To celebrate our inaugural Mini-Makers gallery program (a free guided art project for children 5 and younger on October 31st) The Art League has compiled seven of our favorite artful mini Halloween costumes, perfect for your little artist or to scale up for your own get up! From artists to famous paintings, these are our favorite pint-sized dress-up ideas.
Bob Ross (and a happy little tree)
Everyone’s favorite TV artist can be completed with a curly wig (or your kiddo’s own hair should they be lucky enough to have some of Ross’s signature curls) a little face paint, and a simple button down! Bonus points for brush or palette props, and a sibling can always dress as a “happy little tree” or “happy little cloud” and get in on the arty fun.
Frida Kahlo
Mexican artist Frida Kahlo’s bright style and signature unibrow make pulling off this costume easy. A floral summer dress, some fake flowers for a flower crown and some bright jewelry will transform your little one into the famously fashionable Kahlo.
Yayoi Kusama
Japanese Artist Yayoi Kusama (made a DC legend during her “Infinity Mirror” exhibit at the Hirshorn) has unique look that makes great use of that old Minnie Mouse costume you have laying around from last Halloween. If the outfit still fits your child, accessorize with a short red wig with bangs (Kusama’s signature cut), large sunglasses, and as many polka dots as you can get your hands on.
Andy Warhol
Nailing the Andy Warhol look is easy…jeans, a dark long sleeve top and dark sunglasses…followed by the artist’s signature mussed white hair. For extra credit, carry around a classic Campbell’s soup can, emptied out of course! This costume can easily be used next year as Steve Jobs getup.
“Son of Man” Rene Magritte painting
Get ready to go apple picking, because you’ll need an apple as big as your kiddo’s face for this one! A miniature suit and tie, and a bowler hat complete the outfit! Bonus points if your kid happens to be double jointed!
Girl with the Pearl earring
This beautiful painting by Vermeer can be recreated with a series of draped fabrics and some costume jewelry. Have your little one pose against a dark background to complete the look for Halloween photos.
Van Gogh and Starry Night
Turn your little ones into Starry night and Van Gogh! For the painting (paint your own with fabric paint or get a print out of the painting and add some face paint for authenticity) add a frame or keep the outfit simple by just showing off the artwork. Some red beard face paint and a bandaged ear make for a perfect little Van Gogh, just add a palette you’re not using any more with lots of (DRIED) blues and yellows to complete the look. A great costume for siblings or friends.
There’s still time to sign up for our October 31 Mini-Makers program in the Gallery, but tickets are limited! To sign your kids up, and learn more, visit the Mini-Makers Eventbrite. See you there!
Deadline: November 1. CulturalDC is seeking artists of all kinds to submit new and engaging concepts for our Mobile Art Gallery. CulturalDC provides a platform for artists to obtain exposure with our network of arts organizations, audiences, and real estate developers. Artists will receive a stipend. CulturalDC staff also provides critical feedback as exhibitions are in development. Priority is given to artists and organizations who have not received program support from CulturalDC. For more information, and to apply, visit the CulturalDC website.
Celebrating You: Places of Personal Significance
Deadline: November 2, by 5:00 pm EST. Commonwealth Joe and Java Shack in Arlington, Virginia are seeking artwork for an upcoming art show, “Celebrating You: Places of Personal Significance.” All artwork must be: original and be on the subject of “places of personal significance,” must be 2D, and must be ready to hang (framed with hanging hardware). Accepted artwork that differs significantly from online submission will be disqualified. All artists must sign release form in order for work to be displayed. To submit, send digital images of your work with Name, Title of Work, Date, Materials used and a short description to [email protected] with “Java Shack Art Submission” as the subject line.
Alexandria Office of the Arts First Friday: Season of Celebrations Call for Exhibitors
Deadline: November 12. The Office of the Arts will be trying something a little different for the December 7, First Friday: Season of Celebrations. If you are interested in being an exhibitor for this event, held in Alexandria, Virginia. Please exhibitor guide and sign-up form below to sign up.
Whitaker Art Scholarships for Spring 2019 Now Open
Deadline: November 15. The Frederic Whitaker and Eileen Monaghan Whitaker Scholarship Program was established in 2014 to assist art students whose undergraduate degree includes an emphasis on watercolor or art history/museum studies, in meeting those demands. Over the course of the application process, students will demonstrate their knowledge of Frederic Whitaker and Eileen Monaghan Whitaker’s paintings and history, by submitting a short essay or the applicant’s own watercolor paintings. Three scholarships are offered: Two awards of $2,000 Bachelor of Fine Art scholarships (watercolor emphasis), one award of $2,000 Bachelor of Art in Art History or Museum Studies. To learn more and apply, visit the Frederic Whitaker and Eileen Monaghan Whitaker Foundation website.
Fairfax, VA Artists: Apply to the ARTSFAIRFAX Artist Grant
Deadline: January 9. Artists working in all disciplines and residing in Fairfax County are eligible to apply for these $5000 grants. This grant and workshop is geared toward experienced artists from all arts disciplines. Workshop participants will become familiar with the application process, grant writing best practices, and ARTSFAIRFAX’s online application system. To learn more and apply to the opportunity and learn more about the grant writing workshop, visit the ARTSFAIRFAX website.
Peripheral ARTeries – Biennial Contemporary Art Publication
Deadline: Rolling. Peripheral ARTeries is looking for artists to be featured in the new special Biennial Edition of their art publication, that comes to its 10th edition. This opportunity is great for both established and early career artists who need a boost to their artist portfolio. The 10th edition will once again explore and show current trends and tendencies in Contemporary Art: Peripheral ARTeries cultivates a spirit of openness through a unique collaborative and participatory approach.Each artist may submit a maximum of three works or projects made in any technique: painting, drawing, video art, experimental cinema, fine art photography, experimental media, mixed media, installations, public art, performance. The call is open to all proposed kind of art and media capable of challenging the viewers’ traditional perspective on art itself. To submit, visit the Peripheral ARTeries website.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
Call For Artists / Request For Proposals for Sculptural Courtyard Art in Hyattsville, MD at Parkview Manor Apartments
Deadline: October 29. The Hyattsville Community Development Corporation, on behalf of Montgomery Housing Partnership, is accepting artist proposals for the design and fabrication of one sculptural shade structure and two complementary sculptural courtyard art amenities, for placement at Parkview Manor Apartments, located in Hyattsville, within Prince George’s County, Maryland. For more information about the call, and to apply, visit the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation website.
Introductions 2019 (NY)
Deadline: October 31. “Introductions” is an annual open call hosted by Trestle Gallery. In support of their 2019 exhibition theme & focus, all applicants to 2019’s open call will be considered for a solo exhibition at Trestle Gallery. The only qualification is that artists may not have participated in a show at the Trestle Gallery before (previous open calls count, member salons do not count). The exhibit will be curated by Jason Andrew, an independent scholar, curator, and producer. A prominent figure in the Bushwick, Brooklyn art scene, Mr. Andrew is the co-founder and director of Norte Maar, a non-profit now celebrating its 10th anniversary encouraging, promoting, and presenting collaborative projects in the arts. To learn more and apply, visit the Trestle Gallery website.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (DC)
Deadline: November 1. The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and its Renwick Gallery invite applications for research fellowships in the art and visual culture of the United States. Fellowships are residential and support full-time independent and dissertation research. Recipients will be part of the premier residential fellowship program in American art—one that celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2020. The museum hosts a number of fellows each year through the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP), and also awards its own named fellowships to candidates from this general pool. Only one application is necessary. All candidates should apply to the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP). More information about the many opportunities and fellowships available at the SAAM website.
Call for Writing Submissions: Beyond Beautiful (MD)
Deadline: November 1. Maryland Art Place (MAP) is seeking writing submissions, love letters of all types, on behalf of “The One Thousand Love Letters Project” and the exhibition “Beyond Beautiful, created and curated by artist Peter Bruun. This exhibition is slated to open January 17, 2019 at Maryland Art Place, with a partner site for the exhibition located at Area 405. Beyond Beautiful focuses on eight topics –information and guidelines here. Peter Bruun, both curator and artist, will use these love letters to create 1,000 artistic responses to be displayed in the exhibition at MAP and Area 405. To date, Bruun has created over 600 drawings using excerpts from participant’s letters to contribute to “The One Thousand Love Letters Project.” Letters do not need to be submitted based on the listed topics and can be submitted digitally or physically.
VMFA Visual Arts Fellowships (VA)
Deadline: November 2. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship Program is a vital source of funding for the visual arts and art history in Virginia. VMFA is committed to supporting professional artists as well as art and art history students who demonstrate exceptional creative ability in their chosen discipline and, as such, has awarded nearly $5.5 million in Fellowships to Virginians. To learn more about the several fellowships available though the VMFA, visit the museum website.
Montgomery College, City of Rockville and Germantown Art Department – ArtWalk AIR Residency Program (MD)
Deadline: November 15. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its ArtWalk/Artist-in-Residence Program (AIR), with a focus on arts initiatives for public, social, or community based outdoor visual arts projects. ArtWalk is a week to two weeks of public art in which art classes install outdoor public art or lead participatory art activities on the Germantown and Rockville Campuses. The Spring Artist in Residence (AiR) will work with students both inside and outside the classroom to create work that will engage students and AiR during the existing outdoor ArtWalk weeks on the Rockville and Germantown campuses. Professional artists or Artists Groups in all visual arts disciplines who are interested in working with students are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to applicants whose work and proposal expand on the working range of foundation level teaching. To learn more and apply, visit the Montgomery College website.
Torpedo Factory Target Gallery—2019 Solo Exhibition (VA)
Deadline: November 25. Target Gallery invites artists to apply for an open call for proposals for a solo exhibition for the summer of 2019. The individual or group associated with the chosen proposal will receive an exhibition at Target Gallery from June 14 through August 4, 2019. Proposals must be new bodies of work or works that have not been previously shown in the region. Individual works that have been previously shown can be entered if they are a part of new bodies of work and/or a new concept. The artist(s) will receive a $3000 stipend. To learn more and apply, visit the Torpedo Factory website.
Call for Submissions – Frame & Frequency IV Vol. 2 (MD)
Deadline: November 28. Frame & Frequency is an ongoing International Video and Sound Art Exchange program presented concurrently at VisArts In(Site) Project Gallery in Rockville, MD and at PLECTO Galeria in Medellín, Colombia, opening December 7, 2018. Video, sound art (up to 8 channels), film, and new media work will be accepted: experimental, documentary, animation, narrative, non-narrative, multimedia, virtual reality, augmented reality, net art, interactive media, etc. All foreign language moving image artworks must have English subtitles. To learn more, and apply, visit the VisArts website.
Women Artists Call — Pen and Brush Solo Exhibit (NY)
Deadline: December 31. Long-established contemporary art gallery and nonprofit seeking talented professional female artists for various opportunities. These opportunities include, but are in no way limited to: a solo exhibition in our ground floor space on 22nd street, group exhibition opportunities, inclusion in exhibition catalogues written by art historians and curators, and opportunities to expose work to influential curators. All work submitted must be contemporary art, submitted work must be complete, to be considered work must meet standards of quality, every work in a submission must be for sale. Artists must meet professional standards of composition and presentation of their work. To apply and learn more about this opportunity, visit the Pen and Brush website.
