The Southeast Fiber Arts Alliance (SEFAA) and the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts have joined forces to organize, promote, and host a juried student exhibition of creative works in fiber art. The exhibition exclusively features the work of post-secondary students to honor and encourage the next generation of fiber artists, and it showcases a wide range of content, material, and techniques with the common threads of originality and passion. This exhibition is the fifth in the series, with previous Spotlight exhibitions held in Greenville, NC; Athens, GA; Murray, KY; and Greenville, SC.

ELIGIBILITY:   Any undergraduate/graduate student enrolled in a fiber/textile program or independently pursuing a study of fibers/textiles in the Southeast (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or Virginia) at the time of application is eligible to apply.

CALENDAR:        

• October 1, 2020 - Entry Deadline
• November 1, 2020 - Notification of Acceptance (via email)
• December 1-18, 2020 - Deadline for Delivery of Accepted Work
• January 4-23, 2021 - Installation
• TBD - Opening and Reception
• January 23 – May 8, 2021– Exhibition Open
• TBD - Deadline for Pick-up of Artwork

LOCATION:  Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 W. University Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901

AWARDS:           

• First Place - $800
• Second Place - $500
• Third Place - $300
• Honorable Mentions - awarded at the discretion of the juror.
• Handweavers Guild of America, Complex Weavers and Surface Design Association Awards

ENTRY FEE FOR UP TO 3 WORKS:            

• $15 - Individual members of the Southeast Fiber Arts Alliance (SEFAA)
• $30 - Non-members (includes 1-yr student membership in SEFAA)

JUROR: Lauren Sinner is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, teacher, writer, and performer based in Portland, Oregon. She is currently the Managing Editor of  the Surface Design Journal (a quarterly publication exploring contemporary fibers and textiles), a mentor to MFA candidates, and an independent contractor to arts organizations throughout the country. She received her MFA in Applied Craft + Design in 2016 from the joint program between the Oregon College of Art and Craft and the Pacific Northwest College of Art. Her website is laurensinner.com.

WORK REQUIREMENTS:              

• Each student may submit up to three works.
• Submitted work must be original in design and must have been completed between January 1, 2018 and June 1, 2020.
• Work must utilize at least one fiber technique (interlaced, felted, stitched, dyed, coiled, knotted, printed, spun, woven, etc.) and can be of any material.
• Only individual work will be considered; group projects will not be accepted.
• Installation work is allowed with the understanding that The Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts (not the artist) will install and take down the work.
• Work is limited to a weight of 50 pounds including any mounting hardware and/or armature.
• Screws or bolts under one inch (1”) in diameter are allowed for hanging work.
• Work must be able to pass through the entry to the gallery’s receiving area which is 6’10.5” x 5’11.5”.

ENTRY SUBMISSION:    

• Only digital submissions through CaFE (https://admin.callforentry.org/admin/dir_events/fair_preview.php?fair_id=7395) are acceptable. Visit https://www.callforentry.org/how-to-apply-artists for help with the application process
• Each student must submit the following through CaFE:
  • A written description of the inspiration for the work (1,000 characters maximum).
  • Answers to application form questions for each work (materials, techniques, for sale/sale price/NFS, mannequin/pedestal required).
  • One to three jpeg or jpg image files for each work entered.
    • Your images should present your work to best advantage and should give a sense of how your piece “sits” or “hangs.” Detail images should be used to show the technical excellence of the work and/or to highlight special areas of the work.
    • Include a full view with up to two additional detail images for clarification. If your work is 2-D, an overall view and at least one detail view is recommended. If your work is 3-D, consider two alternate overall views and one detail view.
    • Images must be a minimum of 1200 pixels on the longest side.
    • Maximum file size is 5 MB.
    • Images may be color corrected to accurately represent the work but not enhanced in any way.Image editing is limited to cropping and adding/modifying a solid background of white, black or gray.
  • The non-refundable application fee.
• SEFAA members will be emailed a coupon code to enter during CaFE checkout to receive their $15 entry fee discount.
• Payment by credit card or PayPal will be accepted.

SHIPPING:

• All shipping to and from The Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts and shipping insurance costs are the responsibility of the artist.
• Work may be (1) sent by FedEX or (2) hand delivered to the gallery.
  • FedEx packages should arrive between August 10 and August 14, 2020. They should sent to: 
    
    Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts
    Attn:  Madeline Sweeney, Collections Manager
    Florida Institute of Technology
    150 West University Blvd.
    ​Melbourne, FL  32901
     
  • Entries can be hand delivered  to the gallery August 11th through August 14th from 10 am to 3.30 pm.
• Work will be returned ONLY if pre-paid return shipping labels (covering postage and insurance) are included with the initial shipment to Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts.
• Label all packing materials and all work with your name.
• Work will be returned in the packing in which it was received.

INSTALLATION AND EXHIBITION:

• Work must be received ready to display and must include all mounting/display hardware.
• Include clear written installation instructions (supplemented with photos, if appropriate) with each work.
• Two-dimensional work will hang against walls. Three-dimensional work will be free-standing or placed on pedestals or mannequins.
• The Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts will insure all work while it is at the Center.

SALE:

• Sales are permitted for works where a sales price has been declared while applying through CaFE.
• The Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts will provide artist contact information to potential purchasers, so that you can negotiate sales directly. You will be responsible for all sale transactions and for notifying the venue that your work has been sold.
• Commissions:  There is no commission, but you are encouraged to donate a portion of your revenue to the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts, the Southeast Fiber Arts Alliance, or another nonprofit of your choice.
• Sold work must remain on exhibit through the duration of the exhibition.

QUESTIONS?

• Please call or email SEFAA at 678-235-4328 or info@fiberartsalliance.org.
• Please call or email Madeline Sweeny, Gallery Coordinator at msweeney@fit.edu or 312.674.8875.

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria