Membership
Screening
We cordially
invite all three-dimensional artists who reside within 100 miles of
Pittsburgh
to apply for membership in the Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh.
There are two levels of artist membership in the Craftsmen’s Guild,
based on scores from the screening process.
The purpose of screening is to insure high caliber work at Guild
exhibitions and at A Fair in the Park. Screenings
are held twice a year, at the
Pittsburgh
Center
for the Arts. Applicants should
submit six original works of art, completed within the last two years, which
best represent what they do. Commercially
manufactured objects are unacceptable unless the object is subordinate to
the artist’s concept.
Works will be
screened by a jury of five Guild members, with experience in different
media. The work will be
evaluated on the following criteria:
·
technical competence of craftsmanship
·
design, including composition and sensitive use of materials
·
originality and creativity
Each juror will
award up to 10 points to the body of work for each of the criteria above.
The highest point total an individual juror may award is 30, thus the
highest overall total attainable is 150 points.
Applicants receiving a total score of 102 to 150 points will be
accepted into the Guild, with the following stipulations:
·
Artist members who score above 122 points may participate in A
Fair in the Park without additional screening for the event.
·
Artists with scores between 102 and 122 points will be
accepted into the Guild, but will need to be screened into A Fair in the
Park and will be encouraged to re-screen at another time.
Both levels offer full access to all other Guild exhibitions and
events.
·
Artist Membership annual dues is $40.
The Craftsmen’s
Guild also offers an Associate Membership with annual dues of $15.
Associate members
receive mailings and are invited to attend all Guild events.
Associate membership is designed for those who support the arts and
wish to be connected to the crafts community through the Guild and need not
be producing artists.
Tips
for perspective applicants
When selecting
your six pieces for screening, try to show the range of your ability,
without being too scattered. It
is important to demonstrate to the judges that one person created the works
and that as an artist, you are developing an individual and cohesive style.
For example; if you are a potter, you would want to show that you can
make a range of forms, by possibly showing a teapot, casserole, platter,
etc. in an assortment of glazes, rather than trying to show a raku piece, a
stoneware piece, a lowfire piece, etc.
The Guild will
provide 2’ X 8’ tables for display of works to be screened.
Two artists may be sharing a table.
The tables are worktables so you may want to bring a piece of cloth
or paper on which to place your work. You
may use sculpture stands or backdrops if you have them, but they are not
necessary.
Please provide a
one page Artist Statement. It is
helpful to give some technical information about your work and how you
create it. For example, if you
are a potter, how was the work formed? Did you make the clay or glazes?
Did you fire the kiln? Do
you have your own kiln and studio? If you are a jeweler, what parts of your
work are purchased and which did you make (findings, beads, etc.)?
If you are a fiber artist, did you dye and/or spin the yarn?
Did you dye or print the fabric?
Are you a student?
Please understand
that this is not to say you must have an art degree, make your own clay and
glazes, dye your own fabric, etc., but if you do please tell us!
It’s all part of your “craft.”
Please let us
know, in advance, if you are planning to participate in the screening so
that we may plan accordingly. Please
include your name, media, email and phone number.
Thank you for
your interest in the Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh.