Tennessee Craft seeks entries for its Best of Tennessee Craft Exhibition, to encourage and promote a high standard of excellence and design among Tennessee craft artists and to provide public visibility and recognition for the quality and diversity of craft found in Tennessee. The exhibition is open to original works of craft created by artists 18 years or older, who are current residents of Tennessee, including students. 

Up to 75 pieces of artwork will be selected for this craft exhibition, hosted by the Customs Museum, located in Clarksville, Tennessee. Dates for the public exhibition are August 04 through October 14, 2018. A reception will be held Saturday, August 04 from 5 to 7 pm CST.

Original artwork only. Any commercially-made embellishments must be subordinate to the handcrafted work. Finished pieces must show a manipulation of the materials and originality in design to be eligible. For upcycled/recycled artwork, including jewelry, the finished pieces must show a manipulation of the materials and originality in design beyond the purchased or found components to be eligible. In addition, CAD- or CNC-assisted works are not allowed unless the generated components are subordinate to the finished artwork. Artwork produced with commercial kits, molds, patterns, plans, prefabricated forms or other commercial methods are ineligible.

Eligible craft include: basketry, clay, fiber/textiles, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper, printmaking, sculpture, wood and other.

§  Basketry: Functional and sculptural works where the material used is woven or plaited.

§  Clay: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is clay. All original clay and porcelain work other than jewelry is accepted in this category. No machine-made or mass produced work is permitted. Molds, if used, must be made by the artist and subordinate to the overall finished work.

§  Fiber/Textiles: Wall hangings, quilts, rugs, wearable items, etc. where the primary material is fiber are to be entered in this category.

§  Glass: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is glass. No forms of mass production are permitted.

§  Jewelry: Work made from precious or semi-precious materials as well as other materials such as glass, ceramic, paper, fiber, wood, leather, polymer clay, etc. Any commercially-made embellishments must be subordinate to the handcrafted work. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed.

§  Leather: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material used is leather.

§  Metal: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is metal, and includes all non-sculptural, non-jewelry works crafted from metals. No production studio work is allowed. In addition, CAD- or CNC-assisted works are not allowed unless the generated components are subordinate to the finished artwork.

§  Mixed Media: Work that is three-dimensional and the primary intention of the work is the union of two or more media. Note: Jewelry is not considered mixed media.

§  Paper: Functional and sculptural work created primarily from paper.

§  Printmaking: Printed works from which the artist's hand manipulated the plates, stones or screens and which have been properly signed and numbered as a limited edition, may be entered in this category.

§  Wood: Functional, including furniture, and sculptural work where the primary material is wood. Original works must be hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved.

§  Other: Work made from components which fall outside of media categories not previously listed. Examples might include musical instruments, brooms, kaleidoscopes and the like.

ENTRIES AND ELIGIBILITY
Artists may submit up to three (3) craft pieces for exhibit consideration. Each piece should be represented by one image; no detail views or images depicting the same piece from multiple angles. The competition is open to all craft artists 18 years or older, who are current residents of Tennessee, including students. Work must be original, not previously exhibited at a Best of Tennessee Craft Exhibition, and within generally accepted craft media. No person shall be excluded from entry on the grounds of race, national origin, sex, disability, or age.

GUEST JUROR
The 2018 Best of Tennessee Craft Exhibition will be juried by Kathryn Hall, curator at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft in Houston, Texas. Ms. Hall will select works for the exhibition from the submitted entries.

Kathryn Hall received a BA in Art History from Wofford College and an MA in Art History from the University of Georgia. Ms. Hall is a scholar of contemporary craft and material culture. She has contributed to numerous publications including Metalsmith Magazine and Studio Potter Magazine, and most recently juried the Surface Design Association’s Exhibition in Print (Winter 2017) with Richard Elliott. Ms. Hall currently serves on the ClayHouston board, an organization that supports ceramic artists working in Houston and the surrounding area.

AWARDS
Guest Juror Kathryn Hall will select works to receive cash awards, including a $1,000 Best of Show.

JURYING
Jurying will be conducted solely from images submitted through callforentry.org.

ENTRY FEE
A single non-refundable fee of $40 ($35 for current Tennessee Craft members using coupon code "MBR18" at checkout) for up to three (3) works, payable by check, credit or debit card, must be included at the time of application at CaFE’.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRY
All entry forms must be electronically submitted no later than midnight June 01, 2018. Printed applications and/or mailed submissions will not be accepted.

