What is art and what is design? Where is the line? Is there a line? When did the concept of functionality become antithetical to fine art? What is the role of design in art and art in design? Must we still refer way back to Plato, who identifies only music and poetry as fine arts, relegating the work of the hand as lowly materiality? Surely, nearly a quarter into the 21st century, we must re-assess our thoughts about where boundaries exist now. While we create new definitions for community, and new paradigms for communication, where do the visual arts fit in? We are surely bound by our materiality. Ours are the “too, too solid flesh” of the arts — actual, not virtual, art in three dimensions. We may be the last bastion of brilliance in designing the material world, and isn’t this the right time to celebrate that?

This year’s national juried exhibition, Material Matters, is seeking work that explores ideas about form over function in work using clay, glass, wood or metal alone or in combination. If your work inhabits these boundaries, we are looking for you!

Our juror, Lilian Tone, Assistant Curator in the Department of Painting and Sculpture at MoMA, will be looking for artists’ work that illuminates their vision and scope. This presents the possibility of selected artists having more than one artwork juried into the show.

Eligibility: This is a national juried exhibition for artists 18 years of age or older working in clay, glass, wood or metal alone or in combination. All artwork must be original in concept, design and execution. All work must be handcrafted by the artist. Mass production work and commercially manufactured pieces will not be accepted. Only original works may be submitted.
ALL WORK MUST BE FOR SALE.

$850 in Cash Awards:
Gold — $500 cash prize
Silver — $250 cash prize
Bronze — $100 cash prize
Five (5) Certificates of Merit will also be awarded.

Important Dates, Fees and Entry Information:

Submissions: Early Bird submissions – June 2nd – June 12th – deadline is 11:59pm, June 12th. Fee is $45 for submission of up to 8 images (inclusive of additional images for details). Additional images may be submitted at a cost of $5 each.
On Time submissions – June 13th – June 25th – deadline is 11:59pm June 25th. Fee is $55 for submission of up to 8 images (inclusive of additional images for details). Additional images may be submitted at a cost of $5 each.
Late submissions – June 26th – July 9th – deadline is 11:50pm July 9th. Fee is $65 for submission of up to 8 images (inclusive of additional images for details). Additional images may be submitted at a cost of $5 each.

Please direct all questions prior to receiving your Notification Letter to [email protected].

Full prospectus: http://bwac.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Material-Matters-Prospectus-6-2-17.pdf