Spark Box Studio Dawson Residency Award and Bursary (Canada)
Deadline: March 1, 2019. This award is open to residents of North America. Spark Box Studio is accepting applications from emerging, mid-career, and established artists. One artist will receive a month-long residency at our studio in Prince Edward County, plus the $1,000 Dawson bursary. The selected applicant will be granted a semi-private studio space and be given access to the Spark Box Studio equipment and resources. As well, the winner will be provided with living accommodations for their month-long stay. We support a range of disciplines including; drawers, illustrators, painters, writers, printmakers, film makers, performance artists, multidisciplinary artists, curators, book makers, musicians and photographers (digital)
Sunny Art Center International Art Prize
Deadline: June 30, 2019. The Sunny Art Prize is an international art competition hosted by Sunny Art Centre, London. This fine art award is a global platform, giving an opportunity to emerging and established artists to showcase their talents to a wider audience. We aim to display artistic and cultural diversity to the international art scenes of London, Beijing, Guangzhou and Macau. Sunny Art Award will promote an exchange in creativity between Western and Eastern cultures. We are looking for a variety of submissions which can range from two-dimensional works such as paintings, drawings and photographs, to three-dimensional sculptures, and ceramics. To learn more and apply, visit the Sunny Art Center website.
Ongoing:
Artist/Writers: Cover Art for Academic Medicine
Deadline: Rolling. Submit original works of art inspired by, but not necessarily representative of, an academic medicine experience from any perspective: caregiver, researcher, teacher, learner, or patient (for example, learning how to be a physician or scientist, caring for patients, exploring research questions, making a new discovery, being a research participant, teaching, or being cared for in a teaching hospital). The journal welcomes photography, sculpture, painting, textile work, and other visual media. Images may be cropped or resized to fit into the allotted cover space. Artists must also submit a related Cover Art essay as a narrative companion to the artwork, to explain the connection between the work and the “academic medicine experience.” The related narrative should be 250 to 600 words and is subject to editing. To apply for this opportunity, and to learn more, visit the Academic Medicine website.
Artist/Writers: Medicine and the Arts (MATA) Opportunity
Deadline: Rolling. This column is the journal’s longest-running feature. It is published on two facing pages. The left-hand page features an excerpt from literature, a poem, a photograph, etc. Literature excerpts generally run no more than 700 words and may include a very brief introduction as needed. The right-hand page presents an original commentary of about 900 words that explores the relevance of the artwork to the teaching, learning, and/or practice of medicine. Since submissions cannot be fully accepted for publication until Academic Medicine acquires permission to reprint literary excerpts or artworks (which often takes many months), authors should include all relevant information about the piece they are explicating (publisher, museum, dates, etc.) to enable staff editors to find and contact the copyright holder. Submissions undergo review and editing. To apply for this opportunity, and to learn more, visit the Academic Medicine website.
The Awesome Foundation Accepting Applications for Art Projects
Deadline: Open. The Awesome Foundation for the Arts and Sciences is a worldwide network of people devoted to forwarding the interest of “awesomeness in the universe.” Established in 2009, the foundation distributes $1,000 grants on a monthly basis to projects and their creators. The money is pooled from ten or more self-organizing “micro-trustees.” The chapters are autonomous and organized by the trustees around geographic areas or topics of interest. Apply on theAwesome Foundation website.
Call for Artists: Maryland Art Place Seeks Proposals for Rotating Exhibition Partnership with Baltimore’s Hotel Indigo (MD)
Deadline: rolling. Maryland Art Place (MAP), in partnership with Hotel Indigo is pleased to announce an open ‘Call to Artists’. As an extension of MAP’s annual IMPACT public art partnership projects, MAP is working with Hotel Indigo to offer rotating exhibitions in Hotel indigo’s library and Poets Modern Cocktails and Eats. This opportunity is available to visual artists living or working in Maryland. Maryland Art Place will curate four exhibitions a year based on submissions entered through a rolling basis. Guidelines and information here.
Exhibit at Hotel Indigo (VA)
Artists works will displayed in the hotel’s gallery (220 S Union St, Old Town Alexandria) for a six-month period. Two-dimensional, framed works only. Artists will install the work using the hotel’s mounting hardware. Labels will be provided by the hotel. All sales handled by artist, no commission. Preference for local or locally influenced selections but not required. The space measures approximately 7’10” by 8’3.″ If interested, contact Kate Ellis, General Manager, [email protected].
The New Project Studio – Ongoing Opportunity (VA)
Ongoing. Located in Studio 8, the New Project Studio is a community-focused arts incubator space that offers a short-term location to test new program ideas, spotlight underrepresented voices, and enhance community engagement. Projects rotate on a regular basis. For more information, clickhere.
Public Arts Grants & Opportunities (VA)
Ongoing. The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts provides grants for nonprofit arts organizations as well as individual artists. See all current opportunities and online applications here.
NYC volunteer opportunity (NY)
Introduce NYC school children to the world of art by giving tours at The MET Museum. Volunteer in this year-round program. Visit us at awnyc.org for more information.
Residency: Maryland
Deadline: ongoing. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its Artist-in-Residence Program, encouraging proposals that cultivate collaborative work between artists and students.
Looking for artists: Foundry Gallery (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.
Looking for artists: Printmakers (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Washington Printmakers Gallery is seeking artist members specializing in printmaking, photography and book arts. An active cooperative for over 30 years, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows in its lovely space in upper Georgetown. Distant and shared memberships are available. If interested in applying for membership please email [email protected].
Looking for artists: Multiple Exposures Gallery (VA)
In a series of blog posts, The Art League explores the intersection of film and art and what it means to be an artist, starting with the 2014 film, “Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance” starring Michael Keaton.
Shot as one continuous, frenetic take which winds through the dark, labyrinthine back hallways of a Broadway theatre production, Birdman creatively explores the universal struggles of “art-making”. Apprehensive, anxious drums punctuate discussions of authenticity, success, personal insecurities and everything in between. Nearly every character in the film struggles in their own way to succeed, to “make it.” From the well-respected theatre critic to the stage crew behind the scenes, we see their attempts as creatives trying to legitimize themselves and establish themselves as masters of their craft. The energetic, asymmetrical beats bounce off the brick walls and tumble into small spaces, where we find these conversations.
And did you get what you wanted from this life, even so? I did. And what did you want To call myself beloved, to feel myself beloved on the earth. ~Raymond Carver
At the center of this production is Riggan Thomson, an older Hollywood actor made famous by his previous role as the popular action hero “Birdman.” He has chosen to produce, direct and star in his own adaptation of Raymond Carver’s series of short stories “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love”– an undertaking he has convinced himself, and perhaps only himself, will revive his career as an actor, but most importantly gain him legitimacy as an artist.
To interviewers and critics, Riggan unabashedly promotes this image of himself as a true auteur, the “real deal”, despite his internationally-known identity as a mainstream “celebrity”. He is desperately attempting to redefine himself in the art world, to distance himself as much as possible from his identity as a Hollywood superhero. Ironically, Riggan uses his celebrity “powers”, i.e. money and connections, to indulge himself in this project. Throughout the film, we come to understand that no amount of money can buy artistic legitimacy.
The greatest obstacle for Riggan to overcome both artistically as well as personally is his own self-doubt. He is plagued by an incessant inner dialogue between himself as Riggan Thomson, and the character of “Birdman” who is attempting to sow doubt throughout the process in an effort to pull Riggan back into the safer, more predictable world of mainstream popular culture, where success is easier to attain for him. He doubts that he will ever be able to pull this more meaningful production off, but there remains a side of Riggan that pushes through this critical voice and is able to keep working.
Drawings from the movie, Birdman
Nearly every artist has experienced a similar struggle. Regardless of the amount of support, both emotionally as well as financially, creating art can be a journey of hard truths and self-doubt. Artists or not, we all hope to connect with the world around us as we would like to be seen or understood. However, the human condition remains, confining our own hopes and aspirations only to what we are willing to embrace, as well as sacrifice, in order to achieve. This is at once both a motivating and daunting fact.
While we should all aim to challenge ourselves as artists and push the boundaries of what we think we are capable of achieving, we must also be willing to endure the growing pains of such a journey. This film is a microcosm of a much larger, shared experience. Perhaps we can find and share effective ways of quelling our fears and doubts if we are able to first address them.
How have you experienced self-doubt as an artist, and what methods have you used to overcome it?
Growing up with activist parents, Dzikiewicz learned to see injustice in the world from an early age. Her mother marched for the Equal Rights Amendment and participated in politics and human rights campaigns.
Dzikiewcz creates her work mostly in wax, from figurine hands to embellishment, to famous faces. However, in between all those haunting waxen figures and ornament, lies a ray of light—literally. Many of Dzikiewiczs’ works feature embedded miniature LED lights that give the 3D work even more dimensionality and an added element of interest.
Wax encaustic detail of hands knitting one of the eponymous pink hats from Women’s March 2017
Reminiscent of Byzantine and early Christian art, Dzikiewcz focuses on female figures with extravagant embellishment, marrying whimsy and technology, with historical influences. She also mixes in a bit of humor, and always begs the viewer to take a closer look.
In Lucy Burns, Dzikiewz tells the story of suffragist and pacifist Lucy Burns, after she was arrested at a peaceful White House protest in 1917 and jailed at Occoquan Workhouse in Lorton, Virginia. The night of November 10, 2017, or “Night of Terror” as it became known, proved to be a harrowing night of imprisonment, brutality, and abuse for the 33 female suffragists who were arrested following the protest. Eventually, their imprisonment was ruled unconstitutional, and they were granted release after a Presidential plea.
Lucy Burns by Julie Dzikiewicz
“My work is about women coming together to show strength in the face of hate,” Dzikiewicz said. Many of Dzikiewicz’s pieces include the juxtaposition of hatred and evil, often depicted in reds and blacks, and strength and unity, often depicted in blues and pinks.
Detail of Womens March 2017
In Women’s March 2017, Dzikiewicz features the singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, one of the presenters at the Women’s March on Washington in January 2017, visually showcasing Alicia’s voice through musical notes. The painting dually depicts the importance of her voice pushing back against symbols of hatred that the Women’s March sought to fight against. The top corners of the piece feature the oldest speaker at the march (Gloria Steinem, the 83-year old feminist political activist), and the youngest (Sophie Cruz, a 6-year old immigration rights activist): showcasing the Women’s Movement’s strong past as well as its bright future.
“Pink Hat Protest Paintings” will be on view at The Art League Gallery from October 10—November 4, 2018. If you’d like to learn more about the artist and her work, RSVP for “Drawn In: A Look at Protest Paintings” on October 25.
GASP: Great Art, Small Prices – Artists in Middleburg (VA)
Deadline: October 19. Remember the saying, “great things come in small packages”? This is the inspiration for this upcoming exhibit. The prices of the art work is limited by a maximum price, $500. A perfect holiday theme when many are searching for the perfect gift for someone. To learn more and apply, visit the Artists in Middleburg website.
Montgomery College, City of Rockville and Germantown Art Department – ArtWalk AIR Residency Program (MD)
Deadline: November 15. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its ArtWalk/Artist-in-Residence Program (AIR), with a focus on arts initiatives for public, social, or community based outdoor visual arts projects. ArtWalk is a week to two weeks of public art in which art classes install outdoor public art or lead participatory art activities on the Germantown and Rockville Campuses. The Spring Artist in Residence (AiR) will work with students both inside and outside the classroom to create work that will engage students and AiR during the existing outdoor ArtWalk weeks on the Rockville and Germantown campuses. Professional artists or Artists Groups in all visual arts disciplines who are interested in working with students are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to applicants whose work and proposal expand on the working range of foundation level teaching. To learn more and apply, visit the Montgomery College website.
