ENTRY RULES
Entries will be accepted Wednesday, from 9am to 7pm in the front lobby of MESQUITE CONVENTION CENTER. Entry pieces will not be removed from the competition tables before the close of the awards ceremony, Saturday 3:00 pm. Workmanship of pieces submitted for competition must be entirely that of the entrant. Pieces must have been completed within the last year. All clay bodies fired to at least 1830 degrees Fahrenheit in a kiln. Pieces must be signed and dated. Each piece entered must have a Classification, a Division, a Subdivision if applicable, and a Category. The Association reserves the right to refuse any entry. Lamps requiring shades must be furnished by the individual entering piece. Plates must have a plate stand. To judge a piece, judges may remove felt or cork from bottoms of pieces, except for weighted chess sets and weighted bookends. Decorative embellishments will be allowed, but must not obstruct workmanship or prevent judges from examining entire piece. Pieces should be 80% ceramic, porcelain, pottery or glass. New categories will be created as needed. “SWCA” will not be responsible for unclaimed or damaged pieces! It is up to you to insure your piece if it is valuable!!
CLASSIFICATION OF A PARTICIPANT ENTERING THE SHOW CAN BE ANSWERED ON ENTRY DAY, EMAIL OR CALL THE COMPETITIVE CHAIRPERSON.
FEES
Pieces up to 7” wide or high - $2.00 Pieces up to 15” wide or high - $3.00
Pieces up to 24” wide or high - $4.00 Pieces over 24” wide or high - $5.00
Nativity, chess & large grouping $6.00 Children 50¢
CLASSIFICATIONS FOR ENTRANTS
MASTER – One who has authored a book on ceramic techniques. Has accumulated three (3) major awards or trophies, such as Peggy or Best of Show award. Has in the past won a Master Award in ceramic competition.
PROFESSIONAL – One who teaches or has taught in the fired arts, has a ceramic related city and/or state Sales Tax License, sells finished items of the fired arts, one who does now or has in the past owned, operated, conducted/taught class or been employed by a ceramic related business or manufacturer of products relating to the fired arts. ONCE A PROFESSIONAL ALWAYS A PROFESSIONAL, unless medical or physical condition makes it necessary to reclassify.
HOBBYIST – One who for more than one (1) year finishes fired art items for pleasure only. Has not won 3 or more major awards, Freddy or Best of Show. May attend ceramic classes or certification programs. One who does not meet any of the qualifications of a professional.
CHILDREN – Children who are 4-12 years old. May attend art or ceramic classes. Must do the work themselves.
TEENS – Teens who are 13-19 years of age. May attend art or ceramic classes. Must do all the work themselves. Teenagers may also enter under Hobbyist Classification.
GOLDEN AGE – One who is over 60 years of age. Has not won 3 or more major awards, Freddy or Best of Show. May attend ceramic classes or certification programs. One who does not meet any of the qualifications of a professional.
HANDICAPPED – Person who is disabled in such a way that makes it difficult to produce the pieces that they are entering.
DISABLED VETERANS – Former military person disabled in the service of his country.
JUDGING
Each piece will be judged on it’s own merit. In some cases there will be more than one (1)first, second, third and honorable mention ribbons awarded in the same category. Any questions arising during judging will be Judge Chairperson’s responsibility. Note the most common cause for points being deducted are:
Unfinished bottom Poor cleaning Color Harmony Poorly cast
Poor Application paint Stilt Marks Proportion to piece Off set eyes Doll
Did not re-carve design Eyes with no highlights Inside of piece unfinished
AWARDS
FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, and HONORABLE MENTION RIBBONS
TRICOLOR RIBBONS – Awarded to the best blue ribbon in each Division or Subdivision.
SOUTHWESTERNER – Awarded to the best Tricolor ribbon in each division.
MASTER – Awarded to the best in the Classification of Master.
BEST OF SHOW PROFESSIONAL – Awarded by SWCA to the most outstanding Tricolor ribbon in the Classification of Professional.
BEST OF SHOW HOBBYIST – Awarded by SWCA to the best in the Classification of the Hobbyist.
ORIGINALS IN CLAY AWARD – Awarded by SWCA to the best original piece, wheel thrown, slab, coil, etc., that promotes creative design and originality.
SWCA DECAL SPECIAL AWARD – Awarded to the most outstanding piece in the entire show using decals
JUDGES RIBBON – There will be one (1) rosette ribbon given to each judge. Each judge will award his or her individual rosette to a piece.
JUDGES AWARD – Will be chosen out of the rosette ribbon winners. The piece must show outstanding creativity and originality.
FOUNDERS AWARD – Awarded by SWCA in honor of those who founded our Association and to the dedicated members who have carried on the work throughout the years. This will be awarded to the most outstanding piece in the entire show that has not already won an award.
BOOTH AWARD – Rosette ribbon awarded by SWCA to the best in- State and to best out- of- State booths.