Small Works

ELIGIBILITY AND MEDIA

• All artists age 18 and over living in the United States are eligible.
• In its largest dimension, artwork must be 24 inches or less, including frame if applicable.
• All media are eligible, excluding jewelry and film/video.
• Weight limitation: 45 pounds
• Work that requires special installation or instructions will NOT be accepted.
• Only work created within the last three years is eligible.

ENTRY AND ONLINE PROCESS 

All Small Works entries will be judged from digital files. Before entering, prepare the following:

1.  Required Artwork Information for each entry:

• Title
• Medium
• Sale Price or NFS
• Insurance Value
• Actual and Framed Art Sizes in inches (height" x width" x depth") 

2. Required Digital Image File

• One (1) image file per entry, up to three (3) entries per artist.
• File Format: .jpg only, maximum 2 MB file size
• File Name: Artist’s last name_First initial_number of image
  (Note: Do not place your name into the digital image.) 
• Example: Smith_M_1.jpg

ENTRY FEE
One $30 nonrefundable fee entitles each artist to submit up to three entries.

NOTIFICATION
Accepted entries will be posted on this web page by July 14, 2023. Individual notification will NOT be sent. Please check this webpage for the jury results.

ACCEPTED WORK
Presentation: All works must be delivered to Harper ready for hanging/ installation/display. For framed work, use Plexiglas only. Original work not accurately represented by the digital file may be declined at the discretion of the Juror. All work will be insured during the exhibition for the artist’s stated valuation.

Shipping: Work must be shipped in sturdy, reusable cardboard containers to arrive at Harper College no later than August 11, 2023. In-person deliveries for local artists may be arranged during August, pending campus safety protocols.  DO NOT use loose Styrofoam “peanut” packing. Works should not require special handling or instructions.

RETURN OF ACCEPTED WORK
Works will be returned in original containers via UPS as soon as possible after the close of the exhibition. The Exhibition will pay for return shipping, insuring containers per stated valuations.

CATALOG, SALES AND REPRODUCTION
In conjunction with the Small Works exhibition, a color catalog will be produced. Each participating artist will receive catalogs by mail after the exhibition closes. Harper College will not retain commission on sales. Consent to reproduction for publicity purposes for this or future Harper national exhibitions is considered granted.

ENTRIES FOR 2023 ARE NOW CLOSED 

If you would like to receive information about next year’s Small Works, please email us at: smallworks@harpercollege.edu

Laura Burkhalter
Senior Curator, Des Moines Art Center

A native of Des Moines and graduate of the University of Iowa in English and Art History, Laura Burkhalter joined the Des Moines Art Center staff as Curatorial Assistant in 1999 and became Senior Curator in 2023. Burkhalter has organized several large solo and group exhibitions of international contemporary art, including Transparencies: Contemporary Art and a History of Glass, Laurel Nakadate: Strangers and Relations, Monument Valley, and Justin Favela: Central American. She has been involved in the annual Iowa Artists exhibition nearly every year of her tenure, working to introduce the best of the state’s artists to the museum’s audience, and organizing solo exhibitions with Rachel Cox, Yun Shin, Mitchell Squire, and Jordan Weber. Working within the Des Moines Art Center collections, she has presented exhibitions on Yayoi Kusama, Andy Warhol, Henry Ossawa Tanner, and many others. Currently, she is wrapping up Art Center: 75 Years of Iowa Art, an exhibition kicking off the museum’s 75th anniversary year, and Transform Any Room, a group exhibition of contemporary art inspired by domestic space and household goods that will close out 2023. Laura lives in Des Moines with her partner, Marc, and their three cats Earl, Elvira, and Maple.

Thanks to all the artists who entered the 2023 Small Works: Harper College National Juried Exhibition.  The following artists have been selected by our juror: 

Lunnara Arraes 

Zachary Betts 

Jessica Burke 

Charles Clary 

Scott Eakin 

Valerie Escobedo 

Angel Fernandez 

Trish Happel 

Natalie Harrison 

Matthew Heckart 

Abigail Holcombe 

Kendra Kett 

Icy x Koozy Kollabs 

Caitlyn Lawler 

Scott Mossman 

Phillip Reynolds 

Logan Robinson 

Kelley Simons 

Jason Stout 

Stephen Wilson 

Jenny Wu 

Kiki Zhen 

For more information about Small Works, contact us by email at: smallworks@harpercollege.edu