The It’s Only Clay (IOC) exhibit is a juried ceramics competition focusing on, and dedicated to, functional clay vessels. Each submission for IOC is judged in four areas: function, form/aesthetic, craftsmanship, and surface design.
IOC features a lecture and workshop by the guest artist, and a juried exhibition of functional ceramics by Watermark Art Center.
2023 Prospectus
The Call for Art is now closed.
2024 Prospectus will be similar to the 2023 Prospectus and will open in June, 2024
The 2023 18th Annual “It’s Only Clay” event is a partnership between the Watermark Art Center and Bemidji State University Department of Technology Art and Design. Along with the juried exhibit, IOC 2023 features presentations, a workshop and select works on display by Guest Artist and 2023 Juror, Brad Bachmeier.
Work accepted into the competition will be on display at Watermark Art Center in Bemidji, Minnesota from November 3 through December 23, 2023. Work not sold or marked not for sale may be picked up or will be returned beginning January 8, 2024.
Jurors for IOC include some of the most familiar names in the Ceramic Arts. Previous jurors have been: Delores Fortuna, Marion Angelica, Matthew Krousey, Butch Holden, Karin Kraemer, Andrea Leila Denecke, Guillermo Cuellar, Simon Levin, Richard Bresnahan, Linda Chistianson, Jeff Oestreich, Robert Briscoe, Bill Gossman, and Bob and Cheryl Husby.
Paid submissions can be edited until the submission period closes, but no entry fee will be returned. If you aren’t ready to pay the entry fee, save your submission as a draft. You must complete separate submissions for each item. You will be offered the opportunity to do so each time you complete a submission, up to 4 submissions . Incomplete submissions will not be processed. Contact Watermark if you have any questions.
ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS:
• All work must be functional ceramics.
• Submitted works must be original and produced after January 2022 by the artist who is applying.
• All entries must have a retail value $900 or less. NFS (Not for Sale) must be marked as such on jury application.
• Accepted works that differ from the juried image will be disqualified. NO EXCEPTIONS!
• $10 FEE per item submitted, up to 4 items accepted per artist.
• If accepted, art must be prepared and ready for install/hanging.
• No accepted entry may be withdrawn prior to the close of the exhibit.
2023 IOC TIMELINE
- September 23, 11:55 Central Time – Deadline for applications
- October 15 – Jury completion and acceptance email notification sent
- October 15 to 31 – Delivery of work to Watermark Art Center
- November 3 – Exhibit Opening Reception & Awards from 5 to 7pm
- November 3 to December 23 – Exhibit on display in Kaul Gallery
- December 31, 2023 – Payments made to artists
- January 8, 2024 Begin return of works and artist pick-up
2023 JURY AWARDS:
- First Place: $1,300.00
- Second Place: $1,000.00
- Third Place: $500.00
BSU PURCHASE AWARDS:
Purchase awards are given for the full retail value of work and will be made by the Bemidji State University Department of Technology Art & Design. These works will be included in the Margaret Harlow Vessel Collection, a permanent functional ceramics collection at Bemidji State University. (All other sales will be subject to a 50% commission to the Watermark Art Center (See “SALES”). Awards will be announced at the November 3 opening reception and be posted online by midnight, CST.
SALES:
Artists determine the retail price of each item submitted. If your item(s) sells, you will receive 50% commission of your set retail price. Watermark will retain the remaining 50%. Indicate NFS for works not for sale. You will be notified of any sales at the end of exhibit with payment made on or before December 31st, 2023.
DELIVERY & RETURN OF WORK:
• All artwork is shipped/delivered to and from the Watermark at the artist’s expense.
• Work may be hand-delivered or shipped in sturdy, reusable cardboard cartons.
• All artwork shipped must be double-boxed with label on interior box to include: image of work sent, title, artist name and artist return address.
• All artwork must arrive clearly labeled with the title of the work and artist’s name.
• Please include adequate postage/shipping/shipping label for return of your work.
IOC SUPPORT:
IOC 2023 is made possible in part, by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund, and in part by the Bemidji Area Arts Endowment.
LIABILITY:
All reasonable care will be exercised with original work and work sample images. However, the host organizations/sponsors or their representatives assume no responsibility and shall not be held liable for damages of any kind which may occur while work is in transit. Upon acceptance, the sponsors retain the right to reproduce images, regardless of copyright, for promotional or educational purposes. Images may be placed on the Watermark website.
By submitting an application and images, artists agree they have read and understand all rules and conditions as stated in the above Prospectus, including that artwork accepted will be available for the exhibition and that shipping costs and insurance are the artist’s responsibility