5 things to know about joining Foothills Craft Guild
Raeus Cannon - fiber wearable art
Foothills Craft Guild, the oldest craft guild in Tennessee, is about to begin its jurying process that gives Tennessee artisans an opportunity to join. The guild, with about 250 members, aims to promote members’ work by hosting two fine craft shows each year – one in the spring in Lenoir City (March 20 and 21 this year), and one in the fall in Knoxville. It also sponsors workshops and craft demonstrations and aims to educate the public about the value of fine hand-crafted pieces. New members also may sell their work through the Foothills website.
Interested in getting involved? Here are five things you’ll need to know before you apply, according to board member and standards chair Rikki Taylor!
1. The dates
Applications are due to Foothills by February 5, accompanied by a $35 fee. (Instructions for submitting them are here.) Work must be submitted on February 10 for consideration by the judges on February 12. It may be picked up on February 13 or no later than the next 30 days. The next jurying process is in July.
2. What to supply
Applicants must submit five pieces of their craft along with five photos (one of each piece they’re submitting). They should be sent to or delivered to:
Foothills Craft Guild
Attn: Standards Committee
116 Childress St.
Knoxville, TN 37920
3. The application
Be thoughtful and descriptive with the explanations of your work and the process you use to create it. They are read aloud to the judges. “Make your descriptions interesting,” Rikki said. “Take some time. Be expressive about what you’re doing. Sell yourself with information, not fluff.”
Hugh Bailey - pottery In Memoriam
4. Craftsmanship
When considering the pieces submitted, craftsmanship will be foremost on the judges’ minds. Are the makers skilled at what they do? Are there any visible flaws? Does the work look finished, with attention to detail? If it’s a functional piece, can it be used successfully? (For instance, if the piece is a pottery teapot, does the lid fit properly? Is the weight suitable to pick up and pour?)
5. Design
The final consideration of the judges is design of the pieces submitted, Rikki said. Judges consider the main idea of the piece, the size and scale of the work, the subject matter and the use of color and light. Is the piece stable? Is it symmetrical, if it’s meant to be? How has the maker used line, shape and texture?
Lynda Tenpenny - mixed media
The judges, who represent a wide range of crafts, assign points to each piece and those with enough point totals are then reviewed by the Foothills board. There is no limit on the number of artisans accepted during the jurying process. Rikki said as many as 30 apply each session.
If an applicant is not accepted, the judging panel spends some time formulating a message to him or her that would be helpful if they choose to apply again. “We earnestly try to do the best job we can,” Rikki said. “We want them all to be successful.”