On Sunday, March 5th, applicants my come to the gallery at 11:00am where members will be available to answer questions about the application process.  You may also call the gallery during regular business hours for additional information. W-F, 12-6pm; Sa & Su, 12-5pm.

SOAG gallery members:

• Show artwork in the main gallery space once every two years in a shared show or a once every four years in a solo show.
• Show individual artwork in the Salon or group shows at least eight times a year.
• Collaborate with a creative group of local artists to promote visual arts sales in Ithaca
• Benefit from the support of fellow artist members
• Staff the gallery each month for 5-6 hours, and sign up for gallery cleaning once a year.
• Attend gallery openings and special events.
• Pay annual membership dues (currently $355 annually), 10% commission to gallery for artwork sold, and exhibition fees.
• Attend monthly membership meetings.
• Participate in running the gallery by working on at least one committee including membership, reception, installation, publicity, internship, technical support, special events, gallery operations and/or marketing.

What is SOAG looking for in selecting new artist members?

• Original vision
• Quality craftsmanship
• Record of creative accomplishment
• Presentation of work
• Commitment to the cooperative vision of the gallery

 Portfolio Guidelines

SOAG Membership Application Process

The gallery maintains a membership roster of 30 members.  Applications for membership are reviewed once a year in early spring, when vacancies are available. This year there are openings for up to two new artist members.  Applications are due by March 7, 2017.  Upon review, applicants will be invited for portfolio presentation and interview on March 13. You will bring 8-12 pieces of actual work, along with the aforementioned portfolio.  Bring finished artwork that is framed, wired, and ready to hang. Members will ask questions about your technique, method, and motivations; and what skills you would bring to help run the gallery. You can ask us questions about the gallery, tell us why you’re interested in being a member, and any additional information that you would like us to know about you. Final determination of new members will be made in April 2017 by a vote of the membership.

click her for additional portfolio review guidelines

Applicants submit:

• 12 – 20 digital images with list of works including title, medium, size and date for each image.
• Resume, record of exhibitions
• artist statement
• Email all application materials to: Membership@soagithaca.org.

Applications for membership for 2017 are due 3/7/17.  Click here for additional info.

A thorough portfolio should consist of your resume, including any art-related activity you’ve been involved in over the years, your art background and education, your bio and artist statement. This gives us an idea of your art experience, as does a list of exhibitions, if you have one.  This is a list of the places you’ve shown work and how long you’ve been exhibiting.  The number of years making art or the number of exhibitions are not necessarily factors in determining membership, but it’s nice to see what the artist has been up to.  Younger, or less experienced artists may not have shown much, but one can usually spot serious intent.  Art school helps, but obviously does not an artist make. These things give us an idea of who you are, and where you’re coming from.

 

The points below are stated to help artists applying for membership in the State of the Art Gallery understand how the process works. When reviewing new membership applications, the gallery strives to maintain a balance of styles and media. We also value persons who support the cooperative nature of the gallery and the responsibility of membership. We use the points in A-E as guides for discussion. They are not hard and fast rules, rather, they give us a framework in which to discuss an applicant’s work. It should be noted that a decision not to accept is sometimes accompanied by suggestions for future work with a hope that the applicant will reapply after an appropriate period. In fact, several successful, current members have been through a similar process of applying more than once.

A. Originality/Vision

Is there something that makes this person’s work unique and/or memorable?

B. High Technical Craftsmanship

Does the work demonstrate skillful use of the media, good composition, use of color where applicable, value and form?

C. Seriousness of Purpose/Maturity/Record of Accomplishment

Is there consistency that distinguishes the work? Is there a record of exhibition/shows or other evidence of serious intent? Has the artist clearly expressed his/her ideas clearly and/or creatively?

D. Presentation of Work

Is the work framed/based/mounted in a professional way?

E. Commitment to the Mission of the gallery.

Has the applicant expressed knowledge of gallery member responsibilities and willingness to perform them? Is there an expectation of long-term membership and financial commitment?

Applications for membership for 2017 are due 3/7/17.  Click here for additional info.

CALL for ENTRIES

 

The State of the Art Gallery

120 West State Street

Ithaca, New York 14850

 

28th Annual Juried Photography Show

Exhibit Dates: Wednesday, March 1– Sunday, April 2, 2017

 

Up to $600 may be awarded at the discretion of the prize judge.

 

Submission Deadline:  Friday, February 10, 2017, by 5pm.

