All submissions must represent completed works of art. No incomplete works, conceptual works, or project proposals will be considered.

Work must be suitable for outdoor installation and must:

1. Be structurally sound and able to be secured to a concrete pad or lawn surface with anchor bolts or similar devices.
2. Take into consideration the safety of the audience.
3. Be capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions including but not limited to high winds, temperature extremes (both high and low), heavy rain, hail storms, etc.
4. Be able to withstand a high traffic, public walking environment.
5. Be substantially maintenance free during the exhibition period.

The artist must describe on the entry submission form how the sculpture will be securely mounted to a concrete pad or lawn surface or if there are other requirements.

It is the artist’s responsibility to deliver the sculpture to the specified area of Jule Collins Smith Museum grounds and secure it properly to its mounts. Out of the Box will provide limited equipment and supervision for the placement of the chosen sculptures. It will be the responsibility of the artist to supply any specialty tools that may be needed for installation. If a crane or hoist is needed, it is the artist’s responsibility to notify JCSM by August 1, 2017, so arrangements can be made.

Sculpture must be installed by September 15, 2017. Any sculpture that cannot be installed by the designated date will be disqualified. All accepted sculpture must be removed by October 15, 2018. Any sculpture not removed by this date will be considered abandoned and will become the property of JCSM, unless other arrangements have been made between the artist and JCSM.

Artists may sell their work during the competition period, and JCSM will take no commission; however, the work must remain on site for the duration of the exhibition.

Auburn University will provide insurance for the term of display.

By submitting to Out of the Box, the artist agrees to comply with all rules and requirements.

Selections will be made through a blind-jurying process. Only images and basic descriptions of the works will be made available to the juror.

Finalists will be notified of their inclusion in the exhibition no later than June 30, 2017. Award winners will be announced at the opening reception on October 6, 2017.

About the Juror

Jean Shin is an internationally recognized artist who works with multiples of objects to transform the everyday into decadent interpretations of identity and community. She uses materials that range from prescription pill bottles to sweaters, and often obtains them as second-hand objects from people in participating communities. These objects transform into her media and become complex, conceptual and beautifully intricate works of sculpture. Her work is distinguished by her labor-intensive process, and these breathtaking installations seem to capture the essence of communal and societal issues that everyone faces in their day to day life.

Born in Seoul, South Korea and raised in the United States, Shin attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 1999 and received a BFA and MS from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. Her work has been widely exhibited in over 150 major national and international museums, including in solo exhibitions at The Crow Collection in Dallas, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art in Arizona, Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington DC, the Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philadelphia, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York. Shin has received numerous awards and has been featured in a multitude of publications world-wide. In 2016, Jean Shin will complete a major commission for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York at the 63rd Street Station on the new Second Avenue Subway line as well as a public art commission for the City of Seattle, Washington. She lives and works in New York City.

Up to 15 finalists will be selected to have their work displayed at the museum. All finalists whose work is displayed will receive a $1,000 honorarium. First prize is an additional $3,000. The second place winner will receive an additional $1,500, and the recipient of the honorable mention will receive an additional $500. Sponsored awards might also be available.

Submissions must follow all guidelines as stated within this prospectus. Artists may submit up to three different works with each work having no more than three images. The submission deadline is June 1, 2017.

Online submissions

All submissions are handled through the separate submissions management website, CaFÉ. If you do not already have an account with CaFÉ, you will need to complete the free registration in order to fill out your submission form and artist description. Processing of the one-time $25 entry fee is managed through Auburn University’s Marketplace website. You will receive an email confirmation.

Complete Your Application With CaFÉ

Pay Your $25 Entry Fee With Marketplace

For additional information or assistance please contact Jessica Hughes at 334-844-1596.