Transformation an international juried exhibit for artists with disabilities Call for Entries Receipt Deadline: Friday, March 24, 2006 ------------- Who Can Apply ------------- Open to artists (ages 22 and over) who are committed to their artistic progress and who have a physical, cognitive, or mental disability. A disability is defined as an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. For more information about disabilities that apply, please review VSA arts' Disability Awareness Guide, located under resources at http://www.vsarts.org. Artists should be able to demonstrate commitment to their chosen media for the span of 5 years. Recent work entered must be completed after the onset of disability. -------------------------------------- Alternative Formats and Accommodations -------------------------------------- Alternative formats are available upon request. (Braille, Large Print) French and Spanish versions of the Entry Form can be found in both PDF and Text formats. These can be found at http://www.vsarts.org/transformation/ We recognize that some artists may require assistance with this application. For assistance, please contact Stephanie Moore, Director of Visual Arts, at 202.628.2800, ext. 3887 or TTY 202.737.0645, email: stephaniem@vsarts.org. Or, contact your local VSA arts affiliate. A listing of affiliates may be found at: http://www.vsarts.org/x103.xml If someone other than the artist completes the form and questions, please gain input from the artist rather than asserting your own interpretation. Please also list your contact information in the event that the artist is selected and we have questions. Information within the application is used to write an artist’s biography and for informational purposes. Short or incomplete responses do not place the entry at a disadvantage. Selection process is based on the aesthetic merit of the art as determined by the jury panel. ----- Theme ----- One of the central roles of art and the artist is to encourage us to think about the many forces that shape our existence. Transformation invites artists with disabilities to reflect on the influence of change, education, perception, and disability. We are looking for artwork that is contemplative, and invites the visitor to consider the many ways that art transforms. Reflect on a pivotal moment or event in your life that led you to a greater understanding of yourself in relation to your art and/or your disability. Did this particular moment allow you to recognize the motivation to create? What was going on around you? Where and when did your decision to pursue education, or decision not to pursue education, surface? How has the experience of living with a disability shaped your life? Describe how you were transformed and use your submission to illustrate this transformation. We are interested in both representational and abstract interpretations. Artwork may illustrate actual aspects of your transformation such as the environment, self portraits, physical manifestations, or your personal discoveries. Work that relates to your feelings or emotions is also encouraged. ------------ Jury Process ------------ A distinguished panel will determine the standards, review submitted materials, and select artists for the exhibition during April of 2006. Applicants are asked to present evidence that will best exemplify the extent and quality of their accomplishment. The jury will be looking for the development of original ideas in the work submitted - imagination, competence, and the skillful use of materials. Work that suggests visual plagiarism, i.e. a direct copy of another artist's work, will not be accepted. All decisions are final. ------------------ Entry Instructions ------------------ THERE IS NO ENTRY FEE. ART MUST BE AN ORIGINAL WORK THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED IN THE LAST FIVE (5) YEARS. Eligible media include: paintings and drawings (oil, watercolor, acrylic, pencil or charcoal), fine art prints (lithographs, etching, intaglio, or woodcuts), photography, sculpture, glass, ceramic, textile, computer generated prints and two-dimensional mixed media (virtually any media that may be represented in two dimensions). Artwork should not exceed 60 inches in either direction. Fragile or precious materials that cannot withstand handling, storage, and transportation will not be accepted. EACH ARTIST MUST SUBMIT 5 SLIDES. Artists are asked to submit two slides of earlier work and three slides of current work within the span of 5 years. Recent work entered must be completed after the onset of disability. Please identify slides of work that exemplify the subject matter and techniques to which you are most committed. Selection of works for the exhibit will be made from 35mm slides. DO NOT SEND ORIGINAL ARTWORK OR DIGITAL FILES (i.e. JPEGs). Slides must be 2"x 2", mounted in plastic or cardboard frames. One slide should be submitted for each work to be considered. Do not exceed the maximum number of slides (5). The judges are looking for an overall quality in your submission and are not positively influenced by excessive quantity. All slides should be labeled with the information artist’s name, artwork title, and slide # corresponding to the entry form. Make sure to mark "top" to indicate the direction your artwork needs to be displayed. Slides that are difficult to see or review will NOT be judged. Slides should be mailed in plastic slide sheets for protection during transit. When photographing flat works of art, use a neutral or non-distracting background, position the edge of the photo close to the art work, and avoid covering the art work with a surface such as glass or acetate that will produce a glare. People or other objects should NOT appear in slides. For further tips on taking good slides, visit http://www.vsarts.org/x636.xml The entry form must be completed in full, with the artist's narrative and personal statement. This information will be used to create an artist's biography. A photograph of the artist should also be included. Submitted materials will not be returned, but will be archived within VSA arts' Artists Registry, a comprehensive directory that is consulted when identifying artists with disabilities for professional opportunities. Applicants should make and keep copies of all materials submitted. VSA arts is not responsible for materials lost or damaged in the mail. --------------------------------- Artwork Presentation & Exhibition --------------------------------- Selected artwork does not have to be framed. Once selected, all work will be prepared for hanging by VSA arts, including framing where appropriate, with screw eyes and wire attached. If you have strong ideas about artwork presentation including framing standards, please specify your preference within your submission. Selected artwork will be