History

In the late-1980’s, the Alexander A. Goldfarb Memorial Trust was created at the University of Hartford to honor the late Alexander Goldfarb and his dedication to the arts.  This trust would fund the Juried Student Art Exhibition—as it was then called—to be held annually at the Joseloff Gallery.

All students of the University of Hartford would be invited to submit up to two works of art to be considered for the exhibition. Of the works chosen for the show, two undergraduate students would be chosen to receive purchase prizes in the amount of $1,000 each.  The winning students’ artwork would becomes a part of the Goldfarb Memorial Collection, to be owned by the Hartford Art School and proudly displayed throughout the University, in offices and public spaces.

The first Juried Student Exhibition opened in May of 1989 and featured a panel of guest jurors including Humphrey Tonkin, then president of the University of Hartford; Stuart Schar, dean of the Hartford Art School; and the two trustees of the Alexander A. Goldfarb Memorial Trust: Dr. Carter Pottash and Judge James Kinsella.

Alexander A. Goldfarb, a Hartford attorney and art aficionado, is remembered by many in the Hartford Art School community not just for his excitement and interest in the arts, but also for his generosity.  In the press release issued in April of 1989 to announce the creation of the Juried Student Art Exhibition, the late Bernhard Hanson, former dean of the Hartford Art School, recalls:

“He, more than most people I know, understood the financial needs of the artist and the art school student and was willing to do something about it.  One day he walked through the school pressing $10 and $20 bills on the startled students. “Take it! Take it!’ he said, ‘You need it.  All artists need money.  Take it!”

Goldfarb generously endowed the fund at the Hartford Art School to support the annual exhibition and provide prize money for the students.  It was his intention that the older students use the money to travel or go on to advanced training after graduation, and that the younger students might use the prize money to offset the expenses of schooling.

As the years have passed, some details of the exhibition have changed.  The name later became the Alexander A. Goldfarb Student Exhibition, and the jury process is now presided over by a single guest juror, a representative of the arts community, e.g., an artist, critic, or curator.  Past jurors have included artists Cleve Gray (1992), Judy Moonelis (1998), Zoe Beloff (2002), and Clint Jukkala (2010), as well as curators Andrea Miller-Keller (1991), and Richard Klein (2009).

Submissions

All current students of the University of Hartford are eligible to enter up to two pieces into the exhibition.  Part-time and graduate students may enter work for the exhibition, but only full-time, undergraduate students are eligible to win the two purchase prizes.  To enter work, please bring it in show-ready condition to the Joseloff Gallery during the submission dates and fill out an entry form, available at the gallery’s front desk.  More information as far as dates for collecting unaccepted entries and notification of accepted entries will be available in the gallery.  The following are general guidelines for entering work:

Sculpture/3-D Work

If your piece is small enough to carry, please bring it to the Joseloff Gallery. There will be tables and surfaces set up in the gallery where your piece can be arranged, but wall pieces will not be able to be hung in the gallery during jurying.

Large sculpture and complex installations can be installed in the sculpture building and foundations area PROVIDED YOU HAVE PERMISSION FROM THE FACULTY TO USE THE SPACE. You will still have to come down to the gallery to fill out an entry form.  On the form, you will describe, in detail, where your piece is located.  You will then take the artwork label with you and attach it to your piece.

Video

Please submit video pieces on DVD in a format that will be viewable on a Mac. If your video requires special installation, and you have permission to use the space, you may set up your work in a media box in the Art School. You will still have to come down to the gallery to fill out an entry form.  On the form, you will describe, in detail, where your piece is located.  You will then take the artwork label with you and attach it to your piece.

2-D Work

2-D work should be submitted to the gallery in show-ready condition.  This does not mean that it needs to be framed, it means that it should look neat, there should be no tape on the face of the work, there should be no fingerprints in the borders, and the edges of the paper should not be torn.  PLEASE do not submit work that is wrapped in Mylar or with a flap of any kind over the front.  Please remove any packaging or protective wrapping when you leave your work in the gallery.

If your piece is meant to be matted, you are encouraged do so, but please know that it is better to submit a piece with a well-fitting mat ONLY than it is to place your work in an ill-fitting, store-bought frame for the sake of framing it.

Unmatted works on paper will be pinned to the wall when hung in the exhibition.  If you would prefer that your work be hung differently, please devise a hanging system before submitting your work.

Matted pieces and works on paper mounted to board will be hung on the wall with L-nails and the gallery may have Plexiglas cut to size for the exhibition. If you would prefer that your work be hung differently, please devise a hanging system before submitting your work.

Works on stretched canvas will be hung on the stretcher bars if a hanging wire is not supplied. If you would prefer that your work be hung differently, please devise a hanging system before submitting your work.

Some Goldfarb FAQ

How many pieces can I enter?
Each student may enter two pieces.

One of my works is made up of multiple pieces.  Does that count as one piece?
Yes, for example, if you have a pair of photos that make up one piece, the two pieces may be submitted as one entry.  Please make sure to mark each piece so the juror knows that he is looking at a series.

Does the work have to be from this year?
No, the work does not have to be from this year, but it should be recent and a fair representation of your current work.  Freshmen who completed work over the summer, before entering the art school may enter those works.  Please do not enter work completed as assignments during courses at other schools or universities.

I brought my work home during winter break.  Can I submit a photo of the work?
Yes you can. It is always best for the juror to see the work in person, but photos of your piece may be submitted with a detailed description of the piece including the size and any installation requirements. You must come to the gallery on Feb 27-29 to fill out an entry form and attach your photos and description to the form.  If your work is accepted, you will need to deliver it to the gallery by Friday, March 9.

My work is made with organic materials that will degrade over the course of the exhibition. Can I enter it?
No. Work made from materials that may rot during the exhibition (pieces made of food/vegetables/trash/etc.) will alter the environment in the gallery and may harm the work around them.  Unfortunately, the juror will disqualify any work deemed hazardous.

I’m a part-time student (or graduate student).  Can I still enter?
Yes.  All current students of the University of Hartford may enter work into the Goldfarb.  Please note that only full-time, undergraduate students are eligible to win the two Purchase Prizes.

I won a Purchase Prize in a past year. Can I enter again?
Yes! There is no limit on winning the Purchase Prize. As of this writing, in 2012, no one student has won the Purchase Prize twice, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

Still have questions?

Please call Lisa Gaumond at 860-768-5559 or email gaumond@hartford.edu