West Michigan Area Show 2019

West Michigan Area Show 2019 runs May 18 – August 25, 2019. Eligibility is open to all artists 18 years or older residing in the following Michigan counties: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Eaton, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, St. Joseph, and Van Buren.

Only original work of the artist's own design, completed within the last 2 years will be accepted. Digital media, 2-D, and 3-D works in any medium are eligible. Work may not exceed six feet (72") on any side and must be on view the entire duration of the exhibition. The KIA reserves the right to refuse any work that is inappropriate, framed inadequately, or misrepresented by entry image. All wall-hung works must be framed with proper hanging devices (wires and/or "D"-rings) attached. No clip frames are permitted.

Entry fee is $20 per work; maximum 3 works may be submitted. Work samples must include 1-3 images (JPG files only, minimum 1200 pixels on the longest side, 5 MB maximum). Special award categories include art quilts (must be free-hanging, unframed, fabric-based, max 90"h x 72"w), mixed media/intermedia, printmaking (must illustrate hand-worked element), glass (over 50% glass), and a Portage Community award (work must respond to theme "A Natural Place to Move" and be available to hang in City Hall lobby for 1 year; artist must be Portage resident able to install 8-12 additional works Sept 12-Oct 31, 2019).

Accepted works must be received by 2 p.m., May 11, 2019. Hand delivery is available May 9-11 (Thursday/Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday 12 – 2 p.m.). Works may also be shipped via UPS or FedEx with return postage and return mailing labels. Insurance of works in transit is the artist's responsibility. Artist notification is April 30. Reception is Friday, May 17, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., with awards announced at 6:30 p.m. Pickup of accepted art is Sunday, August 25 at 4:55 p.m. and Monday, August 26, 9:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Awards include: $1,000 Helen Sheridan Memorial Grand Prize, $500 Second Place, $400 Third Place, $300 Fourth Place, $200 Fifth Place, $1,000 Portage Community Art Award, $750 Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo's People's Choice Award, $350 The Martin Maddox Prize for Imaginative Realism, $250 Signature Artists LLC Award, $250 KNAS Metals & Jewelry Dept Award for Jewelry, $200 The Kalamazoo Log Cabin Quilters' Art Quilt Award, $200 Ninth Wave Studio Award for Ingenuity in Mixed Media or Intermedia, $200 Southwest Michigan Printmakers Excellence in Printmaking Award, $200 SWMI Eclectic Glass Guild Award for Glass, $150 Kalamazoo Book Arts Center Award, $150 West Michigan Potters Guild Award for Ceramics, $100 Kalamazoo Knitting Guild Award for Fiber, and the Ward H. and Cora E. Nay Director's Purchase Prize. All work is submitted at the owner's risk; the KIA will not insure works during transit or while on its premises.