“Small Matter” is a national juried exhibition hosted by the 437Co Art Gallery, Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado. The exhibition is open to all US-based artists 18 years of age and older working in 2D and 3D media. Entries must be original works created within the last five years, and not previously exhibited at the CMU Art Gallery. Artists may submit up to three works with a $35 entry fee. Accepted works will be exhibited at 437Co in downtown Grand Junction, CO from Dec. 2, 2024, to Jan. 28, 2025. The 437Co Art Gallery is pleased to announce that the exhibition will be juried by Adam Hawk, head of the Digital Fabrication & Design area at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he teaches Blacksmithing, Jewelry, and Metalsmithing. There will be $1,000 in cash awards given to Best of Show ($500), 1st Place ($300), and 2nd Place ($200). The BEST of the show will have a solo exhibition opportunity in the CMU 437Co Art Gallery in Fall 2025 or 2026.

JUROR: Adam Hawk (https://adamhawk.com/) is a metal studio artist and Assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Hawk earned his MFA in metalsmithing/blacksmithing from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and BFA in Sculpture and Computer Fine Art from Memphis College of Art. 

Hawk has served as an assistant professor at Memphis College of Art and worked as a blacksmith at the National Ornamental Metal Museum. His work has been exhibited at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Walter Anderson Museum, Fuller Craft Museum, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, the HOW art museum in Shanghai, China, The Villa Braghieri in Italy, and the LA Joaillerie par Mazio in Paris, France. Most recently, Hawk has participated in a 2-person exhibition at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, a solo exhibition at the Appalachian Center for Crafts and was included in an exhibition at the National Metal Museum titled 40 Under 40, which “explores the next generation of influential American metal artists.”

Application Requirements

Specifications:

· Works must not exceed 12” in any direction

· Works must arrive exhibition-ready

· 2D Works must be complete with hanging wire – no saw-tooth hangers or clip frames

· 3D Works must not weight more than 30 lbs.

Works not gallery-ready, not stable, differing significantly from the entry images, or lacking in presentation or craftsmanship may be omitted from the show. For any works requiring special installation or assemblage, installation will be required on-site by the exhibiting artist.

Eligibility Criteria

The exhibition is open to all artists 18 years of age and older, living in the United States. All forms of 2D and 3D art are accepted including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, graphic & digital art, mix media, sculpture, ceramics, fiber, glass, and metal arts. Pieces should not exceed 12” in any direction. Entries must be original works created within the last five years, and not previously exhibited at the CMU Art Gallery. All accepted works must be in the custody of 437Co Art Gallery for the duration of the exhibition.