MU Libraries Spring Art Exhibition: 2025 Appalachian Innovation: Crafting the Future

MISSION STATEMENT

Mission Statement: "Appalachian Innovation: Crafting the Future"

In the heart of Appalachia, where tradition meets innovation, this year’s art exhibition celebrates the transformative power of creativity. "Appalachian Innovation: Crafting the Future" invites Marshall University students, faculty, staff, and our Appalachian community members to explore and express their visions of the future through art, poetry, and craftsmanship.

This exhibition serves as a platform for showcasing forward-thinking ideas and creative solutions that redefine Appalachia's story as we move toward the future. We encourage submissions that explore new perspectives, challenge conventions, and reimagine what is possible in our region. Using mediums, both acquainted and new, we invite artists to explore how these mediums can redefine Appalachian identity and contribute to a future that embraces creativity and progress.  Whether through the strokes of a brush, the shaping of clay, the cadence of words, the twisting and weaving of fibers, or the skillful crafting of handmade works, we seek pieces that inspire dialogue about innovation and its role in shaping our collective future.

Join us in celebrating the spirit of Appalachian creativity and resilience. Together, let us illuminate the pathways where tradition and innovation converge to forge a dynamic and inclusive future for our community and beyond.

JURORS

Drinko Display and Outreach Committee

• Kacy Lovelace – Research and Student Success Librarian
• Michelle Alford – Library Information Systems Technologist
• Diane Palmieri – Staff Librarian
• Patsy Stephenson – Staff Librarian / Government Documents
• Meghan Sexton-Harness – Library Research Specialist
• Jenny Holderby – Library Associate
• Lisa Hughes – Library Research Specialist
• Dr. Heather Stark, Art Historian, School of Art & Design
• Courtney Chapman, Gallery Director, School of Art and Design

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Each work must include a few sentences on how or why their work fits within the theme of the show.
• All work must be fully assembled, completely dry, and ready to display in a highly trafficked, public setting.
• Frames are required for 2D work, including poetry and other short works or literature must have a hanging wire on the back.
• 3D work should be no larger than 45 inches high by 26 inches wide, by 7 inches deep, and weigh 5 pounds or less to fit within locked display cases.
• Framed work and wall-hanging, three dimensional pieces must be wired securely. All other three-dimensional works must be self-supporting.
• Artists must provide any special display equipment for works with specific display requirements, i.e. jewelry that requires a necklace display easel.

Works not meeting these requirements WILL NOT be considered for exhibition.

ELIGIBILITY & SUBMISSIONS

Open to all Campus & Community artists.

Artists may enter as many pieces as they wish for jurying. All visual media except for video is welcome. We will be performing both virtual and in-person jurying for this exhibition. The jurors reserve the right to eliminate any work that does not meet the standards of quality for the exhibition.

To participate, please fill out each section of the online form and include 3-5 high quality pictures for each piece of submitted artwork OR complete the printable form for each piece and attach it to the back of the work.

Our jury will review all electronic submissions and reply to applicants at the email address provided with your submission according to the dates provided on the current prospectus. Our jury will review all dropped off, in-person submissions following the in-person drop off dates provided in the current prospectus. The prospectus with the link to the online entry form as well as tangible entry forms for in-person submission can be found at the front desk of the Visual Arts Center, or Circulation Desk at Drinko Library.

The printable and online submission forms can be found a the following link: libguides.marshall.edu/libraryartexhibitions/2025 or by scanning the QR code below.

For electronic submission visit: https://marshall.libwizard.com/f/art_exhibition_form

IMPORTANT DATES

Show dates:

January 13 – May 9, 2025

• Electronic submission deadline:

November 25, 2024

• Jurors select artworks (electronic):

November 28-30, 2024

• Email notification of accepted artworks:

November 29, 2024

• Drop off in-person submissions and accepted (electronic entries) to library:

December 5, 8:00 a.m. – 8 p.m.

December 6, 8:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.*

• In-person submissions selected by jurors:

December 9 – 13, 2024**

• Install dates:

December 17 – 20, 2024

• Pickup artwork at the end of the exhibit:

May 19 – 23, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.***

*Entries will be accepted electronically by November 25^, 2024 or in-person on December 5 & 6, 2024. All entries must be submitted by December 6, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.

** For dropped off, in-person submissions, artists will only be contacted if their submission(s) is not accepted for exhibition.

*** Please contact Kacy or Michelle if you need to pick up your artwork after 4:00 p.m. Students who are leaving campus before the May 19 – 23, 2025 pick up dates can make arrangements to collect their artwork before these dates.

QUESTIONS? Contact Kacy Lovelace, Research and Student Success Librarian at kacy.lovelace@marshall.edu or 304-696-6226 or Michelle Alford, Library Information Systems Technologist at michelle.alford@marshall.edu or 304-696-6674.

Submitting an entry form to the exhibition constitutes an agreement on the part of the artists with all conditions to this prospectus.

No work accepted for the exhibition may be withdrawn before the closing date. We reserve the right to refuse entry if, upon arrival, the work is found unacceptable. All artworks will be photographed, digital images shared by MU Libraries, and images stored in Marshall Digital Scholar.