 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Each entrant may submit up to two (2) works.
• All work should be reasonably current (within the last 3 years) and original.
• If accepted into the show, the work must be delivered ready to hang (matted, framed with glass

or plexiglass in front and with a wire or suitable, secure hardware for hanging in the back).

• A photographic process must have been used in the production of the work. (Scanned work

is acceptable, digital art that did not originate from a photographic process-is not).

• The work should not have been submitted to SOAG in the past.
• Current SOAG members and their immediate families are not eligible to exhibit in this show.
• The Entry Fee of $35.00 is non-refundable and does not guarantee that your work will

be accepted into the show.

The Entry Fee can be paid by PayPal at:

 

 

Or by check made out to:  State of the Art Gallery , postmarked by February 10, 2017 and mailed to:

 

David Watkins Jr.

201 Hillview Place

Ithaca, New York 14850

 

• Work will not be accepted after the stated deadlines.

 

SUBMISSION OF WORK-all required

Please mail/e-mail your entries to: David Watkins Jr. at:   dow1@cornell.edu

• Your Contact Information: List the Artist Name, Address, phone number, and e-mail address in the body of the e-mail.
• Images of up to two (2) works can be submitted. They must be jpegs at 150 pxi, between

800 and 1200 pixels on the long side and labeled with the artist’s name, followed by the image

number 01 or 02. (example: d.watkins01.jpg, d.watkins02.jpg)

• An image list (Filename, Title, Size, Medium, Price) must also be submitted with all entries.
• If submitting by e-mail is problematic, please send a CD with your fee and all information as

outlined above.  CD’s cannot be returned. Do not send prints.

 

 

ACCEPTED WORK: Deadline and Notifications

• All entries must be received by 5pm Friday, Feb.10th and will be jury-reviewed

by Wednesday, Feb.15th.  Entrants will be notified by e-mail of acceptance or rejection.

• The exhibit will be curated by members of the gallery. After installation a Judge from outside the gallery will determine prizes and how the prize money will be distributed. Winners may be notified privately prior to the opening reception so that they may plan to attend the award ceremony.  The awards will be presented at 6:30pm during the opening reception Friday,

March 3, 2017.

 

DELIVERY of ACCEPTED WORK to THE GALERY

• Work, ready for hanging, must be delivered to the gallery in person or by a

designated substitute on:

Sunday, February 26, 2017 between noon and 5 pm; or

Monday, February 27, 2017 between noon and 4 pm. 

• Work cannot be accepted after 4pm Monday as installation of the show begins shortly after.
• Work may not be shipped or mailed to the gallery.
• The gallery retains the right to deny access to the show if the images delivered are substantially

different from those submitted to the jury or, if the work is not ready for hanging.

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Submissions to the SOAG 28^th Annual Juried Photography Show shall imply an agreement on the part of the artists to all conditions of this prospectus. Permission for SOAG to photograph accepted works for publicity, education, and reference purposes is assumed.

 

SALES

Sale of the work is encouraged. Work will be offered for sale with the understanding that there is a 30% commission for each sale.  Work that is sold during the show should remain on display until the end of the show.  Exceptions may be made for sales to out of town buyers.

 

INSURANCE

While the State of the Art Gallery, its members and agents will make every effort to protect

your work, we cannot indemnify you against loss or damage to your work. In submitting to

the show you agree that the State of the Art Gallery is not liable and must be held harmless if

your work is damaged or lost.

 

PICK-UP of ART at the END of the SHOW

• All works must be retrieved personally by artists or designated associates on:

Sunday, April 2, 2017 from 1pm-5pm.

• Please understand that the gallery has no facility to store your work.

 

CALENDAR

February 10, 2017, 5pm.        Deadline for all entries.

February 15-17, 2017             Notification of acceptance/rejection.

February 26, 2017                  Delivery of works 12-5 pm

February 27, 2017                  Delivery of works 1-4 pm

March 1, 2017                        Exhibit opens

March 3, 2017                        Opening Reception 5-8 pm

March 3, 2017                        Awards ceremony 6:30 pm

April 2, 2017                          Exhibit closes 5pm

April 2, 2017                          Pick up work 1-5 pm

 

Call for Entries, FAQs, and Exhibitor Agreement will be on the web site: www.soagithaca.org

SOAG Photo Show Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. Should my entries represent a particular kind of photographic approach?

