In the glass world, the typical auction fundraiser works something like this: Artists are asked to donate a work and, in return, he or she helps support an institution while getting exposure to the collectors in attendance—as well as some modest percentage of the sales price. That’s the way it’s been working for years at institutions such as the Pittsburgh Glass Center, Pilchuck, UrbanGlass and the National Liberty Museum, to name just a few of the better-known glass auctions that reach out to artists every year for donated work. The Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, however, has been taking a different approach. Its annual “Red Hot Party and Juried Auction“ is a novel blend of fund-raising and head-to-head competition that pits artists against one another. Selected works are auctioned off to support the institution with no percentage returned to the artists. However, three of the donated works will be chosen — two by an expert jury, one by those attending the actual auction — for generous cash prizes. The top two prizes of $10,000 and $5,000 both include a week of studio time at the Museum of Glass’s fabled hotshop.
The top two prizes —the $10,000 Grand Prize and the $5,000 New/Emerging Artist Award — are selected by a three-person jury made up of Museum of Glass curator Melissa Post, the Corning Museum’s curator of modern glass Tina Oldknow, and GLASS magazine and Hot Sheet editor-in-chief Andrew Page. In addition to the juried prizes, there will be a People’s Choice Award selected by those attending the live auction on September 11th, 2010. It carries an additional $2,500 prize.
Artists interested in being considered for this auction have until June 2nd to complete the online application process. The museum is seeking 75 works to be divided between silent and live auctions. Only 39 submissions will make the cut for the live auction, but acceptance into either auction qualifies for consideration for the Grand Prize or the New/Emerging Artist Award.
A page on the application Website reads: “In the spirit of showing off all that glass has to offer, we welcome artworks with a variety of styles, functions, and price points, including intricately detailed jewelry, flamboyant blown vessels, elegant, functional glassware, socially conscious sculpture, and more. We want to see it all!”
For more information, visit an informational Website set up by the Museum of Glass. Though free, the application process requires registration with Juried Art Services, a third-party helping to administer the competition.