CALL FOR ENTRY
Starting April 15 - July 7, 2025
State of Clay in Indiana IV
Juror: Lenny Dowhie
Be sure to complete Steps 1 and 2 to have a complete application.
The State of Clay in Indiana IV is a juried and invitational exhibition held in conjunction with the 4th Biennial Indiana Clay Conference. The conference, held on October 4-5, 2025, will be hosted by Ball State University in partnership with Purdue University Fort Wayne. The juried component of the exhibition will highlight the diverse work made by clay artists who have lived or worked in the state of Indiana, while the invitational component of the exhibition spotlights the work of the conference organizers. The exhibition will be juried by Lenny Dowhie.
EXHIBITION DATES: Wednesday, Sept. 17 – Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025
AWARDS: The juror will select the following awards: $300 best of show, $250 first place, $200 second place, and $100 third place, as well as honorable mention awards. Additionally, all awardees will receive a free conference pass for the 2027 Indiana Clay Conference. Awardees will be contacted about how to register for the 2027 conference.
ELIGIBILITY: Open to all artists residing in the U.S., who are 18 years or older, that have lived or worked in the state of Indiana at some point in their lives. The entry form will ask for the city in Indiana where you have lived/worked in or in which they are now living/working.
FEES: Pay entry fee of $30 and then fill out and submit the entry form. Applications will not be complete without paying the entry fee and submitting the completed form.
SIZE LIMITATIONS: Entry into the gallery space is limited by doors that are 8’ in height by 5’ in width. Accepted work that is complex, large, delicate, or greater than 50 lbs may need to be delivered, set up, and picked up by the artist.
IMPORTANT DATES: Entries can be submitted beginning April 15, 2025. Entries due: Monday, July 7, 2025. Email notifications will be sent to all artists by July 21, 2024. Artwork must be delivered the week of Sept. 8-12, 2025 (no later than Sept. 12). Artists attending the Indiana Clay Conference should plan to pick up their piece(s) on Sunday, Oct. 5, after 4 PM. For those not attending the conference, return shipping to artists will be by Monday, Oct. 13, 2025.
SALES & COMMISSIONS: All participants have the option to list their work for sale; however, The Ned and Gloria Griner Art Gallery will not facilitate sales. Interested buyers will contact the artist directly to make a purchase via a price list made available at the gallery. All sales communications and transactions will be between the buyer and the artist. No commissions will be collected by the gallery.
ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS: Click on the button that says Step 1: Pay Entry Fee above (click on the $30 State of Clay Exhibition Call For Entry Fee, add it to your cart, and then proceed to checkout. You will receive a confirmation email. If you don’t receive a confirmation, check your junk email folder. Step 2: Fill out entry form, upload images, and push submit.
FILE FORMAT: High Resolution (300 DPI), JPEG only, no larger than 20 MB each. Images must be labeled with the following file names that correspond to your entry numbers: 01_lastname_firstname_title of artwork, 02_lastname_firstname_title of artwork, 03_lastname_firstname_title of artwork (i.e. 01_green_seth_teapot). Digital Photography tip: Submitted images of accepted entries will be printed in a catalog so be sure to take images at the highest quality and avoid excess zooming and cropping.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS: All works must be finished and ready for display. Pieces that hang on the wall or from the ceiling should include secure hanging mechanisms. The gallery walls are backed with plywood, and the ceiling can accommodate hanging works up to 50 lbs. Artists should plan to assist with any artworks requiring complex installation.
SHIPPING AND INSURANCE: Artists will be responsible for paying for all shipping costs upfront to and from the gallery. Artists attending the Indiana Clay Conference will pick up their piece(s) on Sunday, Oct 5, after 4 PM. Artists not attending the conference must include a prepaid return label via FedEx, UPS or USPS in their shipment. Artists are responsible for covering the cost of insurance while the artwork is in transit. Shipped work must be sent in a reusable carton, box, or crate and packed with reusable packing materials and arrive/or be dropped off September 8-12, 2025. The Ned and Gloria Griner Art Gallery will not provide packing materials.
Artist will waive all claims against the Ned and Gloria Griner Gallery of Art for any damages, losses or claims to artwork, whether known or unknown, which arise out of participation in the activity. The Artist will release The Ned and Gloria Griner Gallery of Art for damage of artwork regardless of whether or not caused in whole or part by negligence or other fault.
HAND-DELIVERY ARRANGED UPON REQUEST: Deliver to The Ned and Gloria Griner Art Gallery at the address below. Be sure your package is clearly labeled with your First and Last Name and “State of Clay in Indiana Exhibition”. Any questions about hand-delivery of artwork can be directed to Ken Preston at kpreston@bsu.edu.
LOAN AGREEMENTS: Your acceptance notice will be provided by email. Your signed agreement must accompany the artwork or be emailed to (kpreston@bsu.edu) prior to receipt.
ACCEPTED WORKS WILL BE SHIPPED or DELIVERED TO: The Ned and Gloria Griner Art Gallery, Art and Journalism Building (AJ) Room 401, ATTN: State of Clay, Muncie, IN 47306
Call For Entry Form
Lenny at NCECA Board Meeting
Lenny Dowhie, 92 Dinner Conversations
DLenny Dowhie, Cool Tea on a Hot Night
About the Juror—Lenny Dowhie
Lenny Dowhie has been making art and teaching in Indiana for the past 47 years. As a Professor of Art at the University of Southern Indiana he helped develop the USI art department into the regional and national undergraduate program.
In addition to his professorship duties Lenny was also a founding partner of Expressions of Culture which produced the International Art Exposition: SOFA (Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art) Chicago/New York City. He retired from teaching in 2011 and in 2015 the Robert Blaffer Foundation asked him to revitalize the Sarah Campbell Ceramics Studio in New Harmony and the result was the creation of the New Harmony Clay Project (NHCP) which is an international ceramics artist in residence program and workshop facility. He is currently overseeing the continued operation and growth of the NHCP, working in his home studio of 40+ years, travelling & presenting workshops, and lectures around the world.
My artwork often reflects my individual experiences and political views. I use various techniques and materials, from clay to chrome-plated barbed wire, steel, handguns, and wood among many other materials.
I try to make work that challenges viewers to think about the themes I explore, using humor, color, and collage and any other process that fits the sculpture.
The process of creating art is both enjoyable and frightening, as it requires venturing into unknown ideas. Despite this, the joy of overcoming these challenges makes it all worthwhile.