“A Matter of Conscience” coming in March 2010

The Kennebec Valley Art Association in Hallowell invites Maine high school age artists to submit three-dimension art work to A Matter of Conscience, a juried art exhibition coming to the Harlow Gallery in March 19 – 28, 2010.

Submissions from individual artists, as well as group efforts are welcome, as long as all participating artists are between the ages of 14-18. Works must be original sculptural art (in three-dimensions) and may made out of one material or a combination of materials, including but not limited to ceramics or clay, wood, paper or cardboard, metal, assemblage, found objects. Work may incorporate any combination of traditional visual arts mediums such as drawing, painting, printmaking and may also include text, video or other electronic, or sonic elements or mechanisms. Submitted work must address some area of social commentary, for example political issues, human rights, the distribution of wealth, global warming, the death penalty, gay marriage etc., which the artist feels passionate about. The submission process will utilize the internet in the interest of being as green and paper-free as possible; for full details and instructions visit http://mysculpturestatement.blogspot.com/

The juror, Pennsylvania curator, artist and activist Cheryl Harper, will decide which entries will be included in the exhibition, and will award three cash prizes totaling $350. Cheryl Herr-Rains, an art teacher at Gardiner Regional High School is the project coordinator.

A Matter of Conscience is meant to be a change from the typical high school art show, which tend to focus on wall-hung works selected by art teachers. The exhibition, presented in a professional gallery setting, will give Maine students an opportunity to experience submitting and exhibiting their art within a professional framework. Students will have the opportunity to share their ideas on issues they care about in a public forum, and participation will help individual students in building their portfolios as they prepare to apply to college. A Matter of Conscience has been made possible by a generous grant from the Evergreen Foundation.

Electronic Submission Deadline: by midnight on February 1, 2010
Exhibition Dates: March 19 – 28, 2010
Opening Date: Friday, March 19, 2010, 5 to 8 pm
Location: The Harlow Gallery, 160 Water Street, Hallowell, ME 04347
Fee: No entry fee for A Matter of Conscience thanks to a grant from the Evergreen Foundation

Gallery Hours: Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday noon to 4pm, Friday & Saturday noon to 6pm

Contact Deborah Fahy at the Harlow Gallery: 207-622-3813, kvaa@harlowgallery.org, www.harlowgallery.org

The Harlow Gallery is owned and operated by the Kennebec Valley Art Association, a membership based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization supporting the arts in Central Maine for over half a century.