VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

The Big Show is Lawndale Art Center’s annual open-call, juried exhibition. It has been an important venue through which emerging and under-represented Houston area artists gain exposure since the show’s conception in 1984. The Big Show was formerly the East End Show, sponsored by the East End Progress Association, at Lawndale’s original location.

Artists living within 100 miles of Houston are invited to submit up to three pieces of artwork for a chance to be included in The Big Show. The exhibition and three cash awards are chosen by a guest juror based on work submitted in person to Lawndale Art Center. Artists must hand deliver their work to Lawndale Art Center on June 23 and 24, 2010. Jurying of the actual artwork will be conducted over two days.

In 2009, Lawndale received 994 submissions by 400 artists. Guest Juror Laura Fried, Assistant Curator for the Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis, selected 95 works by 65 artists for the exhibition.

The 2010 Big Show will be on view July 9–August 7, 2010; Opening Reception Friday, July 9, 2010, 6:30-8:30 PM.

2010 Juror | Paul Middendorf, Co-Director galleryHOMELAND and EAST/WEST Project Berlin
Paul Middendorf is an artist/curator and is the founder/co-director of galleryHOMELAND in Portland. galleryHOMELAND is a nonprofit arts organization programming exhibitions, performances, and events locally, nationally, and internationally. Middendorf has been curating for the last 12 years and collaborating with organizations and institutions worldwide. He has curated, performed and exhibited in projects such as PS1 in New York, Scope/Miami, Scope/Hamptons, Art Basel/Switzerland, and the Istanbul Biennale. In September of 2009 Middendorf co-founded The EAST/WEST project, a nonprofit exhibition space and residency in Berlin, Germany.

Through The EAST/WEST Project, he has helped encourage cultural exchange by establishing short term project spaces for international artists to share, develop and progress contemporary ideas. He earned a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2000. Middendorf lives and works in Portland, Oregon.

Special Event:

The Big Slide Show
July 29 & 30, 6 - 8 PM

Please join Lawndale and Houston's talented Big Show artists for short, informal presentations about their work. Presentations start at 6 PM each night at Lawndale Art Center.