Maynard Dixon Country 2010 Prospectus

Every year in the last full week of August, The Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts hosts Maynard Dixon Country, an art show, gathering and sale of work by up to thirty-five of America's premier artists. Artist Maynard Dixon treasured the area near Zion National Park, and made some of his most powerful paintings there. Along with his wife, Edith Hamlin, the Dixons hosted many artists at their home and studio in Mt. Carmel. It is in the spirit of Dixon's creative collaboration with his artist contemporaries that Maynard Dixon Country was born.

Maynard Dixon Country artists gather for a week of painting, discussion and celebration of the artistic life. The weekend art show, which is open to the public, features lectures, an art preview, a wet paintings sale, on-site painting demonstrations and a gala awards dinner. All of these events make Maynard Dixon Country much more than an art show; rather, it has become a rare congregation of some of the best talent in the country united in celebration of one of America's most important artists and each other.

Much of the proceeds from art sales at Maynard Dixon Country support the Thunderbird Foundation's projects, including art day camps for people with special needs, the artist retreat program and the emerging artist scholarships, which allow three Utah high school students to join the professionals at Maynard Dixon Country.

In an effort to be fair to all artists seeking to participate in Maynard Dixon Country, it must be made clear that the basic pre-requisites for participation and invitation are as follows:

A complete and fully developed level of understanding of the importance of Maynard Dixon and his approach to modernism as he moved through his several stages between 1915-1946. Included here is his approach of painting direct and outdoors as a means of developing ideas and information for the production of major works in the studio.
An agreement to meet all due dates for submissions both of images for marketing purposes and delivery on time of artwork for the show. An understanding that failure to meet these minimum standards might result in no inclusion.
A considered level of understanding regarding the goals of the Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts in their preservation of the legacy of Maynard Dixon and Edith Hamlin and that the fundraiser Maynard Dixon Country, is their major annual event to underwrite all of their programs as described above.
That consideration for invitation might include a willingness to attend and participate in the wet painting show and sale with artwork that has been produced during the season March-August and has not been shown at other venues. The Maynard Dixon home and studio and bunkhouse are available free of charge for artists wishing to spend time in the region.
An agreement that all art is consigned for the entire length of the show through September 30 including all wet paintings shown but not sold during the wet paintings show and sale. This consignment agreement is for 65% to the artist and 35% to the foundation. This agreement also allows for use of any and all images for promotion purposes as needed. This agreement also allows the foundation to employ any method of sales and marketing they deem necessary and that a certain inferred hold harmless clause is fully understood and agreed to.
Nominations for invitation will be made by a third party consulting group, unassociated with the Thunderbird Foundation and unknown to any former invited artists or art nomination committee members. Final invitations will be extended to a group of about thirty in addition to a group of up to ten guests for participation in the wet painting show and sale. The potential guests will be reviewed by the third party consulting group after the formal application and fees have been submitted.