Bead International 2008 Call for Exhibits – Hurry!

I just found out that the 2008 Bead International Exhibition is coming up and they are looking for entries! But you have to hurry because they must receive the entry form and materials by September 7, 2007! You just have to submit photos (and they actually prefer digital) photos with a $35.00 entry fee and form. Your work will be judged on a number of aspects and you could win prizes worth almost $2500! If your beaded creation is chosen it will be featured in a color catalog, could tour the country as part of an exhibition and might even be featured in a full-color book that’s available on Amazon.com!

For those of you unfamiliar with the Bead International Exhibition, here’s how they describe themselves:

Bead International 2008 is the sixth biennial, international, juried exhibition of contemporary artwork in which bead – by our definition is any pierced object – is a significant aspect. This exhibition promotes contemporary beaded art through a showcase of NEW work that provides the viewer with an appreciation of the variety of techniques and innovative trends in the medium of pierced objects.

All the work must be new and unpublished and you have to be 18 years or older to enter. It’s held every two years at The Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio. I have a friend who goes every year and she says it’s really pretty amazing to see so many bead jewelry artists and fans in one place! And don’t just think of this a traditional bead necklace and bracelet sort of contest. The entry form specifically states:

Work may include all approaches to beadwork and bead making. Beads may be made of any material; any pierced object will be considered a bead. The bead must be a significant aspect of the work. Innovative uses of the medium are encouraged.

Wow! “Any pierced object” really makes me rethink my idea of a bead!

The Bead International 2008 Official Website has all the entry forms and information, but overall it’s a little short on details, which is kind of a shame. They have a site that shows some of the photos from 2006, but the photos don’t seem to load for me.

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