Guidelines for Applying

Signature Membership in SPIN

SPIN has created a Signature Membership level that recognizes artistic achievement in silk painting.  Designation at this level entitles the Signature Member to use the initials “MSP” (standing for Master Silk Painter) after his/her name.

I. Eligibility

Applicant

An applicant must

• Have been a SPIN member for a year
• Be a SPIN member in good standing
• Have exhibited in at least two SPIN sponsored national/international juried exhibitions.

Art

SPIN encourages silk painting in all of its forms. Both fine art and wearable art are eligible.

Mixed media submissions must meet the following definition:

• All pieces must be predominately of silk.
• When other media are used, silk must be the essential component, i.e. the purpose of the piece must be to feature the silk. Mixed media work will not be accepted where silk is just an adjunct to other materials that are the piece's main feature.
• Because our organization is called Silk Painters International, artists applying for elevation to the Signature Membership level must actually use tools (brushes, sponges, etc.) and put dye or paint on silk. A piece comprised only of screen-printing or digital images computer-printed on silk will not be accepted, although these methods could be components of an overall piece.

II.Timing

There will be two selection rounds a year.

III, Application Process

All application documents shall be sent electronically to the address on the Signature Membership portion of the SPIN website.

The application shall consist of

A) an application fee of $10 which can be paid using Paypal on the SPIN website.

B) a resume not to exceed three pages

The evidence for artistic merit might include but not be limited to exhibitions, silk painting training, artistic awards, workshops taught, articles written……

C) an electronic portfolio of five silk works of art

These pieces of art should be of the highest caliber and demonstrate the applicant’s skill and artistic quality.

The artist must certify that

Each piece is predominately of silk

Each piece has been completed in the last five years of the application deadline

Each piece is original and meets all copyright laws

No piece submitted has been done in a class or workshop setting.

The artist must include the title and the dimensions of each piece and the techniques used in its creation.

An artist may submit up to two photos of each piece of artwork entered, one of which must be of the whole artwork.

Each image should not exceed 1Mbyte.

IV. Selection Committee

The Signature Selection Committee shall consist of other Signature Members. Signature Members shall designate five members from among themselves to form the Signature Membership Selection Committee.

For the first round, the Signature Selection Committee shall comprise SPIN Board Members (who will not be able to apply during this round). It is anticipated that the second round will comprise a crossover of Signature Members and some Board Members from the prior Signature Selection Committee. These Board Members will not be able to apply this round.

 V. Selection Process

A) Preparing the application for review by the Committee

The Signature Selection Committee Chair will

·        receive all submitted applications

·        verify SPIN membership and participation in juried exhibitions

·        ensure that all application requirements have been fulfilled

·        Send a digital copy of each applicant’s entry (who has met all the requirements) to each Signature Selection Committee member.   

B) Selection Committee Review

Using the Evaluation Criteria (below), each Signature Selection Committee member will objectively judge each individual entry, and using the scoring mechanism, provide an overall score for each applicant reviewed. 

In addition, the Signature Selection Committee member may at his/her discretion, provide a written statement with specific recommendation(s) or a more in depth explanation to accompany the score.  

Each member of the Signature Selection Committee will submit his/her scores only to the  Committee Chair.  

C) Evaluation Criteria

Artwork shall be viewed by each Signature Selection Committee Member using the following selection criteria:

• Technical Skill

The artist demonstrates evidence of advanced skill in the use and integration of traditional and experimental materials and techniques, associated with the silk painting process. Art works submitted should demonstrate a consistent level of expertise.

• Artistic Merit

The artist exhibits a significant knowledge of compositional components through the effective use of the elements and the principles of design. The artist’s work displays a clear understanding of and application of the principles of color theory.

• Originality and Creative Expression

The artwork is original in its concept, captures a unique or unusual perspective, and/or explores new or unlikely ways of presenting the subject matter.

• Consistency

Art works submitted should demonstrate a consistent level of expertise. Also there is an artistic cohesiveness to the pieces submitted. This does not mean that they need to have  common theme or even a common format (wearables, wall art, fibre), but that, at their core, they are cohesive.

• Signature Style/Voice

The artist is sufficiently proficient in the medium to have developed a signature style. In looking at the pieces together, it must be clear that this artist sings with his/her own voice.

D) Scoring Mechanism

The maximum value of each criterion will be twenty points (20) making the highest score possible one hundred points (100)

The minimum total acceptable score will be eighty (80) points, 80 points being 80% of the maximum achievable score.  

E) Discussion/Decision

The Signature Selection Committee Chair will tally all the resulting scores for each applicant and average the scores.

The Chair shall convene a telephone meeting of the Committee resulting in an acceptance or rejection vote for each applicant. The vote must be 4-1 in favour in order to designate an applicant as a Signature Member.

When the process is completed, Selection Committee members will destroy all electronic copies of applicants work and return any hard copy materials to the Signature Selection Committee Chair. 

VI. Notification of Decision

The Signature Selection Committee Chair will be responsible for notifying each applicant in writing of the outcome of the selection process.

Each applicant will receive notification of Signature Selection Committee final decision via the mail (postal service).

All decisions of the Signature Selection Committee are final, and are not open to discussion or further review.

The Signature Selection Committee Chair shall notify the SPIN Board President of the number of applicants and the names of the successful applicants.     

An applicant may apply again after being declined.

VII. Signature Membership Designation

The artist is entitled the Signature Member to use the initials “MSP” ( Master Silk Painter) after his/her name.

The artist will be designated a Master of Silk Painting as long as he/she remains a paid member in good standing in SPIN.  If there were a lapse in dues of more than 18 months, the artist will be required to resubmit an application.

The artist will be published on the SPIN website as a Signature Member of SPIN.