Big Freakin' Deal

Since the days when the Lawndale was holding Black Flag shows and Smurfs came on Nickelodeon, The Big Show has done something about the summer slump. It may be 90 degrees outside but at least it’s not over a hundred. August sucks. Bring your artwork to the Lawndale on June 27^th and 28^th to be included in Houston’s long-running open call. You can find info and print an entry form here . It’s kind of like taking the city’s pulse, but it is open to all artists in Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, Washington, and Wharton counties. I don’t know where half of those are.

@the 2006 California Biennial; artist Kate Pocrass. (Photo: Andrew Berardini) Right: Biennial artist Kianga Ford with 2006 California Biennial curator Rita Gonzalez. (Photo: Carla Rhea, courtesy OCMA)

There’s a hell of a lot of artists inside the loop anyway, and they’d better all come out and represent all the groups and genres out there. Art students, outsider artists, graffiti kids, photographers, Sunday painters, drawers, painters, sculptors and designers all get equal time in front of guest juror Rita Gonzalez from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Picked out of three stories stuffed with artwork Rita has the unenviable task of constructing a show out of Houston’s massive artistic output in just two days. Last year there were nearly 400 artists, which isn’t all that there is out there, let’s make it hard for her this year and give her an accurate picture of what we have to offer while we’re at it.

$30 entry fee, or ten bucks a piece if you bring three works, $50 for entry and membership; members and entrants last year get 5 bucks off. Lawndaleartcenter.org

Extra bonus points for installation work- most submissions are paintings and there is more floor area than wall space so do yourself a favor and stand-alone. Submit them deconstructed with a pic of the installation for ease of use. All entrants notified by June 30^th, everyone is invited to the opening this July on Friday the 13^th 6:30 to 8:30pm!