MICHIGAN ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION GUIDE!

F O R

A L L

M A E A

S P O N S O R E D

E X H I B I T I O N S !

Qualifications!
You must be a current MAEA member. !
Join, renew, or check your membership status by phone at (800) 299-8321 or online at
www.arteducators.org.!

Limitations!
You may submit up to 5 entries total.!
Please no more than 2 pieces by an individual student.!

Elementary and Middle School Specifications!

2D work only, maximum 24 (maximum 1/2 thick).!
Mats are optional and may be any color.!
No frames.!

High School Specifications!

2D maximum is 30.!
3D maximum is 20 pounds (and reasonably transportable), in a sturdy box and ready to ship.!
Mat colors are restricted to white, black and grey.!
Framed work must be in good condition with plexiglass instead of glass and ready to hang.!
Stretched canvases must be ready to hang and have finished edges or a frame.!

Procedure!
Select artworks and guide students through composing their required artist statements. Each
artist statement is limited to a maximum of 400 characters.!
After mounting or matting the works on rigid board (mat board, foam core, cardboard), wrap
each one completely with quality acetate. Secure the acetate firmly to the back of the work
with packing tape (not masking or desk tape). !
Download and save the MAEA Entry Form at www.miarted.org. !
Open this file using any PDF reading software (see FAQ below) and enter all required
information, including artist statements and inventory pages.!
Print out the completed Entry Form document and collect parent signatures.!
Make a photocopy of the 5 signed entry forms.!
Trim the artist statements along the dotted line and glue to 7 x 4 pieces of black mat board
on center.!
Affix 1 sheet protector to the back of each entry securely with packing tape.!
Slide the entry form, a duplicate photocopy of the form, as well as the mounted artist
statement into the attached sheet protectors. !
Clearly write your region number on the back of each entry in the top right corner.!
Bring the completed Inventory Form with you when you drop off your work.!

Judging Criteria!
How well the artwork demonstrates uniqueness and quality, how well the artist statements
indicate thought and process.!

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F R E Q U E N T L Y

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A S K E D

Q U E S T I O N S !

What is the best way to fill out the MAEA Entry Form?!
You will have the best luck using Adobe Reader. Other programs will open PDFs and may
allow you to edit them, but they probably will not work as well. Adobe Reader is already
loaded on most computers. Mac or PC Its a free download & easy to install:!
http://www.adobe.com/products/reader.html!

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What is the purpose of these MAEA sponsored exhibitions? !

To showcase outstanding artwork by students in visual art programs from schools across Michigan.!
Why are there so many steps to enter work?!
To help your liaisons process entries efficiently and to protect your submissions as they are handled.!
What about plagiarism? Is it okay to enter, say, a picture painted from a photograph found in a National
Geographic? And what about collages and digital artworks that incorporate other peoples images?!
A good rule of thumb is to consider whether the students artwork significantly modified the incorporated
imagery in terms of both composition and concept. Merely duplicating another artists work in another
medium, for example, can be a wonderful exercise to build confidence but would not be appropriate to
submit to this exhibit.!

After the regional show, what happens to my students work?!

Work accepted into the regional show is considered for additional display at the state level. If accepted,
congratulations! Expect to receive additional information about the Governors Traveling Show, Top 15,
Michigan Youth Arts Festival, Michigan Department of Education Exhibit and/or other opportunities for
your students work to be seen around our state.!

On the entry form, it says submitted work may be on display for up to 18 months. Really?!
Yes! The Governors Traveling Show circulates for a full year, and other state-level exhibits can last
nearly that long as well. We put 18 months on the form to be safe, but know that most artworks are
returned right after the regional shows come down.!

I have a student teacher who has joined MAEA. Can he/she enter 5 student works in the exhibition too?!
Absolutely! Student teachers should list their own name on the entry form but they should enter their
mentor teachers contact information.!

My budget is painfully tight, I really cant afford quality acetate. Can I still enter the show? And does my
work need to be ready-to-hang?!
When the going gets tough your region liaison wants to help you get ahold of some acetate. Contact him
or her right away with any questions, for that matter! And adhesive zig-zag hangers will be available
when you drop off your work. These work very well for hanging most entries.!

Why is a learning statement required?!

At its most elemental level, creating art is about communication. The artist statement is meant to
encourage reflection on the part of the student and to promote writing across the curriculum. It is also
consistent with professional art exhibit practice. Students at all levels can write meaningful commentary
on their artwork, but at the elementary level a teacher-written statement is acceptable. !

Some possible writing prompts:!

The most important thing that I learned while doing this artwork is...!
The message I am trying to convey in making this art is...!
When people that view my art, I hope that they notice...!
This work allowed me to explore