Sunny Art Center International Art Prize
Deadline: June 30, 2019. The Sunny Art Prize is an international art competition hosted by Sunny Art Centre, London. This fine art award is a global platform, giving an opportunity to emerging and established artists to showcase their talents to a wider audience. We aim to display artistic and cultural diversity to the international art scenes of London, Beijing, Guangzhou and Macau. Sunny Art Award will promote an exchange in creativity between Western and Eastern cultures. We are looking for a variety of submissions which can range from two-dimensional works such as paintings, drawings and photographs, to three-dimensional sculptures, and ceramics. To learn more and apply, visit the Sunny Art Center website.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
Call For Artists / Request For Proposals for Sculptural Courtyard Art in Hyattsville, MD at Parkview Manor Apartments
Deadline: October 29. The Hyattsville Community Development Corporation, on behalf of Montgomery Housing Partnership, is accepting artist proposals for the design and fabrication of one sculptural shade structure and two complementary sculptural courtyard art amenities, for placement at Parkview Manor Apartments, located in Hyattsville, within Prince George’s County, Maryland. For more information about the call, and to apply, visit the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation website.
Introductions 2019 (NY)
Deadline: October 31. “Introductions” is an annual open call hosted by Trestle Gallery. In support of their 2019 exhibition theme & focus, all applicants to 2019’s open call will be considered for a solo exhibition at Trestle Gallery. The only qualification is that artists may not have participated in a show at the Trestle Gallery before (previous open calls count, member salons do not count). The exhibit will be curated by Jason Andrew, an independent scholar, curator, and producer. A prominent figure in the Bushwick, Brooklyn art scene, Mr. Andrew is the co-founder and director of Norte Maar, a non-profit now celebrating its 10th anniversary encouraging, promoting, and presenting collaborative projects in the arts. To learn more and apply, visit the Trestle Gallery website.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (DC)
Deadline: November 1. The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and its Renwick Gallery invite applications for research fellowships in the art and visual culture of the United States. Fellowships are residential and support full-time independent and dissertation research. Recipients will be part of the premier residential fellowship program in American art—one that celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2020. The museum hosts a number of fellows each year through the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP), and also awards its own named fellowships to candidates from this general pool. Only one application is necessary. All candidates should apply to the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP). More information about the many opportunities and fellowships available at the SAAM website.
Call for Writing Submissions: Beyond Beautiful (MD)
Deadline: November 1. Maryland Art Place (MAP) is seeking writing submissions, love letters of all types, on behalf of “The One Thousand Love Letters Project” and the exhibition “Beyond Beautiful, created and curated by artist Peter Bruun. This exhibition is slated to open January 17, 2019 at Maryland Art Place, with a partner site for the exhibition located at Area 405. Beyond Beautiful focuses on eight topics –information and guidelines here. Peter Bruun, both curator and artist, will use these love letters to create 1,000 artistic responses to be displayed in the exhibition at MAP and Area 405. To date, Bruun has created over 600 drawings using excerpts from participant’s letters to contribute to “The One Thousand Love Letters Project.” Letters do not need to be submitted based on the listed topics and can be submitted digitally or physically.
VMFA Visual Arts Fellowships (VA)
Deadline: November 2. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship Program is a vital source of funding for the visual arts and art history in Virginia. VMFA is committed to supporting professional artists as well as art and art history students who demonstrate exceptional creative ability in their chosen discipline and, as such, has awarded nearly $5.5 million in Fellowships to Virginians. To learn more about the several fellowships available though the VMFA, visit the museum website.
Torpedo Factory Target Gallery—2019 Solo Exhibition (VA)
Deadline: November 25. Target Gallery invites artists to apply for an open call for proposals for a solo exhibition for the summer of 2019. The individual or group associated with the chosen proposal will receive an exhibition at Target Gallery from June 14 through August 4, 2019. Proposals must be new bodies of work or works that have not been previously shown in the region. Individual works that have been previously shown can be entered if they are a part of new bodies of work and/or a new concept. The artist(s) will receive a $3000 stipend. To learn more and apply, visit the Torpedo Factory website.
Call for Submissions – Frame & Frequency IV Vol. 2 (MD)
Deadline: November 28. Frame & Frequency is an ongoing International Video and Sound Art Exchange program presented concurrently at VisArts In(Site) Project Gallery in Rockville, MD and at PLECTO Galeria in Medellín, Colombia, opening December 7, 2018. Video, sound art (up to 8 channels), film, and new media work will be accepted: experimental, documentary, animation, narrative, non-narrative, multimedia, virtual reality, augmented reality, net art, interactive media, etc. All foreign language moving image artworks must have English subtitles. To learn more, and apply, visit the VisArts website.
Women Artists Call — Pen and Brush Solo Exhibit (NY)
Deadline: December 31. Long-established contemporary art gallery and nonprofit seeking talented professional female artists for various opportunities. These opportunities include, but are in no way limited to: a solo exhibition in our ground floor space on 22nd street, group exhibition opportunities, inclusion in exhibition catalogues written by art historians and curators, and opportunities to expose work to influential curators. All work submitted must be contemporary art, submitted work must be complete, to be considered work must meet standards of quality, every work in a submission must be for sale. Artists must meet professional standards of composition and presentation of their work. To apply and learn more about this opportunity, visit the Pen and Brush website.
Spark Box Studio Dawson Residency Award and Bursary (Canada)
Deadline: March 1, 2019. This award is open to residents of North America. Spark Box Studio is accepting applications from emerging, mid-career, and established artists. One artist will receive a month-long residency at our studio in Prince Edward County, plus the $1,000 Dawson bursary. The selected applicant will be granted a semi-private studio space and be given access to the Spark Box Studio equipment and resources. As well, the winner will be provided with living accommodations for their month-long stay. We support a range of disciplines including; drawers, illustrators, painters, writers, printmakers, film makers, performance artists, multidisciplinary artists, curators, book makers, musicians and photographers (digital)
Ongoing:
Artist/Writers: Cover Art for Academic Medicine
Deadline: Rolling. Submit original works of art inspired by, but not necessarily representative of, an academic medicine experience from any perspective: caregiver, researcher, teacher, learner, or patient (for example, learning how to be a physician or scientist, caring for patients, exploring research questions, making a new discovery, being a research participant, teaching, or being cared for in a teaching hospital). The journal welcomes photography, sculpture, painting, textile work, and other visual media. Images may be cropped or resized to fit into the allotted cover space. Artists must also submit a related Cover Art essay as a narrative companion to the artwork, to explain the connection between the work and the “academic medicine experience.” The related narrative should be 250 to 600 words and is subject to editing. To apply for this opportunity, and to learn more, visit the Academic Medicine website.
Artist/Writers: Medicine and the Arts (MATA) Opportunity
Deadline: Rolling. This column is the journal’s longest-running feature. It is published on two facing pages. The left-hand page features an excerpt from literature, a poem, a photograph, etc. Literature excerpts generally run no more than 700 words and may include a very brief introduction as needed. The right-hand page presents an original commentary of about 900 words that explores the relevance of the artwork to the teaching, learning, and/or practice of medicine. Since submissions cannot be fully accepted for publication until Academic Medicine acquires permission to reprint literary excerpts or artworks (which often takes many months), authors should include all relevant information about the piece they are explicating (publisher, museum, dates, etc.) to enable staff editors to find and contact the copyright holder. Submissions undergo review and editing. To apply for this opportunity, and to learn more, visit the Academic Medicine website.
The Awesome Foundation Accepting Applications for Art Projects
Deadline: Open. The Awesome Foundation for the Arts and Sciences is a worldwide network of people devoted to forwarding the interest of “awesomeness in the universe.” Established in 2009, the foundation distributes $1,000 grants on a monthly basis to projects and their creators. The money is pooled from ten or more self-organizing “micro-trustees.” The chapters are autonomous and organized by the trustees around geographic areas or topics of interest. Apply on theAwesome Foundation website.
Call for Artists: Maryland Art Place Seeks Proposals for Rotating Exhibition Partnership with Baltimore’s Hotel Indigo (MD)
Deadline: rolling. Maryland Art Place (MAP), in partnership with Hotel Indigo is pleased to announce an open ‘Call to Artists’. As an extension of MAP’s annual IMPACT public art partnership projects, MAP is working with Hotel Indigo to offer rotating exhibitions in Hotel indigo’s library and Poets Modern Cocktails and Eats. This opportunity is available to visual artists living or working in Maryland. Maryland Art Place will curate four exhibitions a year based on submissions entered through a rolling basis. Guidelines and information here.
Exhibit at Hotel Indigo (VA)
Artists works will displayed in the hotel’s gallery (220 S Union St, Old Town Alexandria) for a six-month period. Two-dimensional, framed works only. Artists will install the work using the hotel’s mounting hardware. Labels will be provided by the hotel. All sales handled by artist, no commission. Preference for local or locally influenced selections but not required. The space measures approximately 7’10” by 8’3.″ If interested, contact Kate Ellis, General Manager, [email protected].
The New Project Studio – Ongoing Opportunity (VA)
Ongoing. Located in Studio 8, the New Project Studio is a community-focused arts incubator space that offers a short-term location to test new program ideas, spotlight underrepresented voices, and enhance community engagement. Projects rotate on a regular basis. For more information, clickhere.
Public Arts Grants & Opportunities (VA)
Ongoing. The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts provides grants for nonprofit arts organizations as well as individual artists. See all current opportunities and online applications here.
NYC volunteer opportunity (NY)
Introduce NYC school children to the world of art by giving tours at The MET Museum. Volunteer in this year-round program. Visit us at awnyc.org for more information.
Residency: Maryland
Deadline: ongoing. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its Artist-in-Residence Program, encouraging proposals that cultivate collaborative work between artists and students.
Looking for artists: Foundry Gallery (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.
Looking for artists: Printmakers (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Washington Printmakers Gallery is seeking artist members specializing in printmaking, photography and book arts. An active cooperative for over 30 years, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows in its lovely space in upper Georgetown. Distant and shared memberships are available. If interested in applying for membership please email [email protected].
Looking for artists: Multiple Exposures Gallery (VA)
Signing artwork is an important part of the creative process that’s sometimes overlooked. Here are three signatures we’d all like to find in our attic! (via)
The Art League Blog is taking a trip down memory lane and reposting/updating some of our most popular resources.
What’s the first thing you do after you’ve finished a piece of artwork? Frame it? Take a photo? Put it on your website?
Not so fast. Before you do anything else, you need to sign it.
Common mistakes in signing artwork
The most common mistake artists make with signatures is not signing artwork in the first place. Maybe you forgot, maybe you aren’t sure how, or maybe you don’t feel like a “real” artist.
This is no time to be shy — signing artwork is a must. It gives the work value and marks it as a finished, sellable piece of work. (We’re including examples from Art League artists throughout this post.)
Artichokes on a Crate by Brent Erickson, signed with the artist’s initials in a trompe l’oeil style.
There are some other mistakes you can make when signing your art:
Distracting from the artwork: Your signature should be small and unobtrusive. This is not the time to break out your glitter marker.
Signing illegibly: The signature is there to identify you as the artist, so make sure it’s legible.
Signing the matte: For photographs and other prints, we sometimes see artists sign the matte. You should sign the print itself — probably not on the image, but just outside, or on the back. This way, if the piece gets reframed, the signature goes where the art goes.
Using non-archival materials: Just like the artwork itself, your signature should be made to last. Don’t use ink that will fade over time, for example.
Blue Dot, Yellow Center by Marilyn Grelle. The signature is on the same paper as the monotype, printed neatly just below the image along with the piece’s title.
