The Rudolph and Leopold Blaschka Glass Biological Model Exhibition Follow us on Instagram! "Lifeforms" will be a dual exhibition. The first "open" part will be un-juried and open to anyone working in glass. There is no entry fee or jury fee. The "open" exhibition will be online at this web site. The "juried" exhibition will be a show at the Hodge Gallery at the Pittsburgh Glass Center from July 5 to sometime in September. This show will consist of the award winning and jury selected entries only. The "open" show will remain on this web site indefinitely. The "juried" show will also be available in an online catalog that will be free for download. Registration is now closed. For a list of all participating artists please visit the artists page.   This will be an exhibition of the best biological glass models made in the spirit of the famous 19th and 20th century models of invertebrates and plants made by the father and son team, Rudolf and Leopold Blaschka for the Harvard University’s Botanical Museum. Models must be of specific species and rendered as accurately as possible, but artistic presentation and creative contexts are strongly encouraged. Artists working in any glass technique (flameworking, glassblowing, pâte de verre, etc.) are invited to submit an entry (one per artist or collaborative team). The judging criteria will be based on accuracy in representing the organism, aesthetic beauty, presentation, and originality. Types of Biology acceptable: Botany models may consist of any recognized plant species. They may be a life-size reproduction or a proportionally scaled (larger or smaller) model. Magnified plant parts may also be included as part of the work or as an individual entry. Zoology models may include any recognized invertebrate or vertebrate species, including insects and birds. Skeletons or other anatomical features, in part or whole, life-size or proportionally scaled, may also be individually represented. Scaled models of microorganisms are also acceptable and can include microscopic plants (such as algae), animals (as plankton), fungi, lichens, diatoms, bacteria, and so on. Extended Exhibition: Hodge Gallery at the Pittsburgh Glass Center The Pittsburgh Glass Center has agreed to host "Lifeforms" "juried" exhibit. The 40 award winning and juror-selected models will be shipped to Pittsburgh where they will be exhibited in the Hodge Gallery at PGC from July 5 to sometime in September. Click here for an image of the Hodge Gallery. The Jury for the live show: Susan Rossi Wilcox, former curator of the Harvard Glass Flowers and former member of the board of directors of the Glass Art Society, Heather McElwee, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Glass Center, Anna Boothe, former president of the Glass Art Society, artist and educator, and Wayne Strattman, PHD, neon artist, current member of the board of directors of the Glass Art Society and owner of Strattman Designs. Prizes: There will be $5100 in cash awards! Winners will be selected by a jury prior to the live exhibition at PGC. The awards break down is temporarily structured as follows: $1000 - Three awards of excellence. $500 - Three awards of achievement. $200 - Three awards of merit. $0 - Thirty-one Juror's Choice for extended exhibit. Sponsorships: "Lifeforms" is seeking sponsors to raise the prize money and cover expenses. We are introducing a four-tiered sponsorship as follows: DIAMOND - $2500 - Diamond sponsors will receive a free conference pass, permanent linked image ads on the "Lifeforms" home page, a linked banner on the gallery page, premier listing on the sponsorship page, and verbal recognition during the awards ceremony. PLATINIUM - $1000 - Platinum sponsors will receive a permanent linked image ad on the "Lifeforms" home page, a linked banner on the gallery page, premier listing on the sponsorship page, and verbal recognition during the awards ceremony. GOLD - $500 - Gold sponsors will receive a linked banner on the "Lifeforms" overview page, premier listing on the sponsorship page, and verbal recognition during the awards ceremony. SILVER - $250 - Silver sponsors will receive a linked banner on the "Lifeforms" rules page, a listing on sponsorship page and verbal recognition during the awards ceremony. Anyone interest in becoming a sponsor should contact us here.