CALL FOR ENTRIES: Archway Gallery presents 12th Annual Juried Exhibition Benefiting Houston Junior Forum

HOUSTON, TX - Archway Gallery is honored to present its 12th Annual Juried Exhibition, benefiting Houston Junior Forum. This annual event is an opportunity for area artists and non-members of the gallery to participate in an exhibition of works in Houston’s finest artist-owned space. The Juried Art Exhibition will be presented online July 5 at 6:30 p.m. with remarks from the Juror. Applications for the show are accepted June 1 – 24 with proceeds benefiting both the charity partner and the artists.

Each year a prominent juror selects works by local artists for the month-long exhibition, and sales support a nonprofit organization chosen by the gallery members. Artists may enter one or two works for the entry fee of $20. Prizes include generous cash awards. Applications are accepted June 1 – 24. Fifty percent of the proceeds from the show benefit the charity partner and the other fifty percent distributed to the artists. The first-prize winner will also receive a month’s guest artist privileges at Archway Gallery. Interested artists can get entry information and forms on the gallery’s website, ArchwayGallery.com.

Due to the challenges presented by COVID-19, this year’s exhibition will be selected from digital entries. Apart from the prize-winning works, the show will not be physically installed; it will be exhibited entirely on the Archway Gallery website. First, Second, and Third prize award winners, along with Honorable Mention works, will be physically displayed in our front gallery space viewable in our large display windows. These and all other selected works will be featured in the online exhibition, shared with our patrons and followers, and posted prominently on the gallery website.

This year’s juror, Wayne Gilbert, is a self-described “ordinary artist in an extraordinary city full of great artists and art.” His undergraduate degree in Painting from the University of Houston is paired with a minor in Art History (1984). He has an MA from Rice University in Liberal Studies (2012). With other founding members of the Rubber Group (Bill Hailey and Ramzy Telley), he fashioned multi-disciplinary extravaganzas that were bohemian rough and well out of the mainstream.

Using the cremated remains of Americans uncollected for infinite reasons at funeral establishments to create works of art, his intent is to question the phenomenon of art as it relates to humanity and vice versa. He investigates and questions the academic substance of art as it integrates into theory and critical analysis: What is art? Why does it matter? Who defines a work of art? What is it about this peculiar and mystifying human undertaking that can result in such a huge world-wide industry, sometimes relegated to the lofty world of “Priceless”? The range of imagery is wide, entertaining the momentary flicker of a thought as it might relate to our philosophical, theological, physical, or mental journeys through life.

Wayne has been a guest speaker at Bard College, Annandale on the Hudson, Rutgers University, and Texas Tech. He has curated exhibitions in Trujillo, Peru, Santiago, Cuba, Salwedel, Germany, Seattle, Washington, Marfa, Texas, and Arlington, Texas, to name a few. With his wife Beverley, he owned G Gallery and currently shows the works of selected artists in Houston’s G Spot Gallery.

“We are excited to be partnering with Houston Junior Forum on this year’s show, said Liz Conces Spencer, who co-chairs the Juried Art Exhibition with fellow artist, Becky Soria. “This show is near and dear to the gallery as it allows us to express our gratitude to a community organization that serves a need in our city. While we are sad to have to make changes to the physical exhibition, we are so grateful to be able to give back to an organization that has been doing good since 1946,” Spencer emphasized.

Houston Junior Forum (HJF) provides charitable services for children, youth, women, and seniors in the greater Houston area. Established in 1946, HJF is open to women age 21+ who wish to “make a difference” through community service. Today’s 400 members provide services for 16 non-profit organizations. HJF owns and operates the HJF Resale Shop located at 1815 Rutland St. in The Heights. Members volunteer at additional sites preparing and delivering meals, teaching children to read, hosting events for seniors, helping women secure gainful employment, and distributing school supplies for underprivileged families.

HJF has given over 1 million hours of community service during its 74-year history to organizations such as Amazing Place, Christian Community Service Center (CCSC), Dress for Success, Gracewood, Harrison’s Heroes, HJF Resale Shop, Holly Hall Retirement Center, Houston Food Bank, Interfaith Ministries, Meals on Wheels, Kids’ Meals, Literacy Now, The Nehemiah Center, See to Succeed, Third Age Learning Center (TALC) and Undies for Everyone.

The HJF College Scholarship Program was formed in 1976 to support graduates of the HJF Community House Preschool. The Community House Preschool, HJF’s first owned and operated service project served the Hispanic Community for almost 60 years and was one of the models for the nationally acclaimed Head Start Program. To date, HJF has funded 249 multi-year scholarships valued at $1,100,000+ to these students.

Established in 2010, HJF’s Community Grants Program has provided grant funding in excess of $500,000 to organizations including their designated service sites and other non-profits whose mission is to provide services for children, youth, women, and senior adults. Visit houstonjuniorforum.org for info.

For more information and to download the application for the 12th Annual Juried Exhibition, visit www.archwaygallery.com.