The Slocumb Galleries will play host to Positive/Negative 17, an annual juried art exhibition that displays the works of artists from around the country.
“There’s not really a theme for the show,” said Alison Pack, director of Slocumb Galleries. “Any type of artwork from any artist can be entered in the show in the continental United States.”
Pack sent 3,000 entry forms for the event to colleges with art departments all over the country. The gallery received 374 entries from 188 different artists. From those, 60 pieces of various types of art from 45 artists were accepted for the exhibition.
“Professional artists and professors are usually the ones who enter the event,” she said.
Artists entering the exhibition sent three slides of their work and $20, which pays for the return of the slides, printing, the reception and the jurors.
“We’re a non-profit gallery, but the show pays for itself,” Pack said.
The juror for this year’s event will be Marilyn da Silva, who is one of the most famous contemporary metal smiths. She is a professor and head of the jewelry metal arts program at California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, Calif. She has degrees from Indiana University in Master of Fine Arts-Metals and from Bowling Green State University, Ohio for art education.
da Silva was awarded Master Metal smith from the National Ornamental Metals Museum in 1999. Her works have been included in art exhibits all over the world and have appeared in various publications.
“She’s a neat lady with a good sense of humor,” Pack said. “She’s known worldwide for her work in metals.”
da Silva chooses which works of art will be displayed in the exhibit. “We show the slides to her,” Pack said. “It’s like a crapshoot. A different juror might have picked an entirely different show.”
The event was named Positive/Negative 17 because this is its 17th year in existence. “Next year it’ll be called Positive/Negative 18,” Pack said.
The event will run from Monday through March 1. On Wednesday, a public lecture will be held in Ball Hall before the opening reception of the exhibit in Slocumb Galleries.
“Usually around 200 people come to this event,” Pack said.

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