Where and how to sign
Where to sign is up to you: some artists do it on the back, some on the front in a corner. As you’ll see below, there are other places to “hide” a signature. Most artists, however, sign in a bottom corner, and that’s where a collector will look first.
Just be sure to sign on the artwork itself — not on the matte or a stretcher bar, for example.
#877 by Tory Cowles is signed on the side of the gallery-wrapped canvas.
How to sign depends on your medium: pen or pencil are good for works on paper. Painters should sign in paint (using a small brush) with a color that makes sense for the artwork. Again, your artist signature should be legible but not draw attention to itself.
Keep in mind this doesn’t have to be the same signature you use for signing checks: you can use your initials or a monogram, like Albrecht Durer’s at the top of this post.
Diane Blackwell signed her sculpture The Washington Football with a chain stitch.
What about three-dimensional work?
The same basic rules apply to sculptures and other three-dimensional work. That is, you should sign unobtrusively on the work itself and not, for example, on a detachable base.
For jewelry and ceramic works, you may want to create a unique maker’s mark. You can see Blair Meerfeld’s distinctive mark below:
Blair Meerfeld
Jewelry can be tricky when it’s very small. Whitney Staiger puts “UDOP,” the name of her jewelry business, on the inside of pieces when she can.
Creative solutions
As long as it doesn’t detract from the artwork, there’s no reason you can’t get creative with your signature! You are an artist, after all.
In this video, Sara Linda Poly shares a good tip for painters: you can sign with a color shaper by removing paint. It’s probably a little easier to write with, compared to a brush.
You can have a little fun by hiding your signature in the subject matter, like Joey Mánlapaz does in her painting below.
911 by Joey Mánlapaz features a signature built into the scene.
Artists, is there anything else you’d like to know about signing artwork? Let us know in the comments!
Deadline: October 14. October is all about ink! Submit your pen and ink art, and you could be one of five artists to win a prize pack worth more than $400. Open to US residents, ages 18 and older. Limit one entry per artist. For more information and to apply, visit the Blick website.
Call For Artists / Request For Proposals for Sculptural Courtyard Art in Hyattsville, MD at Parkview Manor Apartments
Deadline: October 29. The Hyattsville Community Development Corporation, on behalf of Montgomery Housing Partnership, is accepting artist proposals for the design and fabrication of one sculptural shade structure and two complementary sculptural courtyard art amenities, for placement at Parkview Manor Apartments, located in Hyattsville, within Prince George’s County, Maryland. For more information about the call, and to apply, visit the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation website.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
The Chelsea International Photography Competition (NY)
Deadline: October 9. The Chelsea International Photography Competition opens August 21, 2018. With a fierce dedication to promoting the arts and discovering and exposing new talent, the CIPC will honor selected artists with an exhibition at Agora Gallery, providing invaluable exposure to promote career growth and boost recognition. Competition awards are valued at over $55,000 and designed specifically to support Agora’s mission: to promote extraordinary and innovative art in the modern world, and enhance the careers of the selected artists. Visit the Agora Gallery website to enter.
Function: An exhibition of Contemporary Craft (GA)
Deadline: October 15. The Gallery at Sulfur Studios invites artists working in traditional craft media (ceramic, fibers, glass, metals, paper, and/or wood) to submit work to their fall juried exhibition, “Function”. Artists are encouraged to push the boundaries of what “functional” means, and work that is conceptual or satirical will be considered alongside more traditional craft forms. Visit www.sulfurstudios.org/function for more information and application instructions. Email [email protected] with any questions.
Arlington Arts Center: Spring Solos Open Call for Proposals (VA)
Deadline: October 15. AAC’s SOLOS exhibitions program supports the work of emerging contemporary artists in the Mid-Atlantic region. Each year, AAC accepts proposals from artists for solo exhibitions to take place in one of AAC’s seven separate gallery spaces or outside on the grounds. Artists who produce contemporary art in any media, and who live or work in the Mid-Atlantic region (defined as Virginia; Washington, DC; Maryland; West Virginia; Pennsylvania; or Delaware) may submit exhibition proposals. Any existing works must have been completed within the last three years in order to be considered. Proposals that specifically take into account AAC’s exhibition spaces are encouraged. To learn more and submit a proposal, visit the AAC website.
Call for Entries: Juried Exhibition Winter 2019 at Blue Mountain Gallery (NY)
Deadline: October 15. Blue Mountain Gallery invites mid-career and established artists to submit work for its 7th Bi-annual Juried Exhibition on January 2—26, 2019. The gallery’s exhibitions are frequently reviewed in both the New York and national press. Juror, Elisa Jensen, an American painter who currently teaches at the New York Studio School, exhibits widely in the US and Denmark and curates exhibitions. Entry forms must be completed and submitted online only. To apply, visit the Blue Mountain Gallery website. The prospectus can be found here.
VisArts In(Site) Project Gallery—Call for Video, Sound Art, and New Media (MD)
Deadline: October 15. “Frame & Frequency 4, Vol. 2” is an ongoing International Video and Sound Art Exchange program presented concurrently at VisArts in our In(Site) Project Gallery in Rockville, MD and at PLECTO Galeria in Medellín, Colombia, opening October 26, 2018. Video, sound art (up to eight channels), film, and new media work will be accepted, including: experimental, documentary, animation, narrative, non-narrative, multimedia, virtual reality, augmented reality, net art, interactive media, etc. All foreign language moving image artworks must have English subtitles. For more information, and to submit visit the VisArts website.
DC Arts Center: DCAC’s Curatorial Initiative (DC)
Deadline: October 15. The Curatorial Initiative reflects DCAC’s commitment to curatorial practice as an integral part of supporting emerging and under-recognized artists. Each year an apprentice curator is selected to gain experience in the process of planning and mounting an exhibition by working with an experienced mentor curator. The program results in two exhibitions each year: in the spring the mentor curator selects artists and plans the exhibition and accompanying catalog with the assistance of the apprentice; in the autumn, the roles are reversed and the apprentice plans and executes an exhibition with the assistance and advice of the mentor. By nurturing new curators DCAC hopes to bring fresh perspectives into our own programming while assisting a new generation of curators who will take the knowledge they gain into our arts community and beyond. To learn more and apply, visit theDC Arts Center website.
Sparkplug Artist Collective (DC)
Deadline: October 15. Sparkplug brings together artists from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences in the DC area to foster their development collectively. In 2007 Sparkplug was launched as DCAC’s artists collective. Around ten members participate for two years, meeting on a monthly basis to critique each other’s work, discuss exhibitions around the area, visit each other’s studios, and meet with arts professionals such as curators, collectors and established artists. Through this process they try to find common ground in their practice and work despite the diversity of their styles, mediums, background and education. The structure creates opportunities for camaraderie, friendly criticism, and artistic community. DCAC organizes two curated Sparkplug exhibitions for the group—one each year of the program. To learn more about the collective and apply, visit theSparkplug website.
Introductions 2019 (NY)
Deadline: October 31. “Introductions” is an annual open call hosted by Trestle Gallery. In support of their 2019 exhibition theme & focus, all applicants to 2019’s open call will be considered for a solo exhibition at Trestle Gallery. The only qualification is that artists may not have participated in a show at the Trestle Gallery before (previous open calls count, member salons do not count). The exhibit will be curated by Jason Andrew, an independent scholar, curator, and producer. A prominent figure in the Bushwick, Brooklyn art scene, Mr. Andrew is the co-founder and director of Norte Maar, a non-profit now celebrating its 10th anniversary encouraging, promoting, and presenting collaborative projects in the arts. To learn more and apply, visit the Trestle Gallery website.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (DC)
Deadline: November 1. The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and its Renwick Gallery invite applications for research fellowships in the art and visual culture of the United States. Fellowships are residential and support full-time independent and dissertation research. Recipients will be part of the premier residential fellowship program in American art—one that celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2020. The museum hosts a number of fellows each year through the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP), and also awards its own named fellowships to candidates from this general pool. Only one application is necessary. All candidates should apply to the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP). More information about the many opportunities and fellowships available at the SAAM website.
Call for Writing Submissions: Beyond Beautiful (MD)
Deadline: November 1. Maryland Art Place (MAP) is seeking writing submissions, love letters of all types, on behalf of “The One Thousand Love Letters Project” and the exhibition “Beyond Beautiful, created and curated by artist Peter Bruun. This exhibition is slated to open January 17, 2019 at Maryland Art Place, with a partner site for the exhibition located at Area 405. Beyond Beautiful focuses on eight topics –information and guidelines here. Peter Bruun, both curator and artist, will use these love letters to create 1,000 artistic responses to be displayed in the exhibition at MAP and Area 405. To date, Bruun has created over 600 drawings using excerpts from participant’s letters to contribute to “The One Thousand Love Letters Project.” Letters do not need to be submitted based on the listed topics and can be submitted digitally or physically.
VMFA Visual Arts Fellowships (VA)
Deadline: November 2. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship Program is a vital source of funding for the visual arts and art history in Virginia. VMFA is committed to supporting professional artists as well as art and art history students who demonstrate exceptional creative ability in their chosen discipline and, as such, has awarded nearly $5.5 million in Fellowships to Virginians. To learn more about the several fellowships available though the VMFA, visit themuseum website.
Torpedo Factory Target Gallery—2019 Solo Exhibition (VA)
Deadline: November 25. Target Gallery invites artists to apply for an open call for proposals for a solo exhibition for the summer of 2019. The individual or group associated with the chosen proposal will receive an exhibition at Target Gallery from June 14 through August 4, 2019. Proposals must be new bodies of work or works that have not been previously shown in the region. Individual works that have been previously shown can be entered if they are a part of new bodies of work and/or a new concept. The artist(s) will receive a $3000 stipend. To learn more and apply, visit the Torpedo Factory website.
Call for Submissions – Frame & Frequency IV Vol. 2 (MD)
Deadline: November 28. Frame & Frequency is an ongoing International Video and Sound Art Exchange program presented concurrently at VisArts In(Site) Project Gallery in Rockville, MD and at PLECTO Galeria in Medellín, Colombia, opening December 7, 2018. Video, sound art (up to 8 channels), film, and new media work will be accepted: experimental, documentary, animation, narrative, non-narrative, multimedia, virtual reality, augmented reality, net art, interactive media, etc. All foreign language moving image artworks must have English subtitles. To learn more, and apply, visit theVisArts website.
Women Artists Call — Pen and Brush Solo Exhibit (NY)
Deadline: December 31. Long-established contemporary art gallery and nonprofit seeking talented professional female artists for various opportunities. These opportunities include, but are in no way limited to: a solo exhibition in our ground floor space on 22nd street, group exhibition opportunities, inclusion in exhibition catalogues written by art historians and curators, and opportunities to expose work to influential curators. All work submitted must be contemporary art, submitted work must be complete, to be considered work must meet standards of quality, every work in a submission must be for sale. Artists must meet professional standards of composition and presentation of their work. To apply and learn more about this opportunity, visit the Pen and Brush website.
