We Are SNAG: Contemporary Smithing | Prospectus
From “blacksmith” to “goldsmith”, “silversmith” to “bladesmith”, the term “smith” denotes connotations of skill and mastery. “WE ARE SNAG: Contemporary Smiths” seeks images of works crafted using traditional or contemporary smithing processes including, but not limited to: vessels, objects, sculpture, jewelry, and architectural works. Juried by Sue Amendolara, Greg Gehner, and Tom Muir, this online exhibition intends to embrace the work of contemporary smiths and highlight some of the extraordinary works created by members of SNAG.
As makers, designers, craftspeople, artists, students, teachers, independent studio practitioners, gallerists, and hobbyists, WE ARE SNAG. From many backgrounds and points of view we are collectively what makes SNAG so incredibly rich, diverse, and relevant to a field which embraces our traditions while simultaneously forging our futures. “WE ARE SNAG: Contemporary Smiths” is the second in a series of juried online WE ARE SNAG member exhibitions celebrating the breadth of our field and membership.
Eligibility: • Open to all SNAG members 18 years of age or older • Applicants need not reside in the United States. • All work must be original and produced within the last three years (2012 or later). • Objects made from commercial kits or commercially available plans are NOT ELIGIBLE. • Applicants are strongly encouraged, but not required, to apply with images that have not been widely circulated in Metalsmith or other publications. • Collaborations are allowed under the conditions that 1, all artists involved are current members of SNAG; and 2, artists may only participate in one application: either as part of a collaboration OR as part of a personal application, but not both. • Because this is an online exhibition, the audience can only experience the work through the photos you submit, therefore please submit the best possible photos that show the work as clearly as possible. • There are no size restrictions for this exhibition
Requirements: ● Applications will be accepted beginning on July 1 and must be received by midnight (11:59:59 pm) MOUNTAIN TIME September 6, 2015. Please account for time zone differences, as entries are not eligible via email and no exceptions will be made. ● All entries must be made online through CallForEntry.org ● CallForEntry.org applications may be supplemented with video submissions. For consideration, one video per artwork may be sent to [email protected]. Videos may also be shared via Dropbox, Google Drive, or YouTube. ● The application fee of $25 is nonrefundable. ○ This fee is used for domain hosting costs of the exhibition, juror honorariums, promotional materials, and CallForEntry.org fees ● All applicants MUST be a member of SNAG in order to be eligible to apply for this opportunity. If you are not a current member at the time of application, please see the links below to become a member. ● For each application, please submit both a general shot of your original work and detail (if available). Artists may submit up to 3 separate pieces. ● All works must be accompanied by title, material, dimensions, year of completion. ● Artists may submit an artist statement up to 3000 characters. ● All decisions of the jurors are final. ● All work must be original. By completing this application artist agrees that he/she is responsible for the creation of submitted works. ● By submitting media (images and/or video) for possible inclusion in “WE ARE SNAG: Contemporary Smiths”, the artist agrees to the following: ○ That Metalsmith magazine and SNAG have the right to retain and duplicate these images, videos, and video stills for the purpose of marketing and for display on the SNAG website and enewsletters. ○ That the artist requires no compensation or further contact from Metalsmith magazine or SNAG. ○ That the artist agrees to all terms and conditions set forth in this prospectus.
Timeline: July 1, 2015 Call opens on CallForEntry.org to SNAG Members September 6, 2015 Deadline for Entry on CallForEntry.org September 30, 2015 Notification of Results to Artists (by email) November 1, 2015 Online Exhibition goes live on SNAG//SPACE website
Exhibition Jurors: Sue Amendolara Suzanne Amendolara was born in Youngstown, Ohio. She received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Jewelry Design/Metalsmithing from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana in 1988 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio in 1985. She has been teaching Jewelry Design/Metalsmithing at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania since 1991.
Her metalwork has been exhibited regionally and nationally in galleries and museums including the American Craft Museum, New York, NY, The National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis, TN and the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA. Her work has been included in international exhibitions in Germany, Switzerland and Japan. Publications of her work include American Craft, Metalsmith, Ornament and Lapidary Journal. She has been the recipient of three Individual Fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (1994, 1999 and 2003) and a MidAtlantic/NEA Regional Fellowship (1995.) Her work is part of the permanent collections at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA, the Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, Ohio, the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery, Washington D.C. and the White House Collection of American Crafts, Washington D.C.
Image: Potential and Loss 1, Brooch, Sterling Silver and Felt, 4.5” x 2.75” x 1.5”
Greg Gehner Greg Gehner grew up on a farm in central Illinois where his first metals experience was straightening old nails to fix fences and build tree houses. The brokennosed anvil that was on the farm was only really used as a step stool to explore bolt bins in a soggy old machine shed.
Experimenting with welding, in his friend’s garage, for a high school art project later led him into a sculpture program and eventually metalsmithing and blacksmithing at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He followed college with work for professional blacksmiths as well as a variety of jobs in Vermont and New York including but not limited to: landscaping, logging, carpentry, snowmaking plant controller, welding, and snowcat operator. Alongside all of this work he continued to explore his own sculptural or functional metalwork for exhibition and sale.
Encouraged by some substantial metal work opportunities Greg transitioned into a full time metalsmith. He established Transit Forge with a move to northwestern Pennsylvania and marriage to Metals/Jewelry Professor Cappy Counard of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
Image: Connect Candlesticks, Steel, 4” x 6” x 8”, 2011
Tom Muir Tom Muir is Distinguished Research Professor at Bowling Green State University, where he is head of the Jewelry and Metalsmithing area in the School of Art. He received his MFA from Indiana University, Bloomington, and his BFA degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Mr. Muir has lectured and taught widely, holding positions at universities and craft schools around the country. His awardwinning work has been published and exhibited extensively in art, craft and design exhibitions, in which he has received 10 best of show or first place awards. Collections include the Art Institute of Chicago, Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution and The White House Collection of American Crafts, National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. He is the recipient of an Arts Midwest/National Endowment for the Arts Regional Artist Fellowship, Michigan Council for the Arts Fellowship, and numerous Ohio Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship Awards. In 2009, Tom received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Ohio Designer Craftsmen for having made a major contribution to craft in Ohio.
Image: Twin Risers Teapot, Sterling, 8 ½" x 4" x 14 ½”, 2007
To become a member of SNAG: Visit snagmetalsmith.org/join. Levels and benefits for both standard and student memberships can be found under the Membership Benefits section..
Do you have a topic for the next “WE ARE SNAG” Online exhibition? We’d love to hear it! Email us at: [email protected].