April 1-30: Entry applications accepted
May 21: Artists notified
June 14: Accepted entries due at Vesterheim
July 2 – December 31: Exhibition on display*
January 2022: Work returned to Artists
Socially Distanced, Creatively Connected
A special juried folk-art exhibition highlighting pandemic creativity
Important Dates:
Sponsored by:
The Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs; The National Endowment for the Arts; and Decorah Bank & Trust Co.
Questions:
Contact Lea Lovelace, Director of Folk Art Education.
Photographs for Submission
Works chosen for this exhibition will be selected and juried through an all-digital process. As such, it is vital that you spent time to document your pieces well. The quality of your images should effectively communicate the intent and craftsmanship of your work to the jurors. Take time to make good documentation photos. Poor image quality could affect how your work is perceived in the juried process.
To help with photo submissions, we have prepared a set of photo submission guidelines for you.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many interruptions across the globe, creativity and the freedom of artistic expression has flourished.
Socially Distanced, Creatively Connected is a special juried folk-art exhibition highlighting pandemic creativity and featuring submissions from many kinds of folk art. Carrying forward the spirit and mission of Vesterheim Folk Art School, the exhibition will include woodworking, rosemaling, knifemaking, blacksmithing, jewelry, weaving, and fiber arts and will be on view in Vesterheim’s main building from July 2 to December 31, 2021.
Entry Submission guidelines
Entry fees are $20/entry. Limit: 2 (total) entries per person.
We will start taking entries on April 1. Please check back then to submit your entry. Complete instructions and the online entry form will be available here. If you cannot submit a digital entry, accommodations will be made.
Artwork accepted and shown in Socially Distanced, Creatively Connected will not be eligible as entries in future National Norwegian-American Folk Art Exhibitions.
Works on exhibit will not be for sale.
Eligibility Guidelines
Work must have been completed between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021 and be available for loan from June 1, 2021 to January 15, 2022.
Artwork should follow historical Norwegian folk-art traditions in technique, materials, colors, and style. They may be contemporary departures from the historical, but some element(s) must visually link the artwork to Norwegian folk-art tradition.
Artwork may be woodworking, rosemaling, knife-making, blacksmithing, jewelry, weaving, and fiber arts, connected to genres represented in Vesterheim Folk Art School class listings.
To be considered for the exhibit, artwork must highlight the artist’s unique and personal technical skills and design decisions, so work partially or entirely created under supervision or in a class is not eligible.
If the submission fee presents a financial hardship for you or is a deterrent to your submission, please contact llovelace@vesterheim.org
Jurying Process
The jury will be comprised of the three individuals who have a connection to health care and artistic practice. Vesterheim staff will not be part of the jury but will instead help facilitate and administrate the digital process and installation of the show.
The jury will screen submissions (digital images) and make the preliminary selection of all work in the exhibition. Entries will be evaluated on concept, design, technique, craftsmanship, and creative expression. Pieces will be selected based on artistic appearance, creativity, and the narrative around the execution of the work. This is a juried exhibition, not a judged exhibition. Artists will not receive comments.
Accepted work is subject to final approval by staff after the actual work arrives at the museum. Work that differs significantly from the images submitted may be ineligible for the exhibition and will be returned to the artist.
Awards and Recognition
There are two awards given as part of Socially Distanced, Creatively Connected:
- Best in Show–Selected by the jury
- People’s Choice–Selected by popular vote from exhibit visitors