 

No.  They may be traditionally or digitally produced and printed. There are no content, size or age specifications either.   Manipulations of the image are acceptable as long as they begin with a photographic process. Scanned images are acceptable.

 

2. How much paperwork is there to fill out?

 

We have two forms.  The first is the Call for Entries that is published on the gallery web site about two months before the deadline for submissions and sent via e-mail to the gallery mailing list.   The second is an Exhibitors Agreement, a form on which the entrant gives us complete contact information, information about the work being submitted, the relevant dates during the show, and the agreement concerning the works between the gallery and the entrant.  That form is filled out when the entrant brings their work to the gallery.   It may be filled out ahead of time but please bring two copies with your work.

 

3. Why do you need two labels on each photograph submitted?

 

We do ask for two (2) labels.  One must be permanently affixed to the back of the photograph and one temporarily affixed with tape to the edge of the frame so that they hang down over the front of the photograph.  The label on the back assures that we know the owner of the photograph when the show comes down. The label affixed to the front is used to make sure we place the right wall label with the correct photograph.  The gallery produces the wall labels for the show in order to be consistent and look professionally created.

Each label from the entrant should include: name, title, medium  (ex: archival inkjet print, or silver gelatin print etc. etc.), and price or NFS if not for sale.

 

4. How many photographs from each entrant do you usually accept into the show?

 

It varies according to each jury.  There is no set rule.  Sometimes we take two, sometimes one and sometimes the jury decides that neither entry will be chosen for the show.  The jury strives to upgrade the quality of the show each year so there is no guarantee given to any entrant.

 

5. Why should the work I submit be recent?

 

As we noted above, we try to make sure that each year the show represents the best work possible and not simply agree to show anything submitted.  The more current the work is, the more likely it will represent current photographic trends and practice.

 

 

 

 

 

6. If my work is accepted into the show, does presentation still matter?

 

Yes.  Even though the jury process is done electronically/digitally, how the work appears when it is brought to the gallery for inclusion in the show is important.  In general, standard gallery approaches to matting and framing should be followed.  Narrow, black, wood and/or metal frames are preferred that compliment the photograph while not dominating it.  The photographs should be under glass or plexi-glass.  Non-colored mats are also preferred because they focus the attention on the photograph and not the mat.  Mats should extend on average from 1 1/2 to 3 inches from edge of the photograph to the edge of the frame. This is not a hard and fast rule, just a general acknowledgment of good presentation practice.  Frames need not be expensive, just simple, professional looking and complimentary of the work.

 

Images today can also be printed on metal, ceramic, wood and glass.  The work must be ready to hang which generally means a wire across the back or clearly identified secure devices from which to hang the work.  Finally, the jury reserves the right to turn down any submission that is not presented in a professional manner, exclusive of the content.

 

 

7. Are your rules and deadlines for submission of work hard and fast?

 

Absolutely.  We accept no entries after published deadlines.  The jury begins it’s work very soon after the deadline for entries passes so it’s really not fair to those who manage to get their work in on time if we accept late entries.  Also, two entries means two entries.  Every year a few people try to convince us to take more than the allotted two entries.  We don’t.

 

 

8. How does the jury and prize process work?

 

After all the entries are in, a panel of members from the gallery made up primarily of experienced photographers, decide what will be accepted for the show.  After the show is hung, a prize judge, selected from outside the membership of the gallery, looks at the show and she or he decides how the prize money will be awarded.  The prize judge is different each year. We try to find experienced, respected and successful photographers and/or teachers of photography and imaging arts in order to make the experience for the entrants a meaningful process.

 

 

9. If my work is rejected an/or accepted does it diminish my chances for being accepted in future shows?

 

Absolutely not!  We encourage everyone to enter each year.  Being rejected is not an indication that your work will be rejected in future years nor does acceptance or winning a prize in a given year guarantee acceptance the following year or years.  Each year the jury may be different as is the prize judge. For many artists/photographers rejection from a given show can provide insight and creative stimulus to change and/or see a path for improvement in their work.  However, one should not change a direction if the belief in that work is strong and directed.  As we noted, a different jury in all likelihood may have different criteria for judging.

 

 

10. Does it help if my work is for sale?

 

Yes!  It has no bearing on whether or not the work is accepted into the show but we encourage everyone to offer their work for sale.  It enhances the value of the show and helps to promote the idea that it is a relevant, professional offering.  That being said, we will not reject a good work if the artist does not want to offer it for sale.