Current Exhibit

 

The Guild of Book Workers invites all members to participate in its 2024-25 traveling juried exhibition, NIGHT CIRCUS—a theme we hope will invoke curiosity of the Spectacle, fascination of Artistry and Performance, explore the Mysterious and Luminous, investigate Clandestine action and Secret knowledge, and embrace Chaos and Otherness.

Members are invited to interpret the theme of NIGHT CIRCUS as literal or abstract, as they wish. We will be inviting patrons ‘behind the curtain’ of the exhibition, so we are encouraging entrants to include documentation of the making of their entry as part of their submission.

 

 

We are excited to announce we will be offering scholarships for entry fees and GBW membership for the duration of the exhibition. Generously sponsored by our regional GBW chapters. Scholarship applications open June 8-22 with notification to awardees by July 1.

Forms are due August 31, 2023 and must be submitted in order to receive a link to the online submission registration form coming out in spring 2024. Physical object submissions for blind jury selection will be accepted from May 1-15, 2024.

Please email Jeanne Goodman, Exhibitions Coordinator, at exhibitions@guildofbookworkers.org with questions.

 

Eligibility

Intent to Enter deadline is August 31, 2023. This exhibit opportunity is available to artists worldwide. Entrants must be members in good standing of the Guild of Book Workers at the time of submission and carry a current membership throughout the entirety of the exhibition. Entrants may submit one or two works. Entry fee for the first entry will be $65 and $25 for the second entry. Fine bindings, artist books, framed broadsides and limited edition prints, and boxes may be submitted. Work must have been created since 2022 and must not have been previously shown in a Guild of Book Workers exhibition.

No personal information, stamp or date that could identify the Artist should appear on the finished entry item. Please cover any such information prior to submission.

 

Jurying

An Intent to Enter form must be completed in order to submit work for consideration. All work must be shipped to Waco, TX in time to arrive between May 1-15, 2024 (Shipping address and information will be sent to registered Entrants). Work will be juried by a panel of esteemed professionals in the book arts field. Entrants will be notified of selection in the summer 2024.

 

Social Media

In order to keep the jurying process fair and blind, we kindly ask that Entrants refrain from posting their submission, either in progress or finished, on social media platforms until they are informed of the jury’s decision.

 

Documentation

This year we are inviting Entrants to include documentation of the making of their entry as part of their submission in the form of digital photos and short videos that could be used for promotion of the exhibition. Content should be provided in the highest resolution quality possible; we recommend 300dpi, jpeg or tiff files for photos; mp4 or .mov files or better for video. Documentation will be requested at the time when you submit your entry form. This is optional.

 

Protective Boxes

All works must be submitted in a custom-fitted protective enclosure that is made to travel with their item for the duration of the exhibition. We recommend a clamshell box, preferably with double walls, or a reinforced phase-box. Two-dimensional items must be framed and ready to hang using robust frames (metal preferred) with plexiglass (no glass). The shipping box must be packed carefully so that it will not be damaged in the post and the packaging material must be re-usable for returning the box to its maker. The competition committee is not responsible for damage during initial transport. Submissions not properly boxed in protective enclosures may be rejected if the committee thinks it will not hold up for continuous travel for the duration of the exhibition.

Instructions on how to build a clamshell box will be available on the exhibition website in the fall 2023.

 

Limitations

Protective enclosures for books may not be larger than 22 inches square and 12 inches thick. Flat or 2D work may not be larger than 24 inches square, framed and housed in its protective enclosure. Sizes are restricted to fit within the Guild’s professional shipping containers.

The GBW Exhibitions Committee may disqualify works too fragile, difficult to display, or too heavy to handle safely. We regret that we cannot accept work that requires electricity. Please include printed packing instructions with the item inside the protective enclosure for unique or unusual entries.

 

Shipping

GBW will pay for return shipping for up to $60 per entry; any amount over and the owner will be contacted for the remainder.

 

Insurance

Each exhibition site will be responsible for insuring the works while in its custody. All Entrants are asked to carefully consider values assigned and must be prepared to support this value in the event a claim is made. We ask that assigned values do not exceed $2000 per item. All works will be photographed and condition noted upon receipt.

 

Exhibition Duration

The show will open in fall 2024 and travel to a variety of book arts centers and libraries. Once a work has been selected, it must remain in the show for the full duration. Participants should inform the Exhibitions Chair at exhibitions@guildofbookworkers.org of any changes of address or other contact information while the show is in progress.

 

Publicity/Catalog

GBW may photograph and use images of all accepted works for promotional purposes related to the Guild and the current exhibition, including a fully illustrated print and online catalog. GBW will produce a full color printed catalog with photographs and descriptions of each accepted work as well as biographies of the artists. All exhibition participants will receive a complimentary copy of the printed catalog. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our catalog fundraiser!