CALL FOR ENTRIES

MicroCosmos: Little Worlds – A quilt challenge issued by Ricky Tims.
This year’s themes – Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Click here for online printable entry form or email gallery@rickytims.com to request an entry form via email.

Purpose of Challenge
The purpose of the MicroCosmos challenge is for quilt artists to quickly create small, improvisational expressions based on a theme. Ideally, each work should be made to compliment the next using any construction methods, then quilted – thus, an improvisational expression.

MicroCosmos Overview
Inspired by fabric greeting cards, Ricky has developed MicroCosmos, a growing collection of 5 x 7 inch quilts that depict various themes.

Each entry into MicroCosmos is to be a triptych of three separate miniature, improvisational works, each measuring exactly 5 x 7 inches. The following three subjects should be represented individually in the three works: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. All three works should be oriented the same – either landscape or portrait. TAQS requires that each work adhere to the following definition of a quilt: Any work created in fabric with front, back and middle layers stitched entirely together when finished. Each triptych must be for sale and not priced greater than $250. Many artists choose to make a matching set to keep in the event the work sells in the gallery. Works will be selected based solely on interpretation of the themes. Approximately 50 triptychs will be accepted for the gallery exhibition and sale.

Awards will be announced at the show opening on March 23, 2007

Show Schedule
Entry deadline: February 23, 2007, Wednesday
Notifications sent: February 26. 2006, Monday
Accepted quilts due: March 12, 2006, Monday
Opening Reception March 23, 6-9pm, Friday
Show dates: March 23 – May 18, 2006

Awards
Best of Show - $100

Best Interpretation of Theme - $75

Excellence in Innovation - $75

Viewer’s Choice Award - $75

1. Quilts must be the original work of one artist.
2. Quilts submitted for entry must have been made specifically for this show.
3. Quilts must be constructed of fabric consisting of three layers - a front, back, and an inner layer of fabric or batting using any technique or construction methods – then quilted.
4. Each piece in the triptych must measure exactly 5x7 inches. Edges may remain unbound, pinked, ziz-zagged, surged, or finished in any other way the artist chooses – including traditional binding methods.
5. All quilts, including those selling between the acceptance notification and end of show must remain in the MicroCosmos challenge exhibition until close of show.
6. Each triptych must be for sale and priced not more than $250. A 30% sales commission will be retained by Tims Art Quilt Studio for any triptych sold between the acceptance notification (February 26, 2007) and end of show (May 18, 2007), regardless if the sale of a quilt was negotiated by the artist or mediated by TAQS staff. Shipping costs at the conclusion of the show for all quilts, sold or unsold, is included in the entry fee. Artists will receive immediate notification upon the sale of their work. Payment will be made within 30 days of the sale of the quilt.
7. Failure to make available an accepted work for the exhibition will result in ineligibility for future entry.
8. Up to three entries may be submitted per entrant. No more than two entries per artist will be accepted.
9. Each work must have small (approximately 3/8”) shirt-type buttons sewn near each corner (hidden when viewed from front) on the back of each quilt (four buttons per quilt). Tims Art Quilt Studio will mount each quilt onto 8 x 10 inch mat board adhering the buttons to the board using these buttons. Unsold works will be returned mounted but not framed.
10. Sign each piece in stitching or indelible ink (may be discrete) on the front of the work. A small identification label with printed name of artist should be attached to the back of each quilt. Back label may be fused or stitched – no pins please.
11. TAQS retains the right to use images of accepted work for promotional purposes. Copyright of work remains with the artist.

How to Enter
Only digital jpeg images burned on a CD will be accepted. High quality images are encouraged. Only one photo image is required per triptych. The photograph should show all three pieces either left to right or top to bottom, in the following order: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Photograph the triptych as close as possible showing all edges, but not so close that the image is out of focus. Files should be titled by artists name - e.g. amysmith.jpg. For additional entries, files should include name of artist and number – e.g. amysmith1.jpg, amysmith2.jpg.etc. All entries per artist should be on one disk. All disks remain property of Tims Art Quilt Studio and will not be returned. Only non-US residents may email digital entries. Email to: HYPERLINK "mailto:gallery@rickytims.com" gallery@rickytims.com

Entry Fee - $20 per artist - $30US for international entries. One entry fee qualifies up to three entries per artist. Entry fee includes return shipping. No more than two entries per artist will be accepted.

Complete one entry form per triptych. Links for entry forms are listed at the top of this page.

Send completed and signed entry form, a check ($20 per US artist, $30US for international artists) payable to TAQS, a CD with digital images on disk, and a SASE (business size) to arrive no later than Wednesday, February 23, 2006 to:
TAQS – MicroCosmos Entry
P.O. Box 392
105 W. Ryus Ave.
La Veta, CO 81055
For questions call 719-742-3795
Gallery manager hours are Tues-Sat 10am-5pm MST

Procedure Following Acceptance
Quilt artists whose works are accepted must send their quilts to arrive no later than March 12, 2007. Any entry that varies from the entry photo or does not adhere to the rules for entry will be disqualified.

Artists will be responsible for shipping charges when in transit to Tims Art Quilt Studio and Gallery. Shipping charges at end of show are included in the entry fee.

Tims Art Quilt Studio is not responsible for damage during shipping. All quilts will be handled with great care and the utmost respect at all times. Unsold works will be returned mounted and in separate containers than in which they were shipped.

International artists will be responsible for all customs or brokerage charges. Tims Art Quilt Studio will require immediate reimbursement for any such charges that may be assessed upon shipping or receiving.

Insurance Policy
Each triptych will be insured for 70% of the asking price. TAQS will not bear the responsibility for any normal wear or slight damage associated with handling, hanging, packaging, and unpacking quilts.