Artist Opportunities May 2013

We have a lot of recent graduates out there (congratulations, all!), and you may be wondering what to do with that art degree.  One of the easiest ways to get your feet wet in the art world is apply to a few juried shows.  If you get in, it can be a great resume booster, but also just a good learning experience in general.  If you’ve already got a portfolio organized, you can start with our 16th Annual National Small Works–the call for entries ends tonight at midnight.  If you need a little more time, check out these upcoming opportunities:

Press Room Mini Solos:  Ok, we had to plug one more of our own.  We are seeking artists age 18+ working in printmaking, papermaking, and book arts for our 2014 Press Room exhibition season.  This 10×17 former vault is a great place to show a suite of prints or the beginning of a new body of work.  Applications are due August 17.

14th Annual Will’s Creek Survey-put on by the Allegheny Arts Council in Maryland, this exhibition is a juried exhibition of contemporary artwork that is open to visual artists from across the United States, juried this year by Lauren Schell Dickens: assistant curator of contemporary art at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.  Over $5,000 in artist awards (including $2,000 for Best of Show) are at stake.  Entry deadline is July 1.

Vox IX: An exhibition of emerging artists at Vox Populi Gallery, this year’s jurors are artist Hilary Harkness and arts writer Hunter Braithwaite.  There are no prizes, but Vox takes no commission on any sales made.  Deadline is June 7.

NSW Deadline next Wednesday!

NSW 2010 winning print “Mandala” by Kiyomi Baird.

You have just under a week to apply for the 16th Annual National Small Works Exhibition.  Remember, we extended the deadline from the 17th to the 22nd.  Eligible works must be:

• hand-pulled prints (sorry, no digital prints or photographs)
• under 170 square inches (this is the print size , not paper or frame size)
• created within the past two years

This year’s juror is Philippa Hughes of the Pinkline Project.  In addition to founding this calendar/blog, she hosts the very popular Cherry Blast party every year and serves as a DC Commissioner for the Arts.  Ms. Hughes will be picking the 50 prints that comprise the exhibition, and then the winners from those 50.  First prize is a solo show in August of 2014.

You can see all the details about the exhibition and the call for entries here.  Have some other questions? Check out our FAQ.  Good luck!

NSW Deadline EXTENDED

NSW 2012 Grand Prize Winner: “Not the Center of the Universe” by Cianna Valley (California), etching, aquatint, and spitbite.

Director Annie Newman will be out of town on the original deadline–which just didn’t seem fair for anyone having any last-minute registration problems.   So, we’ve extended the deadline to Wednesday, May 22 for National Small Works Entries. Remember, this year’s juror is Philippa Hughes of the Pinkline Project and the grand prize is a solo show in August of 2014.  You can read about our other prizes, as well as how to apply, at our website.

National Small Works Update

NSW 2012 Grand Prize Winner: “Not the Center of the Universe” by Cianna Valley (California), etching, aquatint, and spitbite.

We are about 3 weeks out from the National Small Works application deadline.  That sounds like a long time, but we’re about to hit a busy time of year–graduations, weddings, Mother’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, the battle against allergies–these are just a few things that might distract you from getting your prints submitted in time.  So, we suggest going online this weekend to submit your application.  This year’s juror is Philippa Hughes, founder of the Pink Line Project and DC Commissioner for the Arts and Humanities.  If she picks your work for the show, you’re in the running for a solo show in 2014, a $200 purchase award from Graphic Chemical & Ink, Co, and more.  So, document your work if you haven’t already, and submit your prints to get in the running!

NSW Reminder

2012 Graphic Chemicals Purchase Award: “Turf” by Curtis Bartone, two-plate aluminum lithograph

Are you thinking of applying to National Small Works?  Remember that April 17 is the deadline for early bird submissions, which carry the reduced fee of $20/4 images.  Can’t quite get everything together by then?  (We know, sometimes that plate needs to go back in the acid bath just one more time…) Don’t worry, the final deadline for submissions is May 18, but from April 18 til then the entry fee is $30/4 images.

Good luck!

Two Weeks Until the NSW Early Bird Deadline

Thinking about applying to National Small Works?  You have two more weeks to submit up to 4 images for $20.  After April 17, it goes up to $30/4 images. No matter when you submit, additional images are $5 each.  The final deadline is 11:59 pm on May 18.

This year’s juror is Philippa Hughes, founder and Chief Creative Contrarian of the Pink Line Project (as well as being famous this time of year for the recent Cherry Blast party).  Ms. Hughes is also a DC Commissioner for the Arts.