Spark Box Studio Dawson Residency Award and Bursary (Canada)
Deadline: March 1, 2019. This award is open to residents of North America. Spark Box Studio is accepting applications from emerging, mid-career, and established artists. One artist will receive a month-long residency at our studio in Prince Edward County, plus the $1,000 Dawson bursary. The selected applicant will be granted a semi-private studio space and be given access to the Spark Box Studio equipment and resources. As well, the winner will be provided with living accommodations for their month-long stay. We support a range of disciplines including; drawers, illustrators, painters, writers, printmakers, film makers, performance artists, multidisciplinary artists, curators, book makers, musicians and photographers (digital)
Ongoing:
Artist/Writers: Cover Art for Academic Medicine
Deadline: Rolling. Submit original works of art inspired by, but not necessarily representative of, an academic medicine experience from any perspective: caregiver, researcher, teacher, learner, or patient (for example, learning how to be a physician or scientist, caring for patients, exploring research questions, making a new discovery, being a research participant, teaching, or being cared for in a teaching hospital). The journal welcomes photography, sculpture, painting, textile work, and other visual media. Images may be cropped or resized to fit into the allotted cover space. Artists must also submit a related Cover Art essay as a narrative companion to the artwork, to explain the connection between the work and the “academic medicine experience.” The related narrative should be 250 to 600 words and is subject to editing. To apply for this opportunity, and to learn more, visit the Academic Medicine website.
Artist/Writers: Medicine and the Arts (MATA) Opportunity
Deadline: Rolling. This column is the journal’s longest-running feature. It is published on two facing pages. The left-hand page features an excerpt from literature, a poem, a photograph, etc. Literature excerpts generally run no more than 700 words and may include a very brief introduction as needed. The right-hand page presents an original commentary of about 900 words that explores the relevance of the artwork to the teaching, learning, and/or practice of medicine. Since submissions cannot be fully accepted for publication until Academic Medicine acquires permission to reprint literary excerpts or artworks (which often takes many months), authors should include all relevant information about the piece they are explicating (publisher, museum, dates, etc.) to enable staff editors to find and contact the copyright holder. Submissions undergo review and editing. To apply for this opportunity, and to learn more, visit the Academic Medicine website.
The Awesome Foundation Accepting Applications for Art Projects
Deadline: Open. The Awesome Foundation for the Arts and Sciences is a worldwide network of people devoted to forwarding the interest of “awesomeness in the universe.” Established in 2009, the foundation distributes $1,000 grants on a monthly basis to projects and their creators. The money is pooled from ten or more self-organizing “micro-trustees.” The chapters are autonomous and organized by the trustees around geographic areas or topics of interest. Apply on the Awesome Foundation website.
Call for Artists: Maryland Art Place Seeks Proposals for Rotating Exhibition Partnership with Baltimore’s Hotel Indigo (MD)
Deadline: rolling. Maryland Art Place (MAP), in partnership with Hotel Indigo is pleased to announce an open ‘Call to Artists’. As an extension of MAP’s annual IMPACT public art partnership projects, MAP is working with Hotel Indigo to offer rotating exhibitions in Hotel indigo’s library and Poets Modern Cocktails and Eats. This opportunity is available to visual artists living or working in Maryland. Maryland Art Place will curate four exhibitions a year based on submissions entered through a rolling basis. Guidelines and information here.
Exhibit at Hotel Indigo (VA)
Artists works will displayed in the hotel’s gallery (220 S Union St, Old Town Alexandria) for a six-month period. Two-dimensional, framed works only. Artists will install the work using the hotel’s mounting hardware. Labels will be provided by the hotel. All sales handled by artist, no commission. Preference for local or locally influenced selections but not required. The space measures approximately 7’10” by 8’3.″ If interested, contact Kate Ellis, General Manager, [email protected].
The New Project Studio – Ongoing Opportunity (VA)
Ongoing. Located in Studio 8, the New Project Studio is a community-focused arts incubator space that offers a short-term location to test new program ideas, spotlight underrepresented voices, and enhance community engagement. Projects rotate on a regular basis. For more information, click here.
Public Arts Grants & Opportunities (VA)
Ongoing. The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts provides grants for nonprofit arts organizations as well as individual artists. See all current opportunities and online applications here.
NYC volunteer opportunity (NY)
Introduce NYC school children to the world of art by giving tours at The MET Museum. Volunteer in this year-round program. Visit us at awnyc.org for more information.
Residency: Maryland
Deadline: ongoing. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its Artist-in-Residence Program, encouraging proposals that cultivate collaborative work between artists and students.
Looking for artists: Foundry Gallery (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.
Looking for artists: Printmakers (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Washington Printmakers Gallery is seeking artist members specializing in printmaking, photography and book arts. An active cooperative for over 30 years, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows in its lovely space in upper Georgetown. Distant and shared memberships are available. If interested in applying for membership please email [email protected].
Looking for artists: Multiple Exposures Gallery (VA)
The Art League Blog is taking a trip down memory lane and reposting/updating some of our most popular resources.
If you’re just starting out as an exhibiting artist, congratulations! You’ve taken an important step in your artistic growth, and we wish you the best of luck.
At The Art League, we operate a membership gallery, which means artist members can enter juried shows and, hopefully, have artwork accepted into an exhibit. (That part’s up to the juror.)
Since a new exhibit year just started, we wanted to put together an overview of how the juried exhibit process works. We’ve also compiled lots of links to other articles that will help you through the process. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments below!
The June 2016 Open Exhibit, juried by Jeff Huntington
Step 1: Join as an exhibiting artist and pay your dues
This part is pretty straightforward. You can join as an artist on this page. The membership year runs from July 1 to June 30. Toward the end of the year, the cost of a membership is prorated.
There are two options for how to pay:
Traditional: pay the membership fee (currently $95) and pay $5 each time you enter an artwork
All-Inclusive: pay the membership fee (currently $144) and entry fees are included
Which one is right for you depends on how many exhibits you plan on entering.
You’ll also want to look out for any potential awards for specific exhibits. All months have cash awards for best-in-show; some months have cash awards for specific media as well, like pastel, watercolor, or collage.
January 2012 juror Allen Beland. In traditional receiving, the juror is presented each artwork in turn (or in pairs, if by the same artist). At the end, the accepted pieces are reviewed again for awards (above).
Step 3: Choose what you want to enter
Artists may enter multiple artworks, but jurors may only select up to one artwork by each artist. For digitally juried shows, you can typically submit up to three artworks. For traditional receiving, the limit is two.
Some exhibits are Open Exhibits, which means there is no limitation on theme, medium, process, or content. Other exhibits have themes, which may suggest different subject matters, sizes, or other guidelines.
(Note there is always one limitation on size: artwork must fit through our doors, and must be installed by the artist if it weighs over 60 pounds.)
Settle on a title and price for each artwork ahead of time so you’re ready to fill out the entry form when the time comes!
Don’t Move They Might Be Watching (detail), mixed media, by Chris Malone
Step 4: Submit
You’ll submit artwork one of two different ways, depending on the exhibit. The Art League now only accepts digital entry.
Digital entry: All our online exhibits can be found at theartleague.submittable.com. You’ll need to create a free account first, then enter the information for each piece of artwork you’re entering: title, medium, price, and so forth. You also need to submit a digital image of your artwork! Give yourself plenty of time to get the best photograph you can, since this is how the juror will judge your artwork.
Important: If you are entering two artworks, keep them together, even if they fall under different categories. The juror will be shown both artworks together.
You won’t be around for this part, but it’s important to know what happens.
Exhibits at The Art League are blind juried, meaning the juror doesn’t see the artist’s name. Online, the software withholds the artist’s name from the juror. In person, volunteers present the artwork to the juror with the label not visible. (The juror may ask for information like the title of the piece.)
Each juror goes at their own pace, but generally this is how it works: each piece gets a Yes, No, or Maybe from the juror during the first go-round. (Remember that a single artist may only have up to one artwork selected.) Nos are set aside immediately. Yeses are accepted into the show. Maybes will get another pass.
Jurors are instructed to select around 100 pieces for the show, because that’s roughly what can fit, but their decisions are theirs alone. After selections are made, the juror goes back to award any cash prizes and honorable mentions.
What happens after jurying? For digital entry exhibits, you’ll get an email with the results (around the 25 of the month) and instructions for bringing in your artwork, if applicable.
If you’re accepted to the exhibit, congratulations! We’ll notify you if you were selected for any awards. During the exhibit, we’ll also notify you if your artwork is sold! Please pick up any unsold artwork at the end of the exhibit.
Other information
The Art League has a separate jurying process for solo exhibits, taking place two years ahead of time. The deadline for solo jurying has been extended to October 8, 2018! Read more about solo exhibits on this page.
Life: A Pandora’s Box, Linda Lowery, Encaustic and mixed media
In the new blog series Art Bites, we serve up an artwork in our monthly exhibit that makes us hungry to learn more. This month, we highlight Linda Lowery, an artist who thinks outside of the box, while her artwork is, literally, inside of the box. You can find Lowery’s assemblage Life: A Pandora’s Box in the September Open Exhibit on view until October 7 at The Art League gallery.
Assemblage is a collage technique in which artists combine, group, and juxtapose objects not originally intended as art materials, often for their symbolic value. As a multimedia artist, Lowery enjoys assemblage for its interactive potential.
“I think it’s fun for a viewer to identify the various objects, and then see what the whole piece represents both visually and symbolically,” She says of her work.
Lowery’s mixed-media construction is an eerie composition of curios. Housed inside a wooden box, Lowery’s encaustic painting of a wailing baby is accompanied by a peculiar collection of found objects. These miniature oddities, ranging from a stack of pennies to a plastic human skull, represent money, death, addiction, misfortune, and the innocence of childhood. A dollop of molten wax has abstracted each trinket, shrouding them in translucent jackets of brown-tinted encaustic. According to Lowery, the wax drippings were used to unite the objects visually, tone down their colors, and add an air of concealment.
“[The wax] makes them more indistinct because the future is uncertain,” she remarked.
Lowery’s assemblage is uncomfortable to view, yet beautiful—an effective, jarring memento mori that spins a surreal narrative of the “pitfalls of life.” Feelings of unease or discomfort are heightened by Lowery’s adjacent arrangement of the crying baby’s face with the wax covered skull. Such discordant juxtapositions are a hallmark of many assemblage artists.
Untitled (The Hotel Eden), Joseph Cornell, C. 1945, mixed media
While Lowery has worked in encaustic for many years, experimenting with assemblage is new territory for Lowery. “I do admire the work of Joseph Cornell,” Lowery noted while discussing her inspiration. A master of assembled art, American artist Joseph Cornell (1903-1972) often created box sculptures (or “constructions”) that merged painting and 3-dimensional objects that intrigue Lowery. Readers may be familiar with Cornell’s bemusing Untitled (The Hotel Eden) (c.1945) for its flashy tri-colored parrot.
The advent of collage—assemblage too—has allowed artists to push the boundaries of authorship, challenge the meaning of appropriation, and experiment with conceptual concepts. Lowery is enthusiastic about the mingling of assemblage and modern encaustic art.
“It seems like a lot of contemporary encaustic work incorporates found or made objects which are covered in wax,” She remarked. “This is a new direction for my art.”
Lowry’s piece and the September Open Exhibit is on view in the Art League Gallery now through October 7. Remember: The Art League Gallery is open late on Thursdays until 9 pm!
Deadline: October 15. The Curatorial Initiative reflects DCAC’s commitment to curatorial practice as an integral part of supporting emerging and under-recognized artists. Each year an apprentice curator is selected to gain experience in the process of planning and mounting an exhibition by working with an experienced mentor curator. The program results in two exhibitions each year: in the spring the mentor curator selects artists and plans the exhibition and accompanying catalog with the assistance of the apprentice; in the autumn, the roles are reversed and the apprentice plans and executes an exhibition with the assistance and advice of the mentor. By nurturing new curators DCAC hopes to bring fresh perspectives into our own programming while assisting a new generation of curators who will take the knowledge they gain into our arts community and beyond. To learn more and apply, visit the DC Arts Center website.