part of an exhibit in Washington, D.C. during June of 2006. ---------------------------------- Liability, Insurance, and Shipping ---------------------------------- Shipping instructions will be sent to artists whose work is accepted for the exhibit. VSA arts is responsible for the costs of shipping the artwork (both to the exhibit site and its return to the artist) and will obtain appropriate insurance for the shipment. Artists will be required to purchase reusable cartons or crates for the artwork. All artwork will be handled with the utmost care. Once the artwork is received by VSA arts, insurance coverage will be limited to the repair or replacement value, as stated by the artist on the entry form. ------------ Notification ------------ Artists will be notified by Friday, April 28, 2006. Results will also be posted online at http://www.vsarts.org ----- Sales ----- VSA arts reserves the right to purchase the artwork at the artist's specified price. The artists shall be paid the price listed on the entry form for exhibited works that are offered for sale. Exhibited works that are not for sale should indicate NFS in the "price" section of the entry form with the value for insurance purposes stated in parentheses. If the artwork selected by the jury panelists is available for sale to the public, the exhibit sponsor will determine the retail price for the artwork, which will include a mark-up for exhibit costs, curatorial fees, and expenses. ---------- Entry Form ---------- *Note: English translation of all materials is strongly encouraged. ARTIST'S NAME First Name: ___________________________________ Last/Family Name: _____________________________ MAILING ADDRESS Street: ___________________________________ Unit/Number: ___________ City: ___________________ State: _______ Country: ________________ Zip/Postal Code: ______________ Day Phone: ____________________ Evening Phone: _____________________ Area or county code + number: ______________________________________ Fax: ____________________________ TTY: ____________________________ Email: __________________________ Web Site(s): __________________________, __________________________ Date of Birth: __________________________ Disability: __________________________ 1) How did you hear about this call for entries? 2) Describe your involvement (if any) with the VSA arts affiliate located in your state/country. 3) Please attach your CV (curriculum vitae)/exhibition history/ resume. Be sure to list your academic background in the arts, colleges attended or to be pursued, and significant awards or honors held. 4) Please attach a one-page narrative of 400 words or less, providing information on your artistic background, techniques and media, and answer EACH of the following questions: - What role does art play in living with your disability? Does your disability affect your artwork in any way? - Do you remember a significant experience during your education where the arts played an important part? Was there an influential mentor, teacher or art class? - When, and under what conditions, do you feel the arts were most effective in your education? - Describe the transformation of your art within the span of five years as evidenced in your slides. - How has art transformed you? 5) Provide a personal statement (1-2 sentence quotation) regarding how your artwork relates to the exhibit theme transformation. --------- Submit To --------- Please submit by March 24, 2006 to: Transformation VSA arts 818 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20006 -------------------- Submission Checklist -------------------- Incomplete submissions will not be considered. ____ Signed Entry Form ____ One-Page Narrative (400 words or less) ____ Personal Statement ____ Slide(s) of Artwork (up to five) ____ Photograph of Artist ____ CV or Resume ----------------- Slide Information ----------------- Slide #: ______ Total Slides Submitted: ______ Artist's Name: ________________________________________________________ Artwork Title: ________________________________________________________ Media: __________________________ Year Created: _____________________ Dimensions: ____________________ Artist's Price/Value: _____________ Slide #: ______ Total Slides Submitted: ______ Artist's Name: ________________________________________________________ Artwork Title: ________________________________________________________ Media: __________________________ Year Created: _____________________ Dimensions: ____________________ Artist's Price/Value: _____________ Slide #: ______ Total Slides Submitted: ______ Artist's Name: ________________________________________________________ Artwork Title: ________________________________________________________ Media: __________________________ Year Created: _____________________ Dimensions: ____________________ Artist's Price/Value: _____________ Slide #: ______ Total Slides Submitted: ______ Artist's Name: ________________________________________________________ Artwork Title: ________________________________________________________ Media: __________________________ Year Created: _____________________ Dimensions: ____________________ Artist's Price/Value: _____________ Slide #: ______ Total Slides Submitted: ______ Artist's Name: ________________________________________________________ Artwork Title: ________________________________________________________ Media: __________________________ Year Created: _____________________ Dimensions: ____________________ Artist's Price/Value: _____________ --------- Agreement --------- By submitting an entry, the artist agrees with the terms and conditions for the call and exhibit. The artist grants permission to photograph and/or publish the artwork, artist's biography including mention of disability, description of work, and artist's photograph for promotional and educational purposes (i.e. broadcast, print, electronic media including the Internet.) The artist understands that all application materials sent to VSA arts will become the property of VSA arts. Signature: ________________________________ Date: _____________________________________ For additional information contact Stephanie Moore, director of visual arts, at 202.628.2800, ext. 3887 or email: stephaniem@vsarts.org. VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where all people with disabilities learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts. VSA arts provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities. Each year millions of people participate in VSA arts programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in more than 60 countries around the world. VSA arts is an affiliate of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For more information visit: http://www.vsarts.org The contents of this call were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.