The LEAP Award, Contemporary Craft

The LEAP Award was established in the fall of 2007 to recognize emerging talent in the contemporary craft field. Founded in 1971 by Elizabeth R. Raphael as The Store for Art and Crafts and People Made Things, SCC featured work by young and emerging artists such as Wendell Castle, Lenore Tawney, Josh Simpson, Howard Kottler and Robert Lee Morris, among many others that needed wider opportunities to exhibit and sell their work. Building on this early history, it is our hope that the LEAP Award will help young artists move into a career in contemporary craft.

The LEAP Award recognizes excellence in the field of contemporary craft, and is presented biennially. The competition is open to exceptionally talented students and under-represented craft artists. The jurying process will take place in two sessions. There will be an initial review of digital images to identify 10-20 finalists. These finalists will be asked to submit additional images for final jurying, as well as be invited to create and submit work for display throughout the year in the Store. The final round of judging will take place on December 13, 2010, and the selected artist will receive a $1,000 cash award towards the development of a product line/body of work. In addition, SCC will promote this body of work nationally, and the work will be exclusively marketed through the Store for a period of one year.

If you have any additional questions, email

thestore@contemporarycraft.org

Click here to download the 2011 LEAP prospectus!

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The Pittsburgh Art Blog

The Pittsburgh Art Blog features selected pittsburgh artists and upcoming exhibits with photos from the artists and galleries. since the major press outlets do not go beyond a directory listing of exhibits, blogs are needed to promote pittsburgh artists and their work. the blog also calls attention to the inferiority complex of pittsburgh art and how it's perpetuated by the major players in town. Started on August 20, 2007.pittsburgh area galleries and art venues are listed at the sister site www.PghGalleries.com.the blog and website are volunteer projects from fine art photographer and pittsburgh art advocate rick byerly, www.RickByerly.com.