Sparkplug Artist Collective (DC)
Deadline: October 15. Sparkplug brings together artists from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences in the DC area to foster their development collectively. In 2007 Sparkplug was launched as DCAC’s artists collective. Around ten members participate for two years, meeting on a monthly basis to critique each other’s work, discuss exhibitions around the area, visit each other’s studios, and meet with arts professionals such as curators, collectors and established artists. Through this process they try to find common ground in their practice and work despite the diversity of their styles, mediums, background and education. The structure creates opportunities for camaraderie, friendly criticism, and artistic community. DCAC organizes two curated Sparkplug exhibitions for the group—one each year of the program. To learn more about the collective and apply, visit the Sparkplug website.
VMFA Visual Arts Fellowships (VA)
Deadline: November 2. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship Program is a vital source of funding for the visual arts and art history in Virginia. VMFA is committed to supporting professional artists as well as art and art history students who demonstrate exceptional creative ability in their chosen discipline and, as such, has awarded nearly $5.5 million in Fellowships to Virginians. To learn more about the several fellowships available though the VMFA, visit the museum website.
Call for Submissions – Frame & Frequency IV Vol. 2 (MD)
Deadline: November 28. Frame & Frequency is an ongoing International Video and Sound Art Exchange program presented concurrently at VisArts In(Site) Project Gallery in Rockville, MD and at PLECTO Galeria in Medellín, Colombia, opening December 7, 2018. Video, sound art (up to 8 channels), film, and new media work will be accepted: experimental, documentary, animation, narrative, non-narrative, multimedia, virtual reality, augmented reality, net art, interactive media, etc. All foreign language moving image artworks must have English subtitles. To learn more, and apply, visit the VisArts website.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
Dacia Gallery—Holiday Group Exhibition (NY)
Deadline: October 4. Exhibition Dates: December 10, 2018 – January 12, 2019. The only requirement is that all submitted artwork must be priced at $5,000 or less. Dacia Gallery invites emerging artists to submit artwork for an opportunity to participate in this Group Exhibition at Dacia Gallery for the Holidays. We are looking for a diverse body of artwork in all mediums and styles, this will be a group show comprised of artwork created by contemporary artists. For more information, and to apply please visit theDacia Gallery website.
Prince Street Gallery National Juried Exhibition (NY)
Deadline: October 5. The Prince Street Gallery announces a National Juried Exhibition January 2—26, 2019. All two-dimensional artworks will be reviewed, the entry fee for this exhibition is $40. To enter and view the prospectus, view thePrince Street Gallery website.
2019 Post Graduation Residency Program (VA)
Deadline: October 7. Jurors: Nicole Dowd, program director of Halcyon Arts Lab and Leslie Holt, DC-based artist and co-director of Red Dirt Studios. The Torpedo Factory Post-Grad Residency is a competitive juried program that provides meaningful support and three-month term solo studio space. This residency is open to recently-graduated students who earned a bachelor’s or master’s art degree from an accredited university. The program is unique for addressing the critical post-graduation juncture in an emerging artist’s career, offering an opportunity for professional development, and a chance to define their independent work process outside of the academic context. Submissions are open for both art school students in the region and nationwide, provided nationwide artists submit proof of their permanent residence in the area and/or commitment of contributing to the ongoing future of the DC/Maryland/Virginia arts scene. Please read and review Guidelines before applying.
Small Works 2018 (NY)
Deadline: October 8. Main Street Arts is now accepting submissions to our 5th annual Small Works exhibition. This national juried exhibition of small artwork (12 inches or smaller in any direction) is open to artists working in all media excluding video/sound and installation art. For more information and to submit, visit the Main Street Art Gallery website.
The Chelsea International Photography Competition (NY)
Deadline: October 9. The Chelsea International Photography Competition opens August 21, 2018. With a fierce dedication to promoting the arts and discovering and exposing new talent, the CIPC will honor selected artists with an exhibition at Agora Gallery, providing invaluable exposure to promote career growth and boost recognition. Competition awards are valued at over $55,000 and designed specifically to support Agora’s mission: to promote extraordinary and innovative art in the modern world, and enhance the careers of the selected artists. Visit the Agora Gallery website to enter.
Function: An exhibition of Contemporary Craft (GA)
Deadline: October 15. The Gallery at Sulfur Studios invites artists working in traditional craft media (ceramic, fibers, glass, metals, paper, and/or wood) to submit work to their fall juried exhibition, “Function”. Artists are encouraged to push the boundaries of what “functional” means, and work that is conceptual or satirical will be considered alongside more traditional craft forms. Visit www.sulfurstudios.org/function for more information and application instructions. Email [email protected] with any questions.
Arlington Arts Center: Spring Solos Open Call for Proposals (VA)
Deadline: October 15. AAC’s SOLOS exhibitions program supports the work of emerging contemporary artists in the Mid-Atlantic region. Each year, AAC accepts proposals from artists for solo exhibitions to take place in one of AAC’s seven separate gallery spaces or outside on the grounds. Artists who produce contemporary art in any media, and who live or work in the Mid-Atlantic region (defined as Virginia; Washington, DC; Maryland; West Virginia; Pennsylvania; or Delaware) may submit exhibition proposals. Any existing works must have been completed within the last three years in order to be considered. Proposals that specifically take into account AAC’s exhibition spaces are encouraged. To learn more and submit a proposal, visit theAAC website.
Call for Entries: Juried Exhibition Winter 2019 at Blue Mountain Gallery (NY)
Deadline: October 15. Blue Mountain Gallery invites mid-career and established artists to submit work for its 7th Bi-annual Juried Exhibition on January 2—26, 2019. The gallery’s exhibitions are frequently reviewed in both the New York and national press. Juror, Elisa Jensen, an American painter who currently teaches at the New York Studio School, exhibits widely in the US and Denmark and curates exhibitions. Entry forms must be completed and submitted online only. To apply, visit the Blue Mountain Gallery website. The prospectus can be found here.
VisArts In(Site) Project Gallery—Call for Video, Sound Art, and New Media (MD)
Deadline: October 15. “Frame & Frequency 4, Vol. 2” is an ongoing International Video and Sound Art Exchange program presented concurrently at VisArts in our In(Site) Project Gallery in Rockville, MD and at PLECTO Galeria in Medellín, Colombia, opening October 26, 2018. Video, sound art (up to eight channels), film, and new media work will be accepted, including: experimental, documentary, animation, narrative, non-narrative, multimedia, virtual reality, augmented reality, net art, interactive media, etc. All foreign language moving image artworks must have English subtitles. For more information, and to submit visit the VisArts website.
Introductions 2019 (NY)
Deadline: October 31. “Introductions” is an annual open call hosted by Trestle Gallery. In support of their 2019 exhibition theme & focus, all applicants to 2019’s open call will be considered for a solo exhibition at Trestle Gallery. The only qualification is that artists may not have participated in a show at the Trestle Gallery before (previous open calls count, member salons do not count). The exhibit will be curated by Jason Andrew, an independent scholar, curator, and producer. A prominent figure in the Bushwick, Brooklyn art scene, Mr. Andrew is the co-founder and director of Norte Maar, a non-profit now celebrating its 10th anniversary encouraging, promoting, and presenting collaborative projects in the arts. To learn more and apply, visit the Trestle Gallery website.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (DC)
Deadline: November 1. The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and its Renwick Gallery invite applications for research fellowships in the art and visual culture of the United States. Fellowships are residential and support full-time independent and dissertation research. Recipients will be part of the premier residential fellowship program in American art—one that celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2020. The museum hosts a number of fellows each year through the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP), and also awards its own named fellowships to candidates from this general pool. Only one application is necessary. All candidates should apply to the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP). More information about the many opportunities and fellowships available at the SAAM website.
Call for Writing Submissions: Beyond Beautiful (MD)
Deadline: November 1. Maryland Art Place (MAP) is seeking writing submissions, love letters of all types, on behalf of “The One Thousand Love Letters Project” and the exhibition “Beyond Beautiful, created and curated by artist Peter Bruun. This exhibition is slated to open January 17, 2019 at Maryland Art Place, with a partner site for the exhibition located at Area 405. Beyond Beautiful focuses on eight topics –information and guidelines here. Peter Bruun, both curator and artist, will use these love letters to create 1,000 artistic responses to be displayed in the exhibition at MAP and Area 405. To date, Bruun has created over 600 drawings using excerpts from participant’s letters to contribute to “The One Thousand Love Letters Project.” Letters do not need to be submitted based on the listed topics and can be submitted digitally or physically.
Torpedo Factory Target Gallery—2019 Solo Exhibition (VA)
Deadline: November 25. Target Gallery invites artists to apply for an open call for proposals for a solo exhibition for the summer of 2019. The individual or group associated with the chosen proposal will receive an exhibition at Target Gallery from June 14 through August 4, 2019. Proposals must be new bodies of work or works that have not been previously shown in the region. Individual works that have been previously shown can be entered if they are a part of new bodies of work and/or a new concept. The artist(s) will receive a $3000 stipend. To learn more and apply, visit the Torpedo Factory website.
Women Artists Call — Pen and Brush Solo Exhibit (NY)
Deadline: December 31. Long-established contemporary art gallery and nonprofit seeking talented professional female artists for various opportunities. These opportunities include, but are in no way limited to: a solo exhibition in our ground floor space on 22nd street, group exhibition opportunities, inclusion in exhibition catalogues written by art historians and curators, and opportunities to expose work to influential curators. All work submitted must be contemporary art, submitted work must be complete, to be considered work must meet standards of quality, every work in a submission must be for sale. Artists must meet professional standards of composition and presentation of their work. To apply and learn more about this opportunity, visit the Pen and Brush website.
Spark Box Studio Dawson Residency Award and Bursary (Canada)
Deadline: March 1, 2019. This award is open to residents of North America. Spark Box Studio is accepting applications from emerging, mid-career, and established artists. One artist will receive a month-long residency at our studio in Prince Edward County, plus the $1,000 Dawson bursary. The selected applicant will be granted a semi-private studio space and be given access to the Spark Box Studio equipment and resources. As well, the winner will be provided with living accommodations for their month-long stay. We support a range of disciplines including; drawers, illustrators, painters, writers, printmakers, film makers, performance artists, multidisciplinary artists, curators, book makers, musicians and photographers (digital)
Ongoing:
Artist/Writers: Cover Art for Academic Medicine
Deadline: Rolling. Submit original works of art inspired by, but not necessarily representative of, an academic medicine experience from any perspective: caregiver, researcher, teacher, learner, or patient (for example, learning how to be a physician or scientist, caring for patients, exploring research questions, making a new discovery, being a research participant, teaching, or being cared for in a teaching hospital). The journal welcomes photography, sculpture, painting, textile work, and other visual media. Images may be cropped or resized to fit into the allotted cover space. Artists must also submit a related Cover Art essay as a narrative companion to the artwork, to explain the connection between the work and the “academic medicine experience.” The related narrative should be 250 to 600 words and is subject to editing. To apply for this opportunity, and to learn more, visit the Academic Medicine website.
Artist/Writers: Medicine and the Arts (MATA) Opportunity
Deadline: Rolling. This column is the journal’s longest-running feature. It is published on two facing pages. The left-hand page features an excerpt from literature, a poem, a photograph, etc. Literature excerpts generally run no more than 700 words and may include a very brief introduction as needed. The right-hand page presents an original commentary of about 900 words that explores the relevance of the artwork to the teaching, learning, and/or practice of medicine. Since submissions cannot be fully accepted for publication until Academic Medicine acquires permission to reprint literary excerpts or artworks (which often takes many months), authors should include all relevant information about the piece they are explicating (publisher, museum, dates, etc.) to enable staff editors to find and contact the copyright holder. Submissions undergo review and editing. To apply for this opportunity, and to learn more, visit the Academic Medicine website.
