Stifel Fine Arts Center of Oglebay Institute, in partnership with historic Bethany College, will be hosting a national collegiate exhibition of ceramic art in February and March 2025. This exhibit will celebrate and honor the college ceramic artist. The juror will be Earth & Fire 2024 best in show artist George Rodriguez.

The intercollegiate exhibition is the kick-off event for Ceramics Take Over Wheeling, a citywide event celebrating ceramic artists and enthusiasts alike. Galleries and venues across the “Friendly City” are excited to showcase the very best in contemporary and traditional ceramic art during this newly organized 4-day experience.

The awards will be:

1st prize: $2000.00, paid registration to NCECA 2026.

2nd prize: $500.00

3rd prize: $350.00

2 merit awards: $75.00 each

Entry fee: $20.00 for up to 3 pieces

Our Juror:

George Rodriguez, Born and raised in the border city of El Paso, TX, Rodriguez creates highly ornamented, ceramic sculptures, often underlined by a connection to sociopolitical themes. His guardian figures, tomb sculptures, and installations, commemorate and build community. His most recent projects include a permanent installation at the new Kansas City International Airport, a community tile mural at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, and an outdoor public sculpture at CASA of Maryland, an immigration advocacy organization in Baltimore. His sculptures are part of the collections of the National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL; Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C., and the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, Sweden amongst others. Rodriguez holds a BFA from the University of Texas El Paso and an MFA from the University of Washington, Seattle. He is full time faculty at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture in Philadelphia.

Ceramics Take Over Wheeling

We invite you to visit Wheeling, WV on February 20-23 for 4 days and 3 nights of amazing ceramic events! Attend workshops, sit in on a talk, explore the city with 8 art openings and end your trip with a Pottery Throwdown. Visit our unique local restaurants and taverns, fall in love with Oglebay Park and Resort and all the historic charm Wheeling has to offer. There will be plenty to see and do. Lodging packages available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Check out the website for more information. ceramicstakeoverwheeling.com

Important dates:

• Exhibition dates: February 20 - March 29, 2025
• Deadline for entries: December 8, 2024 (11:59 p.m. Mountain Time)
• Juror’s Notification emailed the week of: December 16, 2024
• Opening Reception: February 20, 2025 (6:00-8:00pm)
• Hand delivered drop off at Stifel Fine Arts Center accepted works dates: January 25 - February 4, 2025
• Shipped works accepted January 6– 31 (Shipping is at the cost of the artist; return shipping label must be included, Ship to: Stifel Fine Arts Center, Intercollegiate Exhibit, 1330 National Road, Wheeling WV 26003)
• Pick up dates after the close of the exhibit: April 4 - 12 (unsold work that was originally shipped, will be shipped back to the artist at this time)
   

All entries must be completed online by 11:59 MDT on December 8, 2024 through CaFÈ. You will need to set up a free account at callforentry.org  (Questions? Contact Rick Morgan, Director at rmorgan@oionline.com or call 304-242-7700.

• All works must be made of clay and must be the original work of the artist. 

• A nonrefundable $20 entry fee is required at the time of application.

• Do Not Ship Work With Envelopes Full of Stamps. UPS / Fedex return labels, USPS Click-N-Ship only please.

• No large Installations will be accepted. (If in doubt, get in touch with Kevin Clancy at kclancy@oionline.com)

Application Requirements

Procedures & Requirements:

• All entries must be completed online by 11:59 MDT on December 8, 2024 through CaFÈ. You will need to set up a free account at callforentry.org (Questions? contact Kevin Clancy at kclancy@oionline.com or 304-242-7700.)
• All works must be made of clay and must be the original work of the artist. 
• A nonrefundable $20 entry fee is required at the time of application.

• Artists may submit up to 3 works. You must submit high-resolution images (300 dpi) for the jury process. Bethany College and Stifel Fine Arts Center will use submitted images of accepted works for concurrent online exhibit, documentation, catalog, and promotional materials for this exhibit. 

• Please no shipping peanuts! Shipping materials will be kept for returning work. Only boxes, crates and bins with proper labels including the artist’s contact information and the name of the piece will be kept for repackaging of hand delivered works. Ship accepted works to: Stifel Fine Arts Center, Intercollegiate Exhibit, 1330 National Road, Wheeling WV 26003) Shipped works will be returned to the artist at the artist‘s expense. A return shipping label must be included when originally shipped for the exhibit. We strongly encourage you to insure shipping your work both ways. Bethany College is only responsible for damage to work while it is here on our property not while in transit.

• Works left at Bethany College or Stifel Fine Arts Center more than 30 days past the Pick-up Dates (April 4-12) become the property of Stifel Fine Arts Center and will not be stored.

• Open to visual artists residing in the United States, and currently enrolled in a degree seeking institution.

 Works must have been completed within the last two calendar years and not been previously exhibited at the Stifel Fine Arts Center. 

• All works must be for sale. Bethany College will retain a 30% commission on the sale price.

• Questions? contact Kevin Clancy at kclancy@oionline.com or 304-242-7700
 

Eligibility Criteria

Open to visual artists residing in the United States, and currently enrolled in a degree seeking institution.

A nonrefundable $20 entry fee is required at the time of application.

All works must be made of clay and must be the original work of the artist. 

Artists may submit up to 3 works.

All works must be for sale. Bethany College will retain a 30% commission on the sales price. WV state sales tax will be applied.