during their exhibition, and the sales will be directly between the artist and the buyer, with no commission taken by the City.)
• The City of Kent provides insurance for artworks while on display at the Centennial Center Gallery in accordance with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 18.110.020.
• Work must be framed or “gallery ready.” Gallery ready work is defined as suitable for display, protected from incidental damage and ready to hang on a gallery hook. Works on paper, including photographs and collage, must be framed for inclusion in this group exhibit. Works on canvas may be unframed. In previous years, the jurors have selected between 1 - 5 artworks from each artist. If more than one of your artworks is accepted, please plan on framing all accepted works in a similar manner. Simple wooden or metal frames in neutral colors (black, white, gray or unpainted wood) are preferred, with white, gray or black mats as needed.
• Work must be mounted using standard gallery hardware. Typically, acceptable work will be 2-dimensional, but any work that can be safely displayed upon our gallery's walls will be considered.  Very heavy artwork that requires being secured to a wall stud cannot be accepted.
• Please do not submit work that has been previously exhibited at the City of Kent, Canterbury Faire, Cornucopia Days or Centennial Center Gallery.
• If selected for inclusion in the exhibit, artists will be required to deliver and pick-up their work according to the artist schedule below or by prior appointment.

 

EXHIBIT TIMELINE

Large Works	Both Exhibits	Small Works
June 4 – July 11	Exhibit Gala: July 7
	Cornucopia Days: July 9-11	July 7 – August 27

 

ARTIST SCHEDULE

Deadline for entry: Monday, March 8, 2010
Exhibit Jury: April 2010
Notification of Acceptance: Monday, May 3, 2010
Exhibit Agreement due: Monday, May 17, 2010
Gala and posting of Awards: July 7, 2010, 5:00pm

Large Work delivery schedule: Exhibit dates: June 4 – July 11, 2010 Delivery: Tuesday, June 1 (or earlier by appointment) Pick-up: Monday, July 12 (or later by appointment)

Small Work delivery schedule:   Exhibit dates: July 7 – August 27, 2010   Delivery: Wednesday, June 30 (or earlier by appt.)   Pick-up: Monday, August 30 (or later by appt.)

 

SELECTION and AWARDS PROCESS

When all of the artwork is on display, a Selection Panel consisting of the exhibit Jurors, a Kent City Councilmember, a Kent Arts Commissioner and a Kent City Employee will determine the awards. The panel will purchase up to $5,000 worth of artwork for the City’s portable public art collection, and up to four artists will be awarded exhibits in the Gallery. The awards will be posted at the opening gala on the evening of Wednesday, July 7, 2010.

The Kent Arts Commission would like to provide the general public with an opportunity to purchase affordable artwork. Therefore, the jurors will select work from both established and emerging artists in a wide price range. Awards will be given to both exhibits, Large Work and Small Work, based upon the quality of the artwork.

JURORS

The Jurors for the 2010 Kent Summer Art Exhibit have not yet been selected.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Please send one set of application materials. Upon selection, the jurors will determine if the work will be displayed with the “Large Work” or “Small Work” display.

The application must include:

1. Artist’s contact information
•  Name
•  Telephone number
•  Email if available
•  Mailing address

2. Annotated Image List - a printed sheet of information describing each artwork:
•  Title of artwork
•  Medium
•  Date artwork was completed
•  Size of exhibition-ready work - indicate whether the work is framed or unframed in accordance with the Exhibit Guidelines outlined above
•  Sale price, including tax
•  Corresponding image number
•  Brief description of the work, if appropriate

3. If you want your materials returned, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

4. A check for $10 made out to the City of Kent, to cover exhibit costs.

5. Work Samples - Up to Eight Digital Images.
Images will be projected one at a time during the application material review session. Artists should submit images that are currently available for exhibit and purchase. Images can show the work framed or unframed. Slides, larger transparencies and prints will not be considered. No bulky materials or original works should be submitted. Submit up to 8 images total.

Please don’t let the digital submission intimidate you. If your image can fill a computer screen, save it to a CD-R and send it in. Label the CD-R with your name, contact information and number of images.

If you are more experienced with technology, please refer to the following guidelines:

File Format - Submit only "High" quality JPGs (do not use GIFs, TIFFs or other formats)
Image Size - Images must be no more than 9.5” on the longest side saved at 100 ppi.
File Labeling - Files must be titled with a number indicating the viewing order, followed by the artist's last name. The numbers must correspond to the accompanying Annotated Image List. Use "0" in front of single digit numbers. Do not use more than 30 characters, and use only letters, numbers and underscores. Example: 01_Smith.jpg  

6. Optional: Artist's Resume – Artists may choose to include a resumé. The jury process will be anonymous, but resumés will be available for the Awards Panel to review. Please do not include any other materials.

Mail Applications to: Cheryl dos Remedios, Attn: Summer Art Exhibit, City of Kent / Cultural Division, 220 4th Ave S, Kent, WA 98032.

Questions? Please contact Cheryl dos Remedios, Visual Arts Coordinator, cdosremedios@ci.kent.wa.us or 253.856.5058.