The Awesome Foundation Accepting Applications for Art Projects
Deadline: Open. The Awesome Foundation for the Arts and Sciences is a worldwide network of people devoted to forwarding the interest of “awesomeness in the universe.” Established in 2009, the foundation distributes $1,000 grants on a monthly basis to projects and their creators. The money is pooled from ten or more self-organizing “micro-trustees.” The chapters are autonomous and organized by the trustees around geographic areas or topics of interest. Apply on the Awesome Foundation website.
Call for Artists: Maryland Art Place Seeks Proposals for Rotating Exhibition Partnership with Baltimore’s Hotel Indigo (MD)
Deadline: rolling. Maryland Art Place (MAP), in partnership with Hotel Indigo is pleased to announce an open ‘Call to Artists’. As an extension of MAP’s annual IMPACT public art partnership projects, MAP is working with Hotel Indigo to offer rotating exhibitions in Hotel indigo’s library and Poets Modern Cocktails and Eats. This opportunity is available to visual artists living or working in Maryland. Maryland Art Place will curate four exhibitions a year based on submissions entered through a rolling basis. Guidelines and information here.
Exhibit at Hotel Indigo (VA)
Artists works will displayed in the hotel’s gallery (220 S Union St, Old Town Alexandria) for a six-month period. Two-dimensional, framed works only. Artists will install the work using the hotel’s mounting hardware. Labels will be provided by the hotel. All sales handled by artist, no commission. Preference for local or locally influenced selections but not required. The space measures approximately 7’10” by 8’3.″ If interested, contact Kate Ellis, General Manager, [email protected].
The New Project Studio – Ongoing Opportunity (VA)
Ongoing. Located in Studio 8, the New Project Studio is a community-focused arts incubator space that offers a short-term location to test new program ideas, spotlight underrepresented voices, and enhance community engagement. Projects rotate on a regular basis. For more information, click here.
Public Arts Grants & Opportunities (VA)
Ongoing. The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts provides grants for nonprofit arts organizations as well as individual artists. See all current opportunities and online applications here.
NYC volunteer opportunity (NY)
Introduce NYC school children to the world of art by giving tours at The MET Museum. Volunteer in this year-round program. Visit us at awnyc.org for more information.
Residency: Maryland
Deadline: ongoing. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its Artist-in-Residence Program, encouraging proposals that cultivate collaborative work between artists and students.
Looking for artists: Foundry Gallery (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.
Looking for artists: Printmakers (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Washington Printmakers Gallery is seeking artist members specializing in printmaking, photography and book arts. An active cooperative for over 30 years, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows in its lovely space in upper Georgetown. Distant and shared memberships are available. If interested in applying for membership please email [email protected].
Looking for artists: Multiple Exposures Gallery (VA)
The Art League Blog is taking a trip down memory lane and reposting some of our most popular resources. Please enjoy this post from the vault, originally published June 23, 2016.
“If you’re an artist and you don’t have a website yet — or if you want to change the one you have now — it’s never too late to get started!”
That’s why we started our original artist website post, and three (five!) years later, it’s more true than ever. If you’re ready to take the plunge, you’ve come to the right place! This guide will walk you through:
A website is another way for people to find out about you and your artwork. They could be strangers who find you by googling “sculptors in DC,” or people who already know you and want to learn more.
Think about it this way: where do you go when you’re making a purchase or doing research? Online. So will your potential customers (and email subscribers, and fans, and so on).
The website of Andy Yoder is built in WordPress using the Vertex theme.
Step 1: Define your goal
Your goal for your website will determine what features you need. Common goals include:
I want to sell artwork through my website
I want my website to serve as a portfolio for interested galleries, customers, and fans
I want people to find and contact me
I want to keep my fans and customers updated with my latest news
If you want to sell work through your website, make sure the service you choose (below) has an option for an online store — and make sure it’s easy to use! If you want to make a portfolio site, make sure the service you choose can handle beautiful image galleries. If you want to keep customers updated, you will probably want a built-in blog and email newsletter.
If any of these are must-haves for you, make sure they’re a possibility on the platform you choose.
We made a chart comparing some of the most popular options out there. Some are geared specifically toward artists, but most of them have portfolio templates for your design, and they’re all suitable for use by artists. See below for an explanation of the terms used and links to the websites:
How to read this chart
Hosting: This is how your website is delivered to visitors. You’ll pay around $10 a month if you get hosting on your own (for example if you use WordPress.org), but it’s included in all the other services above.
Store: Is there a built-in way for people to purchase through your website? Typically, you’ll pay extra for this feature.
Stats: Can you get information on how many people are visiting your site and how they’re getting there?
Domain: A domain name, like theartleague.org, is an important factor. Do you get your very own domain? Or do you have to share one, like theartleague.squarespace.com? (This is sometimes offered as a free option, but it’s worth it to pay for your very own domain.) See below for tips on choosing your domain name.
Before committing, see if there’s a free trial. You should also look for examples of live artist websites using the service you’d like to use. Keep your goal (step 1) in mind as you tick off the following checklist:
Can you use the back end? The back-end is the part of the website that’s visible only to you, where you go to make changes to your website.
Is there customer service? When your website goes down or disappears, will there be someone to answer the phone?
Is it mobile friendly? Most of your visitors will be viewing on their phone (possibly at the very moment they’re standing in front of your artwork). Make sure everything works properly and is easy to use.
What designs are available? Notice that this is last on the list. It’s typically the easiest thing to change, and it’s most important to consider the function and content before appearance. That said, you’ll want to pick a service that matches your abilities. There’s a trade-off: easier services with drag-and-drop builders will tend to look more bland, but a highly customized site will take more work and know-how.
As explained above, the domain name is where people will find you online. It typically ends in .com. Follow this formula if you can:
your first name + your last name + .com
For example, fridakahlo.com. That should be your first choice, but if that’s taken, try one of these variations: fridakahloart.com, fridakahloartist.com, fridakahlostudio.com, or frida–kahlo.com.
Note that people are more likely to visit a website that ends in .com than .net or something else.
Now comes the fun part. Again, what you put on your website depends on your goal. At a bare minimum, you will want the following two things:
images of your artwork
your contact information
You’ll probably expand on this to include things like your artist bio or statement, different image galleries, or a store or blog, depending on your needs.
It’s important to start small and keep your website up to date. Any obviously out-of-date information is going to lead to visitors leaving your website. As you get comfortable with building and updating your website, you can start to build more.
A functional, up-to-date website is a must for any artist working today. While it takes some time to set up and maintain — time that you’d rather spend in the studio — it pays dividends in creating a visible, professional presence for your art.
Hopefully, this guide gave you a head start on the process. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments!
Other resources
Here are some other articles you might find helpful:
A lot of love goes into each of the over 1,500 ice cream bowls that the Ceramic Department at The Art League artfully creates each year for its Ice Cream Bowl Fundraiser. Together with our donors, supporters, and our wonderful volunteers, this year was another win–even with less-than-ideal weather on day two!
Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg stopped by!
Keep scrolling to see photos from the event. Have a picture of your bowl? Take a picture and use hashtag #theartleague or tag us in it @theartleague on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
When you match your ceramics!
Beautiful day for come ice cream bowls!
Volunteers
Bowls change every few hours…they go that fast!
Pups love ICB!
Artist Bev Ryan chooses a couple bowls to take home
Un-bowl-ievable selections
Art League Staff helps a ICB customer!
Ceramics en masse!
Let the kids help you pick out a bowl!
Details
Possibly the best job: Ice Cream Scooper!
Ice Cream Bowl 2018
Bowls on bowls!
Picking a stand out ice cream bowl!
which to pick?
Bowls!
Bowls and mugs!
This year, we thought we’d have a little fun with it, and create an infographic to thank you for your support!!
The 2018 Ice Cream Bowl Fundraiser saw 1,500+ bowls go to new homes and over $22,000 go to support the School Ceramics Department.
Deadline: October 4. Exhibition Dates: December 10, 2018 – January 12, 2019. The only requirement is that all submitted artwork must be priced at $5,000 or less. Dacia Gallery invites emerging artists to submit artwork for an opportunity to participate in this Group Exhibition at Dacia Gallery for the Holidays. We are looking for a diverse body of artwork in all mediums and styles, this will be a group show comprised of artwork created by contemporary artists. For more information, and to apply please visit the Dacia Gallery website.
Prince Street Gallery National Juried Exhibition (NY)
Deadline: October 5. The Prince Street Gallery announces a National Juried Exhibition January 2—26, 2019. All two-dimensional artworks will be reviewed, the entry fee for this exhibition is $40. To enter and view the prospectus, view the Prince Street Gallery website.
Arlington Arts Center: Spring Solos Open Call for Proposals (VA)
Deadline: October 15. AAC’s SOLOS exhibitions program supports the work of emerging contemporary artists in the Mid-Atlantic region. Each year, AAC accepts proposals from artists for solo exhibitions to take place in one of AAC’s seven separate gallery spaces or outside on the grounds. Artists who produce contemporary art in any media, and who live or work in the Mid-Atlantic region (defined as Virginia; Washington, DC; Maryland; West Virginia; Pennsylvania; or Delaware) may submit exhibition proposals. Any existing works must have been completed within the last three years in order to be considered. Proposals that specifically take into account AAC’s exhibition spaces are encouraged. To learn more and submit a proposal, visit the AAC website.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
New prize for women painters
Deadline: September 28. The recently announced Bennett Prize will spotlight women artists who paint in the figurative realist style, and who have not yet reached full professional recognition – both new artists and those who have painted for many years.
The Pittsburgh Foundation & Muskegon Museum of Art: The Bennett Prize (PA)
Deadline: September 28. The Pittsburgh Foundation & The Muskegon Museum of Art (MMA) in Muskegon, MI announce a call to artists for The Bennett Prize. Open only to (living) women artists who: Are eighteen 18+, reside in the United States (at least part of the year), and will submit work that does not have to cross an international border to reach Muskegon Museum of Art. Artists must have primary practice as the creation of original paintings in the genre of figurative realism, and be currently pursuing, or intend to pursue, a career as a full-time painter and will not be a student during The Prize residency. All entries must be traditional paintings, which is defined as paint upon a two-dimensional surface. Only original works completed in the past 5 years are eligible. $50 entry fee. For more information, visit The Bennett Prize website.
32nd annual Materials: Hard + Soft International Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition (TX)
Deadline: September 30. The Greater Denton Arts Council proudly presents the 32nd annual Materials: Hard + Soft International Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition. Recognized as one of the premier craft exhibitions in the country, Materials: Hard + Soft began in 1987 and was originally initiated by area artist Georgia Leach Gough. The exhibition celebrates the evolving field of contemporary craft and the remarkable creativity and innovation of artists who push the boundaries of their chosen media. Approximately 70 works will be selected by juror Janet McCall, Executive Director of the Contemporary Craft, for exhibition at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center in Denton, Texas.
The Torpedo Factory – Target Gallery: 2019 Emerging Artists (VA)
Deadline: September 30. Target Gallery presents its annual exhibition featuring the work of three to four regional emerging artists. This exhibition spotlights new talent and the up-and-coming artistic innovators of the DC metropolitan area. Artists should have no more than five years of experience as a professional exhibiting artist, live within DC, Maryland, or Virginia, and have never had an solo exhibition in a professional gallery space (excluding BFA/MFA exhibitions). Each artist will receive a $500 stipend. To learn more (view prospectus) and apply, visit the Torpedo Factory website.