SALES
Artists will handle all sales and set retail prices. The Customs Museum will not be directly involved in financial transactions between artists and buyers.

Artwork available for purchase should be labeled “For Sale” when shipped/delivered to the Museum, with the retail price clearly marked (if different than the insurance value). Prospective buyers will be given an artist’s contact information and instructed to contact the artist directly.

Sold artwork must remain on display for the duration of the exhibit. Artists should arrange either for the buyer to pick up the work after the exhibition is over or for artwork to be shipped to the buyer (if artist will not be picking up).

TRANSPORTATION/DELIVERY/INSTALLATION
Work must be ready to hang or display. The artist must furnish any special hanging or display devices, including a mount if it is necessary for display, or, if it is meant to hang, including hanging equipment (e.g. a measured slat with pre-attached Velcro).

Hanging pieces without hanging equipment (E.g., cleats/Velcro and corresponding slat/hanging rings, etc.) will not be displayed, or if there is available space, and at the Museum’s discretion, they may be laid flat. Artists should note any special handling or care of artwork on a separate sheet of paper, included in the shipping container with artwork.

Each artist is responsible for the cost of transporting artwork to and from the Museum as well as insurance while in transit to and from the Museum. Artwork may be shipped or hand-delivered. If shipped, all artwork must include an artist-provided return shipping label included in the shipped artwork at the time the work is received by the Museum. Note: FedEx is the shipping company of choice. All work must be packed in strong reusable containers.

Neither Tennessee Craft nor the Customs House Museum will be responsible for breakage due to incorrect packing or inadequate containers. Artists will be notified immediately regarding work which arrives in damaged condition. Damaged work, or work that is damaged in transit, will not be exhibited and will be returned to the artist using the artist-provided shipping label. Alternatively, the artist may pick up the damaged work from the Museum in person.

If shipping, artists are responsible for checking with the shipper regarding insurance and correct packing procedures. All artwork shipped must include a return shipping label provided by the artist at the time the artwork is delivered to the Museum for the exhibit. Additionally, please make certain that the package will NOT arrive at the Museum on the weekend when there is no certified registrarial staff on duty to receive it and take it to secure storage.

Ship to:
Attn.: Terri Jordan
Customs House Museum
200 South Second Street
Clarksville, TN 37040

All work to be exhibited, whether hand-delivered or shipped to the Museum, must be received between Tues., July 17 and Friday, July 27, 2018 (or in-person on Mondays, if arranged in advance). Please note that the Museum is closed on Mondays.

Artists wishing to hand-deliver their artwork to the Museum may do so during normal business hours, which are as follows:

Monday – closed to public / but delivery possible, if arranged in advance
Tuesday to Friday – 10 am to 5 pm, CST
Saturday – 10 am to 5 pm, CST
Sunday – 1 to 5 pm, CST

To make a reservation or for any specific hand-delivery instructions, contact Curator of Exhibits Terri Jordan at 931-648-5780 x.38 or terri@customshousemuseum.org.

The Customs House Museum will use the same shipping/delivery method used by the artist for return of artwork, unless artwork has been sold and the artist makes other arrangements with the buyer. Unsold artwork will be returned using shipping label(s) provided by the artist or may be picked up in person.

If picking up artwork, artists must make a reservation for pick-up between Tues., Oct. 16 and Fri., Oct. 26, 2018. Please contact Museum staff for a specific day and pick-up time. Please note that the Museum is closed on Mondays.

Final Note: If invited to exhibit, detailed artwork delivery-related information will be provided to each invited artist.

LIABILITY
The Customs House Museum will fully insure the exhibit entries against physical loss or damage for the insurance value indicated. The work cannot be insured if no value is indicated. Coverage is from the time of receipt at the Museum until it is shipped out again after the exhibition. The policy contains the usual exclusions for loss or damage that occurs by any event beyond the control of Museum. During return shipment, the insurance regulations of your selected method of return will be in effect. The artist must provide any additional insurance if needed.

IMPORTANT DATES
June 01: Deadline for receipt of entries
July 01: Notification of selection
July 17 – 27: Receipt of selected work at the Customs House Museum
August 04 to October 14: Exhibition open to public
August 04: Public reception, 5 to 7 pm CST
Oct. 16 – 26: Work returned to artist using artist- provided shipping labels or may be picked up in person