This exhibit is open to Iowa State University students of any major, and each person may submit up to 3 artworks for consideration. Art can be any media. All artwork must be original and not previously displayed in a past MU exhibit.
Entries must be submitted by Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 10am. No late entries will be considered.
Julia Franklin is the new Executive Director of Mainframe Studios. Franklin was born and raised in Wichita Falls, Texas, and earned her masters degree in Sculpture from TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. She worked at the Dallas Museum of Art in community engagement and then moved to Lamoni, Iowa, where she served as Professor of Art at Graceland University for 18 years. There she received a prestigious Iowa Artist Fellowship and awards in both Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship. At Graceland, Franklin taught studio and art history courses and founded Art Academy, a summer art camp for children in rural Iowa. Franklin made the leap to Des Moines and managed the Anderson Gallery at Drake University before serving as the Grant Manager for Bravo Greater Des Moines. Julia took over Mainframe Studios in December 2023. Mainframe Studios, the largest nonprofit studio space in the nation, is a financially self-sustaining nonprofit providing affordable workspaces to advance equity and opportunities in the arts.
Artists will receive a notification e-mail by Monday, September 30, that will give you the status of your submission(s). If you entered more than one piece, you will receive an e-mail for each entry seperately. The e-mail will let you know if the piece was selected for the exhibit and what the next steps are.
Artwork must be delivered to the MU in ready-to-install condition, which means that pieces need to have considerations made for things like matting, framing, hanging mechanisms, stability for sculpture, and general presentation.
Two-dimensional art (not on stretched canvas) must be framed, and matting is highly recommended. Talk to your professor or look up information online about ways to mat and frame your artwork. We don't want you to blow your budget, but if you can step up from the cheapest frame, you will be happier with the outcome. Another option is to take it to a professional framer; however, you will need to do this before you enter your piece in the exhibit since most places take 2-3 weeks for that service. A secure hanging mechanism is required, and we prefer a hanging wire.
Works on stretched canvas do not have to be framed, but the sides of the canvas do need to be finished (painted). A hanging wire (or D-rings for oversized works) is required.
Fiber pieces meant to be hung on the wall must include casings and hanging rods.
Any other artwork meant to be hung on the wall must have a secure hanging mechanism.
3D/sculptural works must be stable when freestanding. The MU Gallery will provide pedestals and has small display stands for jewelry.
Any accepted pieces that are not accurately depicted in the entry images may be rejected by the Gallery Coordinator at the time of the exhibit installation. The Gallery Coordinator may also refuse to accept or exhibit objects improperly prepared for display. If your artwork doesn't fit in the above categories or if you are unsure, we can talk about options for presentation in advance of the art delivery time.
Accepted pieces may be delivered on Sunday, October 6, from 4-5 pm or Monday, October 7, from 11-12:30pm to the Memorial Union Art Gallery, Room 1568 on the first floor. If you cannot deliver at the designated time, you may make arrangements in advance for an early drop-off by emailing mugallery@iastate.edu. No late pieces will be included in the exhibit without exceptions, so please plan accordingly.
The juror will determine the awards for Best of Show ($100), 3 Merit Awards ($75), and 2 Honorable Mentions ($50). The Memorial Union Gallery Coordinator will choose a Purchase Award winner. This piece will be purchased by the MU and added to our Permanent Art Collection. Only pieces listed for sale can be considered for the Purchase Award.
The exhibit will be held in the Memorial Union Art Gallery from October 13 - November 20, 2024. Hours are Monday through Friday from 11am-4pm and Sunday from 1-4pm. A public reception will be held in October, and the award winners will be announced. The exhibit and reception are open to everyone, so we encourage artists to invite their family and friends.
When entering your information online, you will need to indicate whether artwork or apparel is for sale or not for sale. Poetry entries can enter $0.
Pricing artwork can be challenging, so if you aren't sure be sure to take the following into consideration: the cost of the supplies, the cost of framing, the time it took you to create it, and if the piece is reproducable. For example, if you enter a photograph that you can reprint, or if this is one-of-a-kind. Keep in mind that the Memorial Union receives a 20% commission on all art sales, so add that into your final sale price.
If your piece is not for sale, you will still need to list an insurance value. You can use the above to help determine the value of your piece.
We encourage you not to undersell yourself, but the prices and insurance values must also be reasonable as our coverage is limited and at the discretion of the Memorial Union.
All inquires about sales must go through the Memorial Union Art Gallery during the exhibition.
When you submit entries to this exhibition it means that you are accepting the rules and conditions stated here and on ArtCall.
The Memorial Union reserves the right to photograph accepted work for publicity and/or inventory purposes.
All entries will be handled in a professional manner while in the care of the Memorial Union staff.
Insurance will be provided while artwork is in the possession of the MU and will cease on November 15, 2024.
Artwork must remain in the MU Gallery for the duration of the exhibit. Artwork may be picked up on Wednesday, November 20 from 4-5 pm and Thursday, November 21 from 11am-noon. Unclaimed artwork will become the property of the Iowa State Memorial Union.
Any questions regarding the exhibit may be directed to mugallery@iastate.edu or Letitia Kenemer, Workspace and Arts Coordinator.
