Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture
College of Charleston
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CALL FOR ENTRIES:
"Mermaid and Merwomen in Black Folklore"
A juried exhibition for art quilters/ doll artists, February 20–March 31, 2009, at the Avery Research Center for African American History & Culture at the College of Charleston
DESCRIPTION
Enslaved Africans along the coast of South Carolina brought some of the first tales of mermaids and merwomen to America. Many of these folktales were stories of African ocean and river goddesses.
Because of the rich oral traditions of these peoples, few if any of these stories were written until they were recorded by collectors of folk tales toward the end of the 19th century.
You are invited to share your visual interpretation of these myths by creating a Black Mermaid/Merwoman in an art doll or art quilt.
SPECIFICATIONS
We are seeking work that is original and innovative. No kits, quilts or dolls made in a workshop with the aid of an instructor. Quilt must be multi-layered and joined by stitching. Dimension in any direction must not exceed 50 inches.
Dolls may not exceed 32 inches in height. If dolls are to be displayed on a stand, the artist will be responsible for providing the stand. If dolls are to be mounted on the wall please make sure it has the necessary hanging apparatus. We welcome both small and large works. Only quilts/dolls created after December 31, 2006 are eligible. Preliminary acceptance will be granted based on the acceptance digital images. Final acceptance will be granted upon the receipt and examination of quilts/dolls. We reserve the right to omit from the exhibition accepted quilts/dolls that do not contain the same qualities as the submitted images. The exhibition coordinators’ decision is final.
CALENDAR
Tuesday, January 20, 2009: Deadline of entry receipt
Tuesday, February 10, 2009: Notification by e-mail of acceptance;
Accepted works posted online at www.cofc.edu/avery/
Thursday, February 12, 2009: Shipping instructions will be e-mailed
Tuesday February 17 through Thursday 19, 2009: Works accepted at Avery Research Center for African American History & Culture at the College of Charleston (quilts/dolls will not be accepted prior to February 12, 2009)
Saturday February 21, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. Opening reception at the Avery Research Center for African American History & Culture at the College of Charleston, South Carolina
Tuesday, March 31, 2009: Exhibition at Avery Research Center closes
April 1 through April 5, 2009: Return of non-touring works
April 2009 Exhibition Opens
Florence Museum of the Arts, History and Science
Florence, South Carolina
April 2009 - May 31, 2009
Opening reception TBA
Mermaid and Merwomen in Black Folklore” will tour as venues allow.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Prospectus
J UR O R S
Jurors will select work for Mermaid and Merwomen in Black Folklore who will judge technique, design, originality, and craftsmanship
Awards
Ribbons will be awarded for excellence in design include: Best in
Show, for art quilt and art doll. Jurors’ Choice and Honorable Mention. All awards are category specific.
SUBMISSION OF WORKS
Mermaid and Merwomen in Black Folklore will be judged via digital images only.
Submit 2 images per quilt /art doll including:
• 1 overall view in full frame, and
• 1 close-up detail view.
(Maximum three works, six images.)
Digital Images
Digital images must be submitted on CD-ROM. Your name (last name, first name) and the name of the submitted quilt/doll with the corresponding file name must be clearly printed on the CD-ROM. Submitted images must be at least 4 x 6 inches (size when printed). The minimum resolution accepted is 300 dpi. All digital images must be named with the file extension .jpg (not .tiff, .tif or .jpeg). All images must be named according to the following convention using letters and numbers only. File names may not be longer than 24
characters.
Last name/First initial/Quiltname.jpg.
Example: A Lovely Mermaid Quilt, by Susan Jones=
JonesSAlovelymermaidqu.jpg
ACCEPTED WORKS
Images of works will not be returned. They will be kept in the Avery Research Center archives. Artist will be notified of acceptance no later than February 10, 2009. Shipping instructions will be e-mailed upon notification of acceptance Because of limited storage facilities between venues, accepted works must be free of odors that can be transferred from quilt to quilt such as tobacco, perfume and animal smells. Works that do not comply with this stipulation will be returned to the artist.
COMMISSION
The Avery Research Institute does not act as an agent and takes no
commission on sales. The Avery Research Center makes every effort to connect artists with interested parties.
SHIPPING AND INSURANCE
Accepted quilts/dolls may be hand delivered or shipped to:
Avery Research Center for African American History & Culture
College of Charleston,
125 Bull Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29424-0001.
All shipping and in-transit insurance costs are the responsibility of the artist. Shipping instructions will be e-mailed
with the acceptance package.
