Galveston Art League’s September juried show: Are you game to compete?By Mary Vinnedge

Artists 15 or older may enter up to three pieces in the Fall 2020 Juried Show hosted by the Galveston Art League. The entry fees are $30 for each of the first two works entered and $10 for a third. Art League members’ fees are cut in half – a $35 savings; membership levels and costs, which start at $40 a year, are detailed at www.GalvestonArtLeague.com (click on “Join”).
Artworks being entered in the juried contest should be taken to the Galveston Art League’s downtown Galveston gallery, 2117A Postoffice St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31. Early drop-offs on Sunday, Aug. 30, are handled on an appointment-only basis and can be arranged at 409-682-3515. 
Entries will be judged in these five categories: works on canvas and board, works on paper, photography, mixed-media wall-hung (fabric art and collages, for instance), and 3-D (jewelry, art glass, sculpture, pottery, wood carvings, art dolls, and more). No works may be larger than 4 by 5 feet; additional rules are listed in the Prospectus/Call to Artists document that’s accessed by a link on the left sidebar of the www.GalvestonArtLeague.com homepage. 
Cash prizes, certificates, and ribbons are awarded for a Best of Show ($300) entry and for first ($100) and second places ($50) in categories that have six or more competitors. Honorable-mention ribbons and certificates are also given. During each of the league’s September competitions, one artist will receive the $750 McGivney Award for a work that captures an iconic aspect of Galveston or its history, and the Rosenberg Library buys this piece and places it in the library’s collection. 
Along with selecting award winners, the competition’s judge will determine which art will be admitted into the contest and which pieces won’t make the cut (artists are informed of rejected works by phone and will need to pick them up between noon and 6 p.m. on Sept. 5 and 6). The artworks that are tapped for the show will be displayed at the gallery noon-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 5 through Sept. 27; works in the gallery also will be exhibited and offered for sale at www.GalvestonArtLeague.com, so the Art League staff suggests that every artist have a digital photo of each entry to share with the league’s webmaster. 
Artwork that is purchased during September must remain at the gallery until Sept. 27. If an artist doesn’t want to sell a certain piece, it will be labeled as “Not For Sale.”
Judging this contest is Houston native Taylor Clendennen, a third-generation artist who studied art history and studio art photography at Baylor University, and arts administration at the University of Houston. Since 2013 her work has mainly been with encaustic wax and mixed media. Clendennen has received numerous awards and exhibited throughout Texas. She also has curated art auctions for local nonprofit organizations, judged many art contests, and given talks at high schools to emphasize the importance of art education. Her website is www.TaylorBlaineArt.com.
The Galveston Art League’s Fall 2020 Juried Show is one of three judged contests hosted every year by the nonprofit league. These competitions align with the Art League’s objectives of advancing visual arts and art education in Galveston County and beyond. The 106-year-old league promotes individual artists, switches out its exhibits each month to enhance artists’ exposure, sells art on its website, and hosts free and low-cost art workshops for kids and adults on varied subjects (portraiture, seascapes, silk painting, composition, etc.). To carry out its mission, the all-volunteer league depends on contributions; an annual fall gala; and membership, sponsorship, and exhibit fees. 
Membership levels, future Art League events, volunteer opportunities, and the organization’s history are presented on its website. Please email [email protected] or call 409-938-1671 if you have questions.

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