Call for Entries
Exhibit: April 13 - May 23, 2024
The Art Barn School of Art is delighted to announce our 30th Annual Juried Art Exhibition from April 13 - May 23, 2024. The purpose of this long-standing exhibition is to promote the creation and recognition of original quality 2-dimensional works of art, as well as ceramic arts. The exhibition attracts entries from established and aspiring artists from Northwest Indiana, Chicago suburbs and Southwest Michigan and beyond. Brian Byrn, Director and curator at the Midwest Museum of American Art will bring an expert curatorial eye to this year’s artwork selection process, and as juror Mr. Byrn will help Art Barn ensure the highest standards and integrity. Byrn served as this exhibition's first juror in 1994 and appropriately returns for our 30th anniversary.
For tips on photographing your work for use in an online call visit https://artcall.org/pages/tips-for-photographing-artwork-for-digital-submissions
For tips on resizing your images visit https://youtu.be/1cLfrF2x_OA
Awards
Art Barn provides numerous purchase and merit awards totaling $6,000. We wish to thank the many individuals and businesses who sponsor or contribute to these cash awards. Their generosity directly supports working artists, such as yourself.
Best of Show - $500
Merit Awards - in various values from $20 - $300
Purchase Awards - in amounts of $300, $400 or $500
Jan Sullivan Emerging Artist Award - $200 (artists between the ages of 18-25 are eligible)
All proceeds generated from this exhibition, aside from awards, support Art Barn School of Art educational programs and exhibitions.
About Art Barn School of Art
The Art Barn fosters art education and cultural access for residents, businesses, and partners in the community. The mission of the Art Barn School of Art is to provide quality art education programs for all ages in a supportive, creative environment in order to enrich the quality of life in the region. Our vision is to be a recognized forum for the arts in a collaborative, community-based setting which provides an idyllic and supportive place for exploration, growth, inspiration and development of artistic endeavors. Visit artbarnschool.org
Our 2024 Juror
Brian Bryn Earned his B.A. in Fine Arts from Indiana University Southeast at New Albany and his M.S. in Education from Indiana University at South Bend.
Since 1981 Brian Byrn has served as Curator of Exhibitions & Education for the Midwest Museum of American Art foundation. During this time Byrn has mounted over 400 exhibitions of regional and national significance while assisting in the acquisition of a permanent collection which has grown to around 6,400 works. Major projects include a 25th Anniversary publication/catalogue of works owned by the Midwest Museum of American and numerous educational materials for temporary exhibits including a book on the Tuck Langland Study Collection: A Biography in Sculpture. This 43-year position has been spent in the service of the public in the planning and implementation of art appreciation programs, exhibition & collection research and development for the Midwest Museum of American Art located at 429 South Main Street in Elkhart, Indiana. In May 2017, Byrn was appointed Director/Curator.
As a Curator, Byrn has served as Judge/Juror for many (over 50) fine art competitions and art fairs over the past 40 years. In 2001 Byrn served as juror for ARC Gallery in Chicago for their first National Competition. Closer to home Byrn has served as judge for the Northern Indiana Artists group annual competition held at the Northern Indiana Center for History or the South Bend Museum of Art and juror for the St. Joseph Valley Watercolor Society and the Northern Indiana Pastel Society. Byrn was the judge for the Minnetrista Cultural Center’s 20 th Annual Area Artists exhibit in Muncie in 2010 and again in 2017. In 2011 Byrn served as juror of paintings, pastels, and watercolors for the MAAC Show at the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joe, Michigan. Also in 2011, Byrn served as Judge for Indiana’s oldest art competition, the 113 th Annual Richmond Art Competition, at the Richmond Art Museum. In 2015 Byrn served as Juror for the South Shore Arts annual competition in Munster, Indiana.
As an artist, Brian Byrn has exhibited his drawings and mixed media installations throughout the Midwest from 1981 to 1997. His artwork has been the subject of six solo exhibitions in three states. The artist has garnered 15 Best of Show awards in competitions from 1981 to 1997. His artwork is found in private collections in Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, Oregon, Texas, and California. Byrn has artwork in several public collections including:
The Lubeznik Center for the Arts, Michigan City; South Bend Museum of Art, South Bend; Carnegie Center for Art & History (formerly Floyd County Museum), New Albany; the Fort Wayne Museum of Art; the Midwest Museum of American Art; and the Indiana University Southeast Collection, New Albany. Byrn put his visual art career on hold in 1997 to pursue his interests in popular music.
