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Art Through the Lens 2021 is open to all without restrictions on content. It provides photographers an outlet for their art, encouragement for growth in their vision and presentation and cash rewards for works of exceptional merit.  Each year from the works submitted, 50-70 images are selected for exhibition by a highly qualified juror. $2,000 in cash awards will be given to works of high merit. Art Through the Lens 2021 will be on display from October 2nd-November 13th.

Yeiser Art Center is a non-profit visual arts organization celebrating over sixty years of serving the community with exhibitions and education throughout the Tri-State Region. As the region’s foremost visual art center, YAC brings diversity and excellence in visual arts to Paducah, a designated UNESCO Creative City. The gallery is situated near Paducah’s riverfront at 200 Broadway in the historic 1905 Market House building.

HISTORY
Originating in 1975 as the Paducah Summer Festival Photo Competition, Paducah Photo has grown from a fledgling contest into an international juried exhibition. Over the past 40+ years, this exhibition has become one of the Mid-South’s most prestigious annual photographic events.

In 2013, Paducah was bestowed the honor of being designated a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative Cities Network in the area of Crafts & Folk Art. To embrace both this international honor and reflect the international growth of the exhibition, Paducah Photo took on a new name, Art Through the Lens.

2021 JUROR

Shannon Randol
Shannon Randol (1979) is an Assistant Professor of Photography at Middle Tennessee State University and Curator for The Baldwin Photographic Gallery. Shannon has served in various capacities in the Society for Photographic Education, most recently as Portfolio Coordinator for the annual conferences between 2009-2015. His work has been featured in national and international exhibitions and he is currently completing a body of work addressing boundaries in public spaces.  

SPECIFICATIONS

Artists may submit up to 20 entries. All photo-based imagery created through photographic processes is eligible including non-lens made images. All work submitted must be original, completed in the last three years and not previously exhibited in an Art Through the Lens (or Paducah Photo) exhibition. Size restrictions: No single work may be more than 6 feet in width and 8 feet in height, without advanced approval from YAC. Please contact YAC for approval of oversized submissions.

IMPORTANT DATES:

August 22, Midnight – Deadline to enter

September 2 – Notification of acceptance

September 18, 5pm – Deadline to deliver artwork

October 2 – November 13 – Exhibition open to the public

ENTERING

Entries are submitted solely online through CaFE. This is an international juried exhibition; works will be selected to exhibit by a juror. If one or more of your works should be accepted into the show, you will receive subsequent instructions on final presentation. A nonrefundable entry fee of $10 is required for each photographic artwork submitted for consideration. Entries submitted via email or mail to the Yeiser Art Center will not be accepted. Members of the Yeiser Art Center will be charged a reduced fee of $5 per submission. Please contact the Yeiser Art Center to check the status of your membership and receive the coupon code.

Exhibition dates: October 2, 2021 – November 13, 2021.

NOTIFICATIONS & ACCEPTED ENTRIES

All entries selected for exhibition will be notified by September 2, 2021. Work must arrive at the Yeiser Art Center no later than September 18, 2021, 5pm.

Accepted entries must be shipped prepaid to the Yeiser Art Center, 200 Broadway St, Paducah, KY. Only FedEX, UPS and USPS shippers are allowed. All work must arrive ready to install following museum standards. If not framed, artwork should be ready to hang in a professional manner and all hanging fixtures should be provided, including magnets, L-hooks or other appropriate hardware. For specific shipping or framing questions or concerns, please call YAC at 270-442-2453 or email office@theyeiser.org.

AWARDS

$2,000 in cash awards will be given in the following amounts:

International Exhibition
First Place $1000
Second Place $500
Third Place $250
Honorable Mention $125
Honorable Mention $125

SALES

Sales will be encouraged where works are offered for purchase, but work need not be for sale to enter. Yeiser Art Center will keep a 40% gallery commission on all sales, please price your work accordingly. Work will be insured for the duration of the exhibition for the value of the work, or 60% of the retail price. Artists are responsible for insuring their work during transit to and from the Yeiser Art Center.

Application Requirements

Art Through the Lens 2021 is open to all without restrictions on content.

Eligibility Criteria

Artists may submit up to 20 entries. All photo-based imagery created through photographic processes is eligible including non-lens made images. All work submitted must be original, completed in the last three years and not previously exhibited in an Art Through the Lens (or Paducah Photo) exhibition.