PUBLICITY AND TRAVEL
Artist’s permission to include work in a traveling exhibition is not a prerequisite to being shown. Works may be shown on Avery Research Center, Florence Museum of the Arts, History, and Science websites. Other websites to be announced. Printed materials for Avery Research Center and the Florence Museum may be created. If you prefer not to have a photo of your quilt published in any publication (the artist retains all rights), your name will be listed with the words “image not available.” Artist’s permission to publish an image of their work in the above media is not a prerequisite to
being shown at the Avery Research Center and the Florence Museum of the Arts, History and Science.
ENTRY FEE
Entry Fee: $25 for three quilts or dolls. Money orders must be made to “Avery Research Center,” expressing that the funds are for the entry fee to” Mermaids and Merwomen” on the note line.
Acceptable payment is in money order in US dollars. We are unable to process credit cards or checks drawn on international banks.
CONTACT
Contact: Avery Reseach Center at www.cofc.edu/avery/ for prospectus, entry form, and questions.
All entry materials must be postmarked by January 20, 2009
Accepted entries will be posted online at www.cofc.edu/avery
Artist____________________________________________
Street____________________________________________
City ____________________State ________Zip__________
Daytime phone ____________________________________
Evening phone _ ___________________________________
Email____________________________________________
Signature_________________________________________
Date_____________________________________________
Yes____ No____ Do you give permission for images of your
quilt(s) to be used by The Avery Research Center for African American History & Culture at the College of Charleston
for documentation or publicity?
Yes____ No____ Are you interested in having your quilt(s)
included in a traveling exhibition?
Yes____ No____ Will you hand deliver your quilt(s)?
_____ Total number of quilts to be considered (3 maximum).
_____ Total number of images submitted (6 maximum).
_____ Check here if you wish your work to travel.
ENTRY CHECK LIST
--Do not send unsolicited material. Do not staple entry material.
--Check made out to Avery Research Center in US dollars-$25 fee
--Correctly labeled digital images on CD-ROM.
This form and completed entry form for each piece.
Artist statement and biography (150 words max each).
Self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient postage and
correct size envelope for the return of entry materials.
Mail all entry materials to:
Mermaid and Merwomen in Black Folklore
c/o Torreah Washington
2226 Wood Ave. - Suite B
Charleston, SC 29414
Do not send any entry materials directly to The Avery Research Center.
Q u i l t #1
Artist(s) __________________________________________
________________________________________________
(Include all people involved in the quilt’s creation)
Title_____________________________________________
Year completed_____________________________________
(Must be after December 31, 2006)
Dimensions ____________ inches high x_______ inches wide
Techniques________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Materials_ ________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Insurance value in US dollars $_ _______________________
If something unfortunate happens to your quilt while at the
Avery Research Center, please be prepared to substantiate your claim.
The insurance value cannot exceed the price unless the quilt is
not for sale (NFS).
Indicate sale price in US dollars $_______________________
or circle NFS if the quilt is not for sale.
Quilt statement (25 words max)________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Below space for use of the Avery Research Center only.
Entry #__________________
Postmark date_______________
Money Order #_______________
Art work title/name__________________________________________
Q u i l t #2
Artist(s) __________________________________________
________________________________________________
(Include all people involved in the quilt’s creation)
Title_____________________________________________
Year completed_____________________________________
(Must be after December 31, 2006)
Dimensions _________ inches high x__________ inches wide
Techniques________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Materials_ ________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Insurance value in US dollars $_ _______________________
If something unfortunate happens to your quilt while at the
The Avery Research Center for African American History & Culture
at the College of Charleston please be prepared to substantiate your claim.
The insurance value cannot exceed the price unless the quilt is not for sale.
Indicate sale price in US dollar $_______________________
or circle NFS if the quilt is not for sale.
Quilt statement (25 words max)________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Below space for use of the Avery Research Center only.
Entry #__________________
Postmark date_______________
Money Order #_______________
Art work title/name__________________________________________
Q u i l t #3
Artist(s) __________________________________________
________________________________________________
(Include all people involved in the quilt’s creation)
Title_____________________________________________
Year completed_____________________________________
(Must be after December 31, 2006)
Dimensions _________ inches high x__________ inches wide
Techniques________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Materials_ ________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Insurance value in US dollars $_ _______________________
If something unfortunate happens to your quilt while at the
The Avery Research Center for African American History & Culture
at the College of Charleston, please be prepared to substantiate your claim.
The insurance value cannot exceed the price unless the quilt is
not for sale.
Indicate sale price in US dollars $_______________________
or circle NFS if the quilt is not for sale.
Quilt statement (25 words max)________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Below space for use of the Avery Research Center only.
Entry #__________________
Postmark date_______________
Money Order #_______________
Art work title/name__________________________________________
Mermaid image by: Joelle Colville 1999