The Greater Denton Arts Council proudly presents the 34th annual Materials: Hard + Soft International Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition. Recognized as one of the premier craft exhibitions in the country, Materials: Hard + Soft began in 1987 and was originally initiated by area artist Georgia Leach Gough. The exhibition celebrates the evolving field of contemporary craft and the remarkable creativity and innovation of artists who push the boundaries of their chosen media. Since 2017, the exhibition has expanded to include works by international artists.
2021 JUROR – Pablo Barrera, Oklahoma Contemporary
Pablo Barrera is Oklahoma Contemporary’s inaugural Curatorial Fellow. He collaborates with local art communities to produce exhibitions and explore innovative strategies to support formal/informal learning of art. He is committed to raising public awareness of Indigenous culture and generating gallery experiences that invite audiences of all backgrounds to engage with art. Pablo has independently curated shows in London, Seoul and New York.
His achievements include being among the first group of curators at NXTHVN Art Space (Connecticut) and serving an independent researcher at Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History and as graduate advisor for Yale University Art Gallery’s first student-led Native American Art exhibition. Pablo has written on the artistic representation of cultures that experienced colonization, including a co-authored chapter on traditional Korean architecture (Springer International) and a paper on Native American art production as part of the Columbian Exchange between Colonial Spain and East Asia (National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institute).
Pablo holds master’s degrees from Yale University (History of Art) and Harvard University (Regional Studies: East Asia) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow (2012) and a Fulbright Scholar (South Korea, 2011).
Pablo was born in Chicago to immigrant parents; his father is a member of the Wixáritari community in Mexico, where Pablo spent his formative years. Pablo is a first-generation high school, college and grad-school graduate and works to amplify the invaluable role Native artistic perspectives contribute toward globalizing the arts.
Oklahoma Contemporary website, oklahomacontemporary.org
ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY
Oklahoma Contemporary is an inclusive center for the arts where people of all ages and backgrounds can experience art, encounter new ideas and ignite their creative potential. Through visual art exhibitions, performances, public programs, community-building initiatives and outdoor installations, we create opportunities for everyone to come together in celebration of contemporary culture and artistic expression. Oklahoma Contemporary will soon open a new center on a 4.6-acre campus in downtown Oklahoma City. Our multiple galleries, studios, performance spaces, café and outdoor spaces ensure that there will always be something new to see and experience. Oklahoma Contemporary is your arts center. Exhibitions are always free. You are always welcome here.
2021 ENTRY GUIDELINES
HOW TO ENTER
Our entry deadline for the 2021 exhibition is September 30, 2020. Please review the upcoming schedule below for more information on the next steps in the competition. A downloadable 2021 Prospectus is available for entry guidelines and procedures questions. Entries can be submitted online or through the mail.
AWARDS
The Greater Denton Arts Council will provide Juror Awards in the amounts of $1,000, $750, $500 and $250. Winners will be determined by the juror and will be announced at the opening reception of the exhibition on February 5, 2021.
ELIGIBLE MEDIA
Works produced in any of the craft media: clay, fiber, glass, metal, paper, wood, or any combination of craft media, are acceptable. Entries must be the complete work of the submitting artist. Works can be a collaboration piece, all collaborators must be listed in the space provided on the entry form. Local, national, and international artists are encouraged to apply. Kits or commercially designed works will not be accepted. All work must have been completed within the past two years (2018-2020) and not previously exhibited at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center.
NUMBER OF ENTRIES + ENTRY FEE
Each artist is limited to three (3) entries. There is a $30 (USD) non-refundable fee, for up to three (3) entries. Payments must be submitted online at the time of application.
SIZE LIMITATIONS
All work must be ready for installation. Submissions are restricted to a weight limit of no more than 75 pounds. GDAC reserves the right to exclude any entry that presents complex installation or assembly problems.
SALES
A 30% commission will be retained from all work sold during the exhibition. Works which are not for sale must be clearly marked as such (NFS).
PUBLICITY
The exhibition will be publicized regionally, nationally and internationally. GDAC reserves the right to use photographs or digital images of any accepted work for the purpose of publicity.
DELIVERY + RETURN OF WORK
Artists are responsible for pre-paying all shipping charges to and from the exhibition site upon selection by the juror. Accepted works must be hand-delivered or shipped according to the instructions provided in the Artist Contract. Entries will be insured by GDAC while in its custody. Insurance value for pieces NFS should reflect fair market value. No work may be withdrawn before the close of the exhibition. Sending an entry to this exhibition shall imply an agreement on the part of the sender to all conditions above.
DEADLINES AND EXHIBITION DATES
September 30, 2020 | Deadline for acceptance of online entry materials (by 11:59 PM)
November 14, 2020| Notification forms sent to all artists
December 6, 2020 | Artist contracts are due
January 4 – 16, 2021 | Shipped and hand-delivered artwork due at the Arts Center
February 5, 2021 | Opening Reception 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Award Ceremony 7:00 PM.
February 5 – May 8, 2021 | Exhibition on view at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center
May 9 – 29, 2021 | De-installation and return of artwork
For additional questions about the competition and exhibition, contact exhibit@dentonarts.com
