99th Annual Spring Salon

As a juror, it’s always an overwhelming and humbling process to narrow down the selections to just a few. One thing that always stands out to me with juried shows is the profound impulse humans have to create, produce, explore, articulate, imagine, and make. To create is always a vulnerable act, one that requires an earthly translation of the imagination and with it, comes an inherent risk. But what I think is captured in this historic 99^th annual Springville Salon in each and every work, both in and out of the show, is that very raw drive to create. In Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being he says:

"All art is a work in progress. It’s helpful to see the piece we’re working on as an experiment. One in which we can’t predict the outcome. Whatever the result, we will receive useful information that will benefit the next experiment. If you start from the position that there is no right or wrong, no good or bad, and creativity is just free play with no rules, it’s easier to submerge yourself joyfully in the process of making things. We’re not playing to win, we’re playing to play. And ultimately, playing is fun. Perfectionism gets in the way of fun. A more skillful goal might be to find comfort in the process. To make and put out successive works with ease."

 To borrow from Rubin, there were so many works in progress, so many interesting experiments. The works that stood out to me the most were artists whose work felt comfortable leaning into play and the messiness of the create act—not whimsy as a subject matter—but as a core and central way of producing that captured some form of experimentation in their work. These seemed to put imagination and creativity first and the audience second. Drawing on various grounds for inspiration, the selected works often allowed me to take in an idea, image, or material, anew.

- Laura Hurtado, Director, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art

Eligibility and Requirements
The Salon is open to all Utah artists, working in any media. Each artist may submit up to two works of art created within the last three years. Works over three years old are not eligible. *All works MUST be original in concept and execution. Artwork must be prepared securely for display and “ready to hang” with appropriate hardware. Artwork cannot exceed 11ft. on its largest dimension. Framed works that hang on a wall cannot exceed 9ft. in height. Artworks exceeding 150 pounds or over 7ft. on its largest dimension must be approved by SMA curatorial staff in advance by emailing kkimball@springville.org. All participating artists must agree to the Conditions of Entry and the Art Pickup Agreement listed on this page. Works that have previously been accepted into Springville Museum of Art juried exhibitions are ineligible. 

*Artificial Intelligence Policy: Only works original in conception and execution are eligible for submission to the Springville Museum of Art’s juried exhibitions. AI-generated art or works derived in whole or part from AI technology are not eligible for entry. 

Artist’s Statement
The Springville Museum of Art requests that each artist include an “Artist’s Statement” about their work with each entry submitted. Please keep statements between 25 words minimum and 100 words maximum. Artists will be able to electronically submit their statement at the time they complete the Online Entry Form and it may be used in the jury process. Those statements submitted electronically may be reproduced on labels for display and/or in the printed catalogue. Statements submitted after 5:00pm on Saturday April 8, 2023 will not be printed on labels and not considered in the jurying process. Statements cannot be changed after 5:00pm on Saturday April 8, 2023.

 
Insurance Agreement
SMA’s insurance agreement insures artwork on loan (except for high risk art) for the "fair market value" of the artwork, not necessarily the sales price of the piece. The "fair market value" is subject to an appraisal by a professional appraiser or art consultant, as determined by SMA’s insurance carrier.  All works accepted for the exhibition will be insured through July 8, 2023, also for the fair market value. Frames and pedestals will not be insured for damage.
High Risk Art: (If you are not sure if your work falls in this category, please talk with SMA staff when you submit your piece):

• Paintings that are still wet or soft beneath the paint skin
• Any unframed works of art or works of art whose surface extends beyond and in front of the frame
• Works of art with previous condition problems
• Particularly fragile artworks, mixed media, installation, multi -part or assemblage works, glass, ceramic, plaster, exposed paper, etc.
• Poorly prepared pieces and frames (faulty wires, screw eyes, clips, etc.)
• Works of art behind regular silica glass (Pastels may be behind silica glass and be insured. Other works must be behind Plexiglas.)
• Artworks with exposed backs or simple paper backing (To be insured, works of art on canvas must have the back of the stretcher-bar covered by cardboard, foam core, etc., to protect the canvas.)
• Artwork that requires special handling provisions

Release
All artists will be asked to sign a Release Agreement upon entry which affirms that they are the owner of the artwork being entered into the show. The artist will also (1) expressly waive any and all claims or causes of action that he or she has or may have in the future against SMA and Springville City arising from or in connection with the Exhibition and (2) agree to indemnify SMA and Springville City for any damages caused by artist and artist’s artwork and actions.

  
Jury Process
The Salon exhibition will be selected by jurors. ALL ARTISTS - including those recognized as “Most Honored Artists of Utah” - will be subject to the jurying process.  The jurors will select the final artwork for the exhibition, in consultation with SMA Director, Emily Larsen. SMA curators reserve the right to make final curatorial decisions regarding works in the exhibition and their placement. All work exhibited must comply with the SMA Community Standards Guidelines. The Community Standards can be found here.
 
Jurors 

Notification
A list of accepted work will be posted on the Salon webpage of the smofa.org website on Friday April 14, 2023. Award winners will be notified via email before the opening reception, where the award winners will be announced publicly. 
 
Art Pickup Agreement
All artwork will be considered on temporary loan to the Springville Museum of Art (SMA) from date of entry, through the duration of the exhibition, until final pickup date listed below. Due to increased numbers of art submissions, artists must pick up all pieces from the Museum within the time frame specified here:

• Thursday April 27- Saturday April 29, 10:00am-5:00pm 
• Wednesday July 11 - Saturday July 15, 10:00am-5:00pm
  
  

Upon entering the show, the artist or representative acknowledges that any works not picked up by July 9, 2022 will be subject to a storage fee of $5/day. Artwork picked up between these dates will be subject to a $5 handling fee. *Any exceptions to these dates must be arranged in advance with SMA Curatorial Staff by emailing kkimball@springville.org. Storage and Handling fees will be waived if arrangements are made in advance with the SMA curatorial staff. After six months, any unclaimed artworks may be divested as SMA sees fit. Only the artist and those listed on the Online Entry Form as “Persons approved to pick up work” may take any art from the Museum.
 
Exhibition Catalogue 
An exhibition catalogue will be printed with reproductions of select works. Not all accepted artworks will be illustrated in the catalogue. All artists receive one copy of the catalogue for every accepted entry. Catalogues cannot be mailed but should be picked up at the Museum by the artist during the exhibition dates or at time of art pickup.
 
Exhibition Events
Opening Reception and Award Ceremony, April 26, 6:30-8:30pm

Awards, Purchases, and Sales

Artworks from the exhibition will be selected for cash and/or purchase awards. Awards are determined by jurors and curators. SMA retains a 30% commission on all art sales during the exhibition. Please price your work accordingly. If applicable, please coordinate with your gallery in pricing pieces. SMA staff will not be able to set or negotiate prices for artists, nor will they be able to change prices on printed labels. Artwork will be sold as is, including any frames, pedestals, or other display supports provided by the artist. During the duration of the exhibition, all art sales must be directed through the Museum; artwork may not be sold privately while on loan to SMA.

 
Additional Questions?
Contact SMA’s Curatorial Staff at kkimball@springville.org or 801-491-5705