CUPS OF CONTEMPLATION

October 14 - November 8, 2024

The University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art is pleased to announce Cups of Contemplation, an exhibition celebrating the rich variety of well-crafted contemporary ceramic cup forms being made by artists and potters from across the U.S. 

Whether you are enjoying a warm cup of coffee or tea, or sipping your favorite libation, drinking from a well-crafted, hand-made ceramic cup can elevate your experience. Cup forms are the most intimate of ceramic art objects offering both a visual and tactile experience. Held carefully in the hands, you feel their weight, their volume, their size, their texture. They are personal forms of art that connect you to the maker. Drinking from a thoughtfully hand-made cup can transform a mundane moment into a meaningful experience of pause, reflection, and contemplation.

This exhibition will be shown in tandem with the Southern Miss Ceramics National, 2024. 

AWARDS: Both monetary and non-monetary awards will be presented

ENTRY FEE: $20 for up to three entries

DEADLINE FOR ENTRY: August 1, 2024 

JURORS: Tom and Elaine Coleman

Tom and Elaine Coleman are two of the most highly recognized ceramic artists in the U.S. Tom is known for his fine crafted wheel thrown functional pottery and his remarkable glazes. Elaine is known for her elegant carved porcelain and celadon glazed pottery, often depicting botanical patterns, frogs, lizards, birds, and dragonflies. Tom and Elaine met in college in 1964 when attending the Museum Art School (now Pacific Northwest College of Art), in Portland, OR. They married in 1967 and have been working alongside each other ever since.

Through the years they have both received numerous honors and awards for their ceramic work and have been published extensively throughout their career. Their ceramic works are included in museums and in public and private collections throughout the U.S. and abroad. Some of these include the Canton Museum of Art, Canton, OH, the State of Colorado Permanent Collection, Steamboat Springs, CO, the Portland Museum of Art, Portland, OR, the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery, Washington, DC, the Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI, the Long Beach Art Museum, Long Beach, CA, Grimmerhus Museum, Fyn, Denmark, Sapporo Japan Sister City Collection, Sapporo, Japan, the American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA, San Angelo Museum of Art, San Angelo, TX, the Wooster College Art Museum, Wooster, OH, and many, many others.

Together, they have dedicated their life to honing their craft, and to teaching and sharing their knowledge of ceramics. Currently they own and operate Coleman Clay Studio and Gallery in Henderson, NA. We are greatful and honored to have them both serve together as jurors for our 2024 exhibitons Cups of Contemplation and The Southern Miss Ceramics National at The University of Southern Mississippi.

CALENDAR:

• Entry Deadline: August 1, 2024
• Jury Notification: September 1
• Receipt of Works: September 9-23
• Installation begins: September 25
• Show Opens: October 14
• Closing Reception: November 7 or 8 (TBA)
• Return of Works: November 9-15, 2024

ABOUT THE MUSEUM: The University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art was established in 1997 by the Mississippi Institute of Higher Learning Board of Trustees as an expansion of the C.W. Wood Gallery founded in 1977. Completed in 2014, the Gallery of Art and Design, a 2000 sq.ft. contemporary art gallery, is now the primary exhibition space for all USM Museum of Art exhibitions and events. 

Application Requirements

GUIDELINES FOR ENTRY AND IMAGE SIZE: All entries will require the following: Artists name, title of entry, medium (type of clay, other media, and firing method), size (H x W x D inches), insurance value, year completed, and a brief artist statement about work submitted.

Up to 3 entries may be submitted. Each entry will require the upload of 1 digital JPEG images, 72 dpi, no more than 5 MB for each image and no smaller than 1920 pixels on the longest side.

Eligibility Criteria

ELIGIBILITY: Cups of Contemplation is open to all US residents, 18 years of age or older. All cup forms are eligible (mug, yunomi, chawan, tumbler, goblet, pilsner, high ball, low ball, cocktail, sniffer, or flute, etc.) Cup size should not exceed 8x6x6 inches (HxWxD). Sales will be encouraged. All entries must be original and available for the duration of the exhibit. Accepted works cannot be substituted.

SHIPPING AND DELIVERY: Artists are responsible for all shipping and delivery costs. Works should be shipped to arrive only during the “Receipt of Works” window, Sept. 9-23. Works need to be delivered no later than September 23, 2024, unless otherwise arranged with the museum director. Detailed shipping instructions will be sent to all participating artists. Hand-deliveries are welcome and can be arranged with prior notification. 

INSURANCE: The University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art will provide insurance coverage for all artwork while on the USM campus and gallery premises. Insurance for artworks while in transit to and from USM is the responsibility of the artist. USM is not liable for any damage or loss that occurs during transit.

SALES: Cup sales will be encouraged. Works can be available for purchase or listed as NFS (Not for Sale). Commission will not be taken on any sales.

USE OF IMAGERY: The University of Southern Mississippi reserves the right to use images of selected artwork for marketing and publicity purposes without compensation for this and any future exhibitions. High-resolution images will be requested for all accepted entries.

COVID-19 CONTINGENCY: If COVID-19 or any other pandemic or natural disaster were to cause temporary closing of the university art gallery or disruption of this campus event, this juried exhibition will be moved to a fully online exhibition. 

QUESTIONS OR MORE INFORMATION: For questions or more information, please contact Museum Director, Mark Rigsby, mark.rigsby@usm.edu, (601) 266-5200.