Spirit and Matter

Spirit and Matter is an exhibition of jewelry and metalwork presented by the Houston Metal Arts Guild (HMAG) in Houston, Texas. The exhibition will be held in the Art Gallery of the Jung Center, located at 5200 Montrose, in the center of the Houston Museum District. This year's juror is Andy Cooperman, a metalsmith, educator and writer whose work and writing has appeared in publications including Humor in Craft, Art Jewelry Today, and The Penland Book of Jewelry, and is held in collections such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Tacoma Art Museum.

The exhibition celebrates the diverse field of metalworking and jewelry and investigates the connections between the human spirit and material objects. Whether work is wearable, utilitarian or sculptural, artists are invited to share how their expressions in metalworking create deeper meaning in everyday life. Applicants must be 18 years or older and a resident of Texas. All entries must be original designs completed within the last two years and not previously exhibited in the state of Texas. Submitted entries must contain some metalworking but are open to a full range of processes and materials. Found objects and materials are welcome, but acceptable entries must contain some original metalworked component. Entries may not exceed 6 feet in the longest dimension nor weigh more than 75 lbs. Artists will provide a brief statement (maximum 1000 characters) explaining how their entries address the theme of Spirit and Matter. A maximum of three entries per artist is permitted.

Entry fee is $40 for non-members and $25 for HMAG members. Artists may submit one image of the entry and one detail shot (optional) for each entry. Awards include $500 for Best in Show, $250 for Best Use of Materials, and $250 for Most Original Piece, totaling $1000 at the discretion of the juror. All works must have a sale price or be marked Not for Sale (NFS). If marked NFS, provide an insurance value (50% retail). Artworks are insured at 50% of retail value during the exhibit. Artists are responsible for all transit costs (shipping and insurance) both to and from the exhibition. Application deadline: August 31, 2016. Notification via email: September 30, 2016. Accepted entries due: October 14, 2016. Exhibition dates: November 2–November 28, 2016. Opening reception: November 5, 2016, 6-9 PM. Artwork returned to artist: on or before December 31, 2016.