HOT Fair Art & Photography Rules

ADULT
WESTERN HERITAGE ART
Adult Division (Ages 19+)
Western art is representational art of the heritage
and lifestyle of the west, historical as well as
present day, including but not limited to cowboys,
Indians, wildlife and the terrain of western
landscape.
The Arts & Crafts Committee's intention is to
encourage the education and appreciation of our
western heritage while supporting the artistic
efforts of the youth of Central Texas. Therefore the
above definition will be a guideline as to what we
consider western art. (Source: Houston Public
Library Information Center)
Check-In Entries and Pick-up
Creative Arts & Education Building
Check In: Saturday, September 27 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Entries & Awards exhibited throughout fair
Pick-Up: Sunday, October 12 2 – 4 p.m.
Eligibility of Exhibitors
Entries will be accepted in the Adult age category
(ages 19 years and over). Only one entry per
category (Illustrations & Sculpture) will be accepted
per exhibitor.
Registration:
Each person entering the Western Heritage Art
Contest must pre-register their entry online. Entry
information located at www.hotfair.com. An entry
fee of $3 will be charged. Entry deadline is
September 25, 2008.
Acceptable Subjects
• Ranch Life (Past or Present)
• Cowboy or Rodeo Events
• Any imaginative country and western scene
or one depicting cowboy or Indian
paraphernalia
• If wildlife is used, it MUST be native to the
continental USA and MUST be shown in a
western setting.
ILLUSTRATIONS
The following are examples of accepted media.
Work is not restricted to this list:
Tempera Cloth
Watercolor Ink
Oil Pencil
Acrylic Charcoal
Crayon Pastels
Mixed Media
Sizes of Illustrations
Dimensions may be vertical or horizontal, but
MUST NOT exceed specified sizes listed below.
Incorrect sizes are subject to disqualification.
• Minimum - 11" x 14"
(including up to 3½" mat)
• Maximum - 18" x 24"
(including up to a 3½" mat)
Matting and Mounting of Illustrations
• Illustrations must be matted with material
such as poster board or heavy construction
paper.
• It must be sturdy enough to prevent sagging.
• "Professional" mats are recommended but
are not required. Frames are not allowed.
• Mat must not exceed 3½" on any side.
• Double matting is acceptable, but total width
of double matting must not exceed the 3 ½"
maximum.
• Mat color is limited to white or black.
• Charcoals and pastels must be sprayed with
a fixative.
• Wet paintings will not be accepted.
• Acrylic coverings may be used, but are not
required. Be sure the covering is firmly
attached.
• Paintings on canvas with wooden stretcher
frames and wood work must have a hook or
wire on back for hanging, but need not be
matted.
• Paintings on hardboard canvas (thin type
of canvas) may be matted or mounted with
sturdy poster board instead of using hooks
or wires. A minimum mat edge of 1" will
enable us to display the artwork with clips
without damage to the canvas board.
• Illustrations should have an envelope taped
to the back, forming a pocket. Slip the
required forms into that pocket, but leave
the envelope unsealed so that we can
remove and replace the forms as needed.
SCULPTURE
Sculptures should be well made and able to standalone.
Any sculpture made of any fragile material
must have a base to support it. Please Note: Our
exhibit will be open to the public, including small
children, and although we do our best to protect all
of the artwork, it is impossible for us to control the
activity of every person viewing our exhibit. Fragile
sculptures subject to damage by routine handling
should not be entered. Soft clay will not be
accepted. The Heart of Texas Fair Creative Arts &
Education Committee will not be held responsible
for damage.
Sculptures may be constructed of any of the
following materials:
• Clay (air dried or fired)
• Wire, chicken wire, etc.
• Wood
• Metal
• Plaster
• Paper Mache
• Any other material that meets the boundaries
of our rules and regulations
Maximum Size
Sculpture is not to exceed 20" in height or width,
including the base.
Weight
Sculpture should not be excessive or weigh more
than an average person can carry easily.
Special Requirements
Place your sculpture in a box with padding. Tape an
envelope to the side of the box, forming a pocket.
Slip the required forms into that pocket, but leave
the envelope unsealed so that we can remove and
replace the forms as needed. Use a heavy marker to
write your name and the name of your school on the
outside of the box.
Reminders
• Be sure to use a black or white mat, but do
not use a mat larger that 3½" on any side.
• No reproduction or copying of other
artwork or photos by any means. The only
two exceptions to this rule are:
• The artist may work from a photograph he
or she has personally taken or that belongs
to the artist's family.
• The photographer has given explicit
permission to the artist to use his photograph
as a source. A signed permission statement
must be attached to the back of the artwork.
• Although the artist may use an approved
photograph as a source, the artist may NOT
use any mechanical means to reproduce any
part of that photograph such as a computer,
an opaque projector, photocopier, or any
other device.
• Do Not use any of the following materials
with regards to illustrations or sculptures:
Glitter, Plastic Figures, Pre-packaged, precut
craft or art kits, commercial newsprint
lettering, stencils, or rub-on letters in their
original form, sand (unless it is glued or
sealed, not loose), wax, any fragile materials
that easily break or may be damaged by
routine handling required during setting up
or exhibit (i.e. soft clay, glass, etc.), living
things (plants or insects).
• The following subjects are NOT accepted.
If any of these are presented, they will not
be judged or exhibited:
• Satanic Art
• Nudes
• Gang symbols or themes
• Wet paintings
• Photographic work
• Framed illustrations
The following are not acceptable unless
pictured in a western setting:
• Fishing scenes, individual pictures of fish,
butterflies, frogs or other wildlife.
• Any wildlife not naturally found habituating
the continental USA, such as tigers, zebras,
elephants, etc.
• Pictures of bowls of fruit or flowers unless
symbolic of Texas or "Old West" or used in
a western setting.
• Jewelry
• Charcoal or pastels that are not sprayed.
• Entries made from mechanical or electronic
devises such as (but not limited to):
1. With the assistance of opaque
projectors
2. Photocopiers
3. Computer generated or computer
enhanced
4. Sewing machine
It is the Heart O' Texas Fair & Rodeo Creative
Arts & Education Committee' right to refuse
any unsuitable artwork.
• Be careful to measure your entry. Our
space is limited, so we must ask that your
piece not exceed the listed size restrictions.
If your piece is too small, it could be easily
overlooked or lost.
• Any legal issue arising from the
infringement of copyright law is the sole
responsibility of the student and his/her legal
guardians. Neither the HOT Fair & Rodeo
will be responsible for or involved in any
legal issues arising from copyright
infringement.
Awards/Premiums
Premiums will be awarded according to the set
premium schedule. Ribbons will be presented to the
Grand Champion, Reserve Grand Champion and
third through fifth places in each class. Exhibits will
remain on display until Sunday, October 12, 2008.