Wishes & Fishes

Join us in our annual Collaborative Community Project!
How it works: Each year we ask artists to contribute a beaded item of a specific theme. We install these collected items in an exhibition highlighting the power of people coming together for the purpose of community and creation. The exhibition is then on display for roughly a year. Once finished, the individual items are used in fundraising efforts for the Museum supporting the staff, development, and programs of this community-based institution. 
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**Deadline July 31st, 2024**
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The theme for this year is "Wishes & Fishes" and we would like you to make and send us a beaded fish that will be part of an installation exhibit in our gallery. We will be creating a school of fish to swim through our gallery and we would like your help! Additionally, please include a short wish, a few words only, that you have for the future. As grand as "world peace", as simple as "Happiness", or as personal as "a good cup of tea".
We invite you, no matter your experience, style, or technique, to make a fish and a wish, and send it to us.
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Guidelines:
  • Fish can be anywhere between 1” in any direction to 12” in any direction.
  • As the fish will be hanging, 3-Dimensional is best, but we are not discouraging 2D as long as they do not fold under their own weight. 
  • Use of an armature, framework, or solid structure to bead upon is acceptable.
  • Each fish needs to have a loop to allow us to attach monofilament. This is how we will hang them for the installation.
  • Found materials are acceptable but we ask that the fish are at least 70% beads.
  • No color requirements.
  • Single fish, clusters, eels, sharks, jelly fish, or anything aquatic is acceptable. Feel free to use your imagination.
  • Original designs only. Due to copyrights that some patterns have, we must require that designs are created by you or that you have express permission to use them for this project.
  • Feel free to send us as many as you like. In fact, the more the better!
 
Please mail them to us no later than June 30th, 2024.
When mailing, please include:
  • Your fish.
  • Your name, town/state/country, and age (if you wish to share).
  • Whether or not you would like to be listed as a contributing artist.
  • Any short wish (a few words) you have for the future. 
  • Mail to:
    Museum of Beadwork
    915 Forest Avenue
    Portland, ME 04103
The final installation will largely depend on how many individual fish we receive. 
 
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* Fine print, please read!
Upon receiving, the fish become the property of the Museum of Beadwork. They are intended to be on display at the Museum of Beadwork as an installation for roughly a year before becoming part of an annual fundraising effort for the MOB. Individual fish will not be returned. 
All submissions to this project become the full property of the Museum of Beadwork and can be used by that institution in any lawful way including (but not limited to) publicity, marketing, exhibitions, sale, etc. in perpetuity. All proceeds resulting from this project will go to support the Museum of Beadwork and its mission.