Rules:
- Because of limited space and depending on the amount of images submitted we will likely have two exhibits of 12 to 18 images each. The first hanging date will be September 19, 2009. The pictures will be taken down and replaced with the second show beginning January 2009.
- You must abide by the park's guidlines below. Please read these carefully.
- You must be willing and able to print, frame and transport your
photo, at your own expense.
- Images
from a previous GSDNPP exhibit are not eligible.
- The contest is
open to RMNP members and participants only. You must have posted on
RMNP within the past year.
- You may submit
up to two images.
- The photograph can be no longer than 30” on the long side, inlcuding the frame.
- Image submission
will open Saturday, August 15, 2009
- Submission deadline
is Sunday, September 6, 2009
- Identify the
format used (e.g., 35mm film, xMP DSLR, MF, LF, etc.) and
completed, ready to hang size. Understanding the format used in making the image and completed size will help in maximizing the number, quality and diversity of images. Completed size will determine the total number of images selected for display. Please understand that due to size limitations of the display area we may have to ask you to limit the size of your image.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Visitor Center Fine Art Exhibit Space Guidelines for Artists and Photographers
Thank you for your interest in the Visitor Center exhibit space. The unique fold-out display panels were designed into the Visitor Center renovation that was completed in 2004. Since that time, many artists and photographers have expressed an interest in showing their work here. With around 300,000 park visitors annually, many of whom come to the Visitor Center, exhibiting here provides much exposure for an artist or photographer’s work. The National Park Service’s goal is to use this space to engage a wide variety of artists and photographers in sharing their unique visions and interpretations of the park and preserve, so that all visitors may enjoy them and be enriched by different creative perspectives on the park and its resources.
The Visitor Center exhibit space is primarily devoted to fine art painting, mixed media, and fine art photography specifically related to natural and cultural resources of the park and preserve. Its purpose is to complement the other more literal, science-oriented exhibits with personal artistic interpretations of park resources by a variety of people and media. It is our goal to balance showing regional artists who may have a special longtime connection with the park, with artists from other states or nations who bring new perspectives; and to balance professional artists with newer or lesser known artists.
Guidelines
In essence, the primary guidelines are that the work be interpretive and specifically about the park's cultural or natural resources."Interpretive" in this case means work that has a unique, creative view or vision, and is fine art in style and presentation. For instance, in photography, conventional scenic calendar-type images or documentary photographs would not fit the guidelines. Literal illustrative work, such as botanical illustration, or scenic greeting-card style illustrations, would not fit the guidelines. Images can relate to the dunes, creeks, grasslands, shrublands, wetlands, mountains, forests, tundra, plants, or wildlife of the park and preserve. (The eastern boundary of the park and preserve now extends from 12,200' Carbonate Peak north to the entire Sand Creek Basin, including all the 13,000' peaks there. The boundary west extends to San Luis Lakes State Park, then north to the Baca Grande
subdivision.) Some work done outside the park and preserve may be considered. For instance, if you have painted or photographed a detail of an aspen grove that was outside the park/preserve, but that could have been done in the park, that may fit the guidelines. The primary goal is to interpret the various ecosystems of the park and preserve. Or, images may relate to the cultural heritage of the park/preserve area, such as the Old Spanish Trail, historic and prehistoric tribes of the San Luis Valley, historic buildings within the park/preserve, people visiting the park, etc.
The exhibit space has 6 panels, all the same vertical height, but differing widths. The first two panels are the widest (43"), and they taper back from there, with the last panel at 32" wide. The largest framed artwork width that can fit on the largest panel is about 36”. Work must be framed with wire ready to hang on the pog wall. A small label is created by park staff for each piece with the artist/photographer’s name, contact info, basic biography, and any short thoughts about the work. The park cannot sell any artwork from the exhibit space, but visitors can contact the artist directly through whatever contact information is provided.
The art display is normally used year-round, with two shows per year, one from mid-September to mid-May, and one from mid-May to mid-September. The summer show is up for a shorter time than the fall/winter/spring show to keep approximately the same level of visitor exposure for each show.
Shows are typically scheduled up to a year in advance. Most are open shows, where any artist can submit work for consideration, but occasionally a show is reserved for a specific group, such as Rocky Mountain Nature Photographers. To allow the greatest number of artists to show their work, one-person shows are not normally done.
Security and Archival Protection of Artwork
The exhibit space is fairly archival. The northwest side of the Visitor Center is primarily large windows, but they are UV-filtering glass. Further, the exhibit space was designed with fold out panels that block most direct sunlight from the windows. Spotlights illuminate the work; there is no fluorescent lighting. The exhibit area is in full view of the front desk for security, and the building is locked and alarmed at night.
While National Park Service staff does all possible within reason to keep the artwork safe and free from theft or damage, we can assume no liability.
Shipping/Delivery Logistics
Shipping or delivery of artwork to and from the Visitor Center is solely the responsibility of each artist. You must ship or deliver your artwork to the Visitor Center by the beginning date of the show, and pick up your artwork anytime after the ending date of the show. Due to liability issues, the park cannot pack or ship artwork for you.
Image Submission
- Image may
not exceed 200 Kb in size and 720 pixels in the
long dimension.
- Thumbnail
may not exceed 25 Kb in size and 150 pixels in the
long dimension.
- Please have images and thumbnails share a common name, e.g., Berthoud_Falls.jpg and Berthoud_Falls_th.jpg.
- Please
do not resubmit images. Please prepare your images
carefully prior to submission, checking both file size and dimensions
carefully. Resubmitted images cannot be accepted.
If you are experiencing difficulty in preparing your images, please
post for help on the forum or e-mail one of the moderators.
- Please email
René Pirolt if you experience any difficulty uploading your image.
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