As an Instructor and Lecturer, Byrn has taught classes at Indiana University at South Bend in Art Appreciation (1987, 1988) and was Visiting Lecturer at Bethel College annually from 1991 to 2007. From 1993 to 1998, Byrn held the additional academic standing as Assistant Professor of Art at Goshen College in an adjunct capacity where he taught all levels of Drawing, Painting, Senior Seminar, Advanced Studio, and developed the 20th Century Art (history) course still being used today. Brian Byrn has given hundreds of weekly lectures on various topics of American art over the past 40 years as part of the Midwest Museum’s public educational programming.
Eligibility
The exhibition is open to artists 18 years of age and up and living in the United States.
All entries must be of original design and personal execution.
2-Dimensional Media: May include, but not limited to, drawing, fiber, mixed media, painting, pastels, photography and/or printmaking.
Ceramic Arts Media: Works must be primarily composed of ceramic, may be 2 or 3-Dimensional and be functional or non-functional. Only single pieces of artwork accepted (no sets).
Entry Specifications
All entries must be the original work and executed solely by the artist within the last two years.
Work must not have been previously exhibited in Art Barn’s Annual Juried Art Exhibitions.
Accepted work must be labeled as specified and be ready to display or hang upon delivery.
Selected work must remain during the entire exhibition.
2-D Media:
Maximum size 40”x 44” including frame; depth max 4”
Work must be appropriately framed and wired to hang, no sawtooth hangers.
Unframed stretched canvas must be finished in gallery wrap.
2-D Media (items that hang flat against the wall, framed work) include subcategories:
— Drawing
— Mixed Media
— Painting
— Paper/Fiber
— Pastel
— Photography (traditional)
— Photography (digital)
— Printmaking
— Other Media
Ceramic Arts:
Maximum size 16”x12”x12”
Freestanding ceramic pieces must be accompanied by a substantial base. Limited shelving available upon request on a first-come-first-served basis.
2-D ceramic media will be designated under the Ceramic Arts.
Ceramic Arts (CA) include the following subcategories:
— Functional
— Non-Functional
Entry Fee
Non-refundable entry fee of $35 includes two (2) entries plus $5 for one additional entry. No more than three (3) entries per artist.
Must be submitted before midnight on February 25, 2024.
Sales
All Purchase and Merit Award funds go solely to the artist. For other sales, Art Barn receives a 30% commission. A payment check will be issued within 30 days of the exhibition closing. Art not picked up within 90 days becomes property of the Art Barn unless prior special arrangements are made.
Photography Waiver
By submitting your entry you give Art Barn School of Art permission to use images of you or your artwork for the purposes of promotion in connection with Art Barn.
Delivery of Work
Selected works are to be hand delivered or shipped to:
Art Barn School of Art, 695 N 400 E, Valparaiso, IN 46383
Hand-delivered work will be accepted at Art Barn on the following dates:
Friday, April 5 from 11:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday, April 6 from 10:00am – 1:00pm
Shipped work must arrive no later than 1:00pm on April 6.
Carefully package artwork in reusable packaging to prevent damage. We encourage using Plexiglass for shipped work. No packing peanuts please. Artists are encouraged to and responsible for insuring their work, as Art Barn is not liable for damages or theft during transit. Damaged work will not be exhibited.
Artists are responsible for all shipping costs of accepted work using FedEx, UPS or USPS. Include a paid return shipping label in the package (do not include stamps). Confirm that your shipping provider will refund the return shipping label in the event your work is sold.
All delivered work MUST reflect entry submissions. Any work not matching the submission will be disqualified and will not be exhibited (no refunds).
Notification
Selection notification emails sent by March 11, 2024
Return of Work
Unsold hand-delivered work must be picked up:
Friday, May 24 from 11:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday, May 25 from 10:00am - 2:00pm
Unsold shipped work will be delivered to the shipper in its original packaging by May 24.
Liability
The Art Barn shall, upon possession of the artist’s work(s), exercise due care in handling. The Art Barn shall not be responsible for any loss or damage to the artist’s artwork while in the Art Barn’s possession unless loss or damage is, or can be, directly attributable to intentional or negligent acts by Art Barn and its employees or volunteers.
Schedule Summary
Feb. 25 Entry deadline
March 11 Selection notification (by email)
April 5 - 6 Delivery of accepted works
April 6 Shipped work deadline
April 13 Exhibit opens
April 19 Reception & Awards
May 23 Exhibit closes
May 24 & 25 Pick-up exhibited work
May 30 Return shipments complete
Activities are made possible in part by the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