First prize is a solo show in August 2014 at Washington Printmakers Gallery.  Additional prizes are awarded as well.  You can read more about the competition, the exhibition, and how to apply on our website.  Good luck!

National Small Works 2013

NSW 2012 Grand Prize Winner: “Not the Center of the Universe” by Cianna Valley (California), etching, aquatint, and spitbite.

WPG’s 16th Annual call for entries to the National Small Works exhibition is now live!  As always, this exhibition is open to printmakers who are:

• 18 years of age or older
• residing in the Continental US
• creating hand-pulled, traditional prints (sorry, no digital or photographic works) under 170 square inches.

This year’s juror is Philippa Hughes.  Ms. Hughes left law practice to evangelize the power of art and transform lives, and is now the Chief Creative Contrarian of Pink Line Project.  Pink Line Project was established to inspire creative thinking in everyone, to build community and connectivity, and to open portals to art and culture for the culturally curious. Her vision for DC: to change the way people view DC, both residents and visitors. Through the Pink Line Project, she runs a consolidated and searchable calendar of all things cool and creative in DC and writes and maintains a widely read blog that highlights the best of DC’s creative scene. Ms. Hughes has established a reputation for creating inventive and collaborative environments in which people who would not normally have the opportunity to interact with each other gather to experience art and culture in alternative and stimulating ways, and has been a leader in the creative and temporary use of vacant, urban space throughout the city. We look forward to seeing what sort of show she’ll put together!

The early bird reduced fee deadline is April 17, 2013 ($20/4 images) and the final deadline is May 18, 2013.  First prize is a solo show in August 2014.  This year’s exhibiting solo artist will be Cianna Valley (her winning print is pictured above).  Be sure to check out all the details on our website and best of luck!

Pics from the NSW 2012 Opening Reception

Local photographer Nick Hoffman was kind enough to photograph this event for us.  Enjoy!

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Intern Perspectives: National Small Works

Intern Laura D.’s take on this year’s NSW Exhibition:

“Giraffe” by Judith Panetta.

At Washington Printmakers Gallery this month is the 15^th Annual National Small Works. The works presented are small, just as the title of the exhibit suggests. The smallest is a piece by Judith Panetta that is entitled Giraffe that is enclosed in a makeup compact. While there are definitely larger pieces, this piece stands out the most for its size, as it really takes on the ‘small works’ title.

There are many types of print works that are among the gallery this month, everything from lithography and letter process, to dry point, to woodcut. You name it; it’s probably presented in at least one piece in the gallery.

“Untitled VI (after Antikythera Youth)” by Phiotos Paris Goudas

The one that stands out to me the most however, is entitled Untitled VI (after Antikythera Youth) by Photios Paris Goudas. A small screen print on paper, this piece uses bright, almost neon, colors to show what looks like a portrait of a person. The background is a mismatch of shades of black and deep greens that make the blues and pale green-yellow pop out against it. Amongst the other print works, this caught my attention because of said colors. While there are many detailed pieces surrounding Goudas’ work, it draws attention to itself with the color. A neighboring piece by Nicholas Dowgwillo entitled every little splintered bit of us is much quieter. A detailed piece that does not scream at you from across the room, even so, up close it speaks for itself and the title explains it all upon further inspection.

The 15^th National Small Works is a huge success, and gives the viewers a sense of understanding for why so many of these artists do what they do – the nation is filled with many talented artists, and Washington Printmakers is excited to be able to show all of these works.

2012 NSW Winners

Thanks again to our juror Brian Garner for his time and thoughtfulness in selecting a great show.  In case you weren’t at today’s opening.  The winners are:

Grand Prize: “Not the Center of the Universe” by Cianna Valley (California), etching, aquatint, and spitbite.

Tran Van-Dinh Award: “Indiana Statues” by Kathryn Trillas (Virginia), monotype.

Graphic Chemicals Purchase Award: “Turf” by Curtis Bartone, two-plate aluminum lithograph

3rd Prize, $150 Gift Certificate to Utrecht Art Supplies: “Twilight of Togetherness” by Nicholas Dowgwillo (Arizona), collaged lithograph.

4th Prize, $100 Gift Certificate to Renaissance Graphic Arts: “Sunday” by Carrie Lingscheit (VA), etching, mezzotint, drypoint.

Honorable Mention: “Io Lo Vidi (I Saw This)” by Jason Scuilla (KS), traditional and electrolytic etching.