framing & submitting work to exhibitions
Ron Rizzo
Folks,
What are good sources of information and news about upcoming art exhibitions
and competitions, that is, about how to enter them and prepare and submit
work to them, particularly in New England and New York City?
I've scanned the "Artists Wanted" and "Competitions" ads sections in the
magazines "Art in New England" and "American Artist." (Does "Art in America"
and "Art News" have entry & submission information for exhibitions &
competitions?) I also imagine local art associations are another source of
information.
Are there any central sources of information? "Art in New England" has
extensive, maybe near-complete, listings, for the region.
I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who's entered exhibitions or
competitions. Eg, what information do competition prospectuses contain,
how fussy are exhibition sponsors about slides of your work, framing or
mounting submitted works, etc. (pretty fussy, from the little I've heard)?
Entry to some exhibitions requires that you send slides of your work.
I'd be interested in hearing any tips about photographing artworks,
whether it's worth hiring a photo lab/studio that specializes in such
slides, the quality of slide expected by exhibition committees, etc.
Finally, I need information on how to do professional-quality framing
and/or mounting of paintings, drawings and prints for hanging in shows.
Are there any books or magazines with uptodate information? I submitted
a painting Saturday at the very last minute to a juried exhibition (first
one for me) and found myself frantically trying to frame, secure and wire it.
The paint was still wet when I submitted the painting, so of course it wasn't
varnished. Are you typically expected to varnish, fix or otherwise seal any
pictures you submit?
I asked at an art supply store about how to frame: they advised me to simply
staple the canvas stretchers to the frame with industrial-strength staples
using a staple gun. They said you can buy special framing wedges to drive
between the picture and the frame but over time these tend to pull apart the
sides of the frame.
I also read the page or two in Ralph Mayer & S Sheehan's THE ARTIST'S HANDBOOK
5th Edition (the "bible" of materials, methods & media, according to my 2
painting instructors). The book shies away from staples and nails because
they damage both frame and canvas when you remove the canvas from the frame;
instead it advises:
1) using 3/4" or 1" brass strips that have a screwhole at each end for
very short screws. The strips give you a snug fit even when the
canvas and frame aren't flush because one is thicker than the other,
since you can bend the brass (using either two pairs of pliers or
a vise and hammer); OR
2) chopping a bottle cork into 1/4" slices and wedging the slices
between canvas and frame.
Any information would be appreciated. Please use e-mail as I don't have
much time to read the net these days.
Regards,
Ron Rizzo
rri...@osf.org
Random 99
writes:
>>What are good sources of information and news about upcoming art
exhibitions
>>and competitions, that is, about how to enter them and prepare and
submit
>>work to them
Get ArtCalendar. It's exactly what you are looking for. It lists
Gallerys reviewing Portfolios, Juried shows in Gallery settings,
grant opportunitites, etc. Also has (occasionally) useful articles on
some of the subjects you mention.
Unfortunately I don't have the address handy. Anyone else?....
*****Random******
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