FotoFest is Coming!
And ASMP Houston will be there!

FotoFest 2002 is fast approaching (March, 2002) and the Board in its wisdom (with a little urging on my part) has decided that the Houston Chapter should participate. The general theme of this upcoming FotoFest is "The Classical Eye and Beyond....", so we felt that "The Commercial Eye and Beyond...." would tie in very nicely. You may have noticed Nash Baker's recent e-mail concerning the content of our exhibition. He said that the "greatest hits" idea got the most nods, so we'll go with that. I think we can get a very good and popular show out of this. Your greatest hits can be work you've already got in your portfolio or something you create specifically for this show, commercial or personal. We think it's important to show the diversity of our talents and interests. Be creative, not safe! The down side to this is that it's all up to us. If you exhibit, you will be expected to help us hang the show and perhaps help distribute announcement cards. After that you can sit back and bask in all the glory. Pro Photo Supply Corp., where we just held our meeting with Jerry Herring, has graciously agreed to host the ASMP show -- our thanks to Jane Montgomery and all the other good folks over there. They have quite a bit of wall space in there office and work areas, enough for a good-sized exhibit. These are the specs that we have so far:

What to submit:
Personal or commercial work by you but not tear sheets or books, i.e., flat art able to be hung on a wall. Your work may be varied or on a single theme (or both), film-based, digital, computer-created, almost anything goes. Remember that this work will hang in a business, so don't get way too personal.

How to submit:
Up to ten images e-mailed (no larger than 4X6" at 72ppi) to me at jimphoto@swbell.net or you can mail 35mm copy or dupe slides to 101 West Drew St., Houston, TX 77006. Although we will attempt to return slides, we cannot guarantee this. No originals!

When to submit:
E-mail/slide submissions are due at my office (101 W. Drew, Houston, TX 77006) by January 15th.

Deadline for finished work:
February 15th, 2002. Remember, if your work is not ready to hang by the day of the installation, it will not go up, no exceptions! The hanging date will be sometime between Feb. 15th and the start of FotoFest, to be announced.

How many will be chosen:
Our selection committee will pick between one and five images to have you print, depending on the number of submissions and the exhibition space. If the images are already printed, so much the better.

What to exhibit:
Color or b&w prints up to 16X20, matted and framed in matte black metal frames no larger than 20X24", ready to hang. We will consider a few larger prints, but they may be hung in a different area. We can be flexible with framing on larger prints -- indicate on your slide image if the work is oversized and give dimensions.

Who will pay for framing:
You will, sorry to say. You are responsible for all printing, matting and framing costs. But you'll have some great reception area artwork when you're through. If you are concerned about the expense, check out pictureframes.com and their matte black "Rainbow Frames" -- a 20X24 set can be had for $13.40 plus shipping (with hardware). Add glass and matting and you should be able to frame it yourself for less than $40.00. Go in with friends and it gets even cheaper!

Entry fee:
$20.00 per exhibitor, payable to ASMP Houston, submitted with your slides.

Who will hang the show:
Again, you will, along with all other exhibitors. And yes, you could skip this bit of work, but who knows where we'll hang your images? The bathroom perhaps?

Show dates:
March 1 to April 1, 2002, the dates of FotoFest.

Who will take down the show?
Guess who? You again (see a pattern yet?). We'll probably have a take-down event; if you don't get your work then, you'll be able to pick it up from Pro Photo during normal business hours (bring ID).

Is the work for sale?
Not by ASMP Houston or the gallery space, but interested buyers will be referred to you. If you do sell a piece, please specify to the buyer that all work stays on the walls for the duration of FotoFest. You will be responsible for delivery to the buyer.

Will there be an opening?
Hopeully, but we will need some volunteers (hint,hint...). Hall Puckett has generously agreed to help, so we don't need too many more.

Jim Caldwell, editor