Howard County Arts Council (HCAC) Gallery Call for Entries (MD)
Deadline: October 1. The HCAC Exhibits Committee meets quarterly to review applications and select artists for exhibit space. Artists, ages 18 and older, working in all media and styles, including time-based and installation artists, are encouraged to apply either individually or as a group. The Committee also welcomes proposals from curators and organizations. Detailed entry guidelines available here, the next deadline for submission is October 1.
2019 Post Graduation Residency Program (VA)
Deadline: October 7. Jurors: Nicole Dowd, program director of Halcyon Arts Lab and Leslie Holt, DC-based artist and co-director of Red Dirt Studios. The Torpedo Factory Post-Grad Residency is a competitive juried program that provides meaningful support and three-month term solo studio space. This residency is open to recently-graduated students who earned a bachelor’s or master’s art degree from an accredited university. The program is unique for addressing the critical post-graduation juncture in an emerging artist’s career, offering an opportunity for professional development, and a chance to define their independent work process outside of the academic context. Submissions are open for both art school students in the region and nationwide, provided nationwide artists submit proof of their permanent residence in the area and/or commitment of contributing to the ongoing future of the DC/Maryland/Virginia arts scene. Please read and review Guidelines before applying.
Small Works 2018 (NY)
Deadline: October 8. Main Street Arts is now accepting submissions to our 5th annual Small Works exhibition. This national juried exhibition of small artwork (12 inches or smaller in any direction) is open to artists working in all media excluding video/sound and installation art. For more information and to submit, visit the Main Street Art Gallery website.
The Chelsea International Photography Competition (NY)
Deadline: October 9. The Chelsea International Photography Competition opens August 21, 2018. With a fierce dedication to promoting the arts and discovering and exposing new talent, the CIPC will honor selected artists with an exhibition at Agora Gallery, providing invaluable exposure to promote career growth and boost recognition. Competition awards are valued at over $55,000 and designed specifically to support Agora’s mission: to promote extraordinary and innovative art in the modern world, and enhance the careers of the selected artists. Visit the Agora Gallery website to enter.
Function: An exhibition of Contemporary Craft (GA)
Deadline: October 15. The Gallery at Sulfur Studios invites artists working in traditional craft media (ceramic, fibers, glass, metals, paper, and/or wood) to submit work to their fall juried exhibition, “Function”. Artists are encouraged to push the boundaries of what “functional” means, and work that is conceptual or satirical will be considered alongside more traditional craft forms. Visit www.sulfurstudios.org/function for more information and application instructions. Email [email protected] with any questions.
Call for Entries: Juried Exhibition Winter 2019 at Blue Mountain Gallery (NY)
Deadline: October 15. Blue Mountain Gallery invites mid-career and established artists to submit work for its 7th Bi-annual Juried Exhibition on January 2—26, 2019. The gallery’s exhibitions are frequently reviewed in both the New York and national press. Juror, Elisa Jensen, an American painter who currently teaches at the New York Studio School, exhibits widely in the US and Denmark and curates exhibitions. Entry forms must be completed and submitted online only. To apply, visit the Blue Mountain Gallery website. The prospectus can be found here.
VisArts In(Site) Project Gallery—Call for Video, Sound Art, and New Media (MD)
Deadline: October 15. “Frame & Frequency 4, Vol. 2” is an ongoing International Video and Sound Art Exchange program presented concurrently at VisArts in our In(Site) Project Gallery in Rockville, MD and at PLECTO Galeria in Medellín, Colombia, opening October 26, 2018. Video, sound art (up to eight channels), film, and new media work will be accepted, including: experimental, documentary, animation, narrative, non-narrative, multimedia, virtual reality, augmented reality, net art, interactive media, etc. All foreign language moving image artworks must have English subtitles. For more information, and to submit visit the VisArts website.
Introductions 2019 (NY)
Deadline: October 31. “Introductions” is an annual open call hosted by Trestle Gallery. In support of their 2019 exhibition theme & focus, all applicants to 2019’s open call will be considered for a solo exhibition at Trestle Gallery. The only qualification is that artists may not have participated in a show at the Trestle Gallery before (previous open calls count, member salons do not count). The exhibit will be curated by Jason Andrew, an independent scholar, curator, and producer. A prominent figure in the Bushwick, Brooklyn art scene, Mr. Andrew is the co-founder and director of Norte Maar, a non-profit now celebrating its 10th anniversary encouraging, promoting, and presenting collaborative projects in the arts. To learn more and apply, visit the Trestle Gallery website.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (DC)
Deadline: November 1. The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and its Renwick Gallery invite applications for research fellowships in the art and visual culture of the United States. Fellowships are residential and support full-time independent and dissertation research. Recipients will be part of the premier residential fellowship program in American art—one that celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2020. The museum hosts a number of fellows each year through the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP), and also awards its own named fellowships to candidates from this general pool. Only one application is necessary. All candidates should apply to theSmithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP). More information about the many opportunities and fellowships available at theSAAM website.
Call for Writing Submissions: Beyond Beautiful (MD)
Deadline: November 1. Maryland Art Place (MAP) is seeking writing submissions, love letters of all types, on behalf of “The One Thousand Love Letters Project” and the exhibition “Beyond Beautiful, created and curated by artist Peter Bruun. This exhibition is slated to open January 17, 2019 at Maryland Art Place, with a partner site for the exhibition located at Area 405. Beyond Beautiful focuses on eight topics –information and guidelines here. Peter Bruun, both curator and artist, will use these love letters to create 1,000 artistic responses to be displayed in the exhibition at MAP and Area 405. To date, Bruun has created over 600 drawings using excerpts from participant’s letters to contribute to “The One Thousand Love Letters Project.” Letters do not need to be submitted based on the listed topics and can be submitted digitally or physically.
Torpedo Factory Target Gallery—2019 Solo Exhibition (VA)
Deadline: November 25. Target Gallery invites artists to apply for an open call for proposals for a solo exhibition for the summer of 2019. The individual or group associated with the chosen proposal will receive an exhibition at Target Gallery from June 14 through August 4, 2019. Proposals must be new bodies of work or works that have not been previously shown in the region. Individual works that have been previously shown can be entered if they are a part of new bodies of work and/or a new concept. The artist(s) will receive a $3000 stipend. To learn more and apply, visit theTorpedo Factory website.
Women Artists Call — Pen and Brush Solo Exhibit (NY)
Deadline: December 31. Long-established contemporary art gallery and nonprofit seeking talented professional female artists for various opportunities. These opportunities include, but are in no way limited to: a solo exhibition in our ground floor space on 22nd street, group exhibition opportunities, inclusion in exhibition catalogues written by art historians and curators, and opportunities to expose work to influential curators. All work submitted must be contemporary art, submitted work must be complete, to be considered work must meet standards of quality, every work in a submission must be for sale. Artists must meet professional standards of composition and presentation of their work. To apply and learn more about this opportunity, visit the Pen and Brush website.
Spark Box Studio Dawson Residency Award and Bursary (Canada)
Deadline: March 1, 2019. This award is open to residents of North America. Spark Box Studio is accepting applications from emerging, mid-career, and established artists. One artist will receive a month-long residency at our studio in Prince Edward County, plus the $1,000 Dawson bursary. The selected applicant will be granted a semi-private studio space and be given access to the Spark Box Studio equipment and resources. As well, the winner will be provided with living accommodations for their month-long stay. We support a range of disciplines including; drawers, illustrators, painters, writers, printmakers, film makers, performance artists, multidisciplinary artists, curators, book makers, musicians and photographers (digital)
Ongoing:
Artist/Writers: Cover Art for Academic Medicine
Deadline: Rolling. Submit original works of art inspired by, but not necessarily representative of, an academic medicine experience from any perspective: caregiver, researcher, teacher, learner, or patient (for example, learning how to be a physician or scientist, caring for patients, exploring research questions, making a new discovery, being a research participant, teaching, or being cared for in a teaching hospital). The journal welcomes photography, sculpture, painting, textile work, and other visual media. Images may be cropped or resized to fit into the allotted cover space. Artists must also submit a related Cover Art essay as a narrative companion to the artwork, to explain the connection between the work and the “academic medicine experience.” The related narrative should be 250 to 600 words and is subject to editing. To apply for this opportunity, and to learn more, visit theAcademic Medicine website.
Artist/Writers: Medicine and the Arts (MATA) Opportunity
Deadline: Rolling. This column is the journal’s longest-running feature. It is published on two facing pages. The left-hand page features an excerpt from literature, a poem, a photograph, etc. Literature excerpts generally run no more than 700 words and may include a very brief introduction as needed. The right-hand page presents an original commentary of about 900 words that explores the relevance of the artwork to the teaching, learning, and/or practice of medicine. Since submissions cannot be fully accepted for publication until Academic Medicine acquires permission to reprint literary excerpts or artworks (which often takes many months), authors should include all relevant information about the piece they are explicating (publisher, museum, dates, etc.) to enable staff editors to find and contact the copyright holder. Submissions undergo review and editing. To apply for this opportunity, and to learn more, visit theAcademic Medicine website.
The Awesome Foundation Accepting Applications for Art Projects
Deadline: Open. The Awesome Foundation for the Arts and Sciences is a worldwide network of people devoted to forwarding the interest of “awesomeness in the universe.” Established in 2009, the foundation distributes $1,000 grants on a monthly basis to projects and their creators. The money is pooled from ten or more self-organizing “micro-trustees.” The chapters are autonomous and organized by the trustees around geographic areas or topics of interest. Apply on the Awesome Foundation website.
Call for Artists: Maryland Art Place Seeks Proposals for Rotating Exhibition Partnership with Baltimore’s Hotel Indigo (MD)
Deadline: rolling. Maryland Art Place (MAP), in partnership with Hotel Indigo is pleased to announce an open ‘Call to Artists’. As an extension of MAP’s annual IMPACT public art partnership projects, MAP is working with Hotel Indigo to offer rotating exhibitions in Hotel indigo’s library and Poets Modern Cocktails and Eats. This opportunity is available to visual artists living or working in Maryland. Maryland Art Place will curate four exhibitions a year based on submissions entered through a rolling basis. Guidelines and information here.
Exhibit at Hotel Indigo (VA)
Artists works will displayed in the hotel’s gallery (220 S Union St, Old Town Alexandria) for a six-month period. Two-dimensional, framed works only. Artists will install the work using the hotel’s mounting hardware. Labels will be provided by the hotel. All sales handled by artist, no commission. Preference for local or locally influenced selections but not required. The space measures approximately 7’10” by 8’3.″ If interested, contact Kate Ellis, General Manager, [email protected].
The New Project Studio – Ongoing Opportunity (VA)
Ongoing. Located in Studio 8, the New Project Studio is a community-focused arts incubator space that offers a short-term location to test new program ideas, spotlight underrepresented voices, and enhance community engagement. Projects rotate on a regular basis. For more information, click here.
Public Arts Grants & Opportunities (VA)
Ongoing. The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts provides grants for nonprofit arts organizations as well as individual artists. See all current opportunities and online applications here.
NYC volunteer opportunity (NY)
Introduce NYC school children to the world of art by giving tours at The MET Museum. Volunteer in this year-round program. Visit us at awnyc.org for more information.
Residency: Maryland
Deadline: ongoing. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its Artist-in-Residence Program, encouraging proposals that cultivate collaborative work between artists and students.
Looking for artists: Foundry Gallery (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.
Looking for artists: Printmakers (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Washington Printmakers Gallery is seeking artist members specializing in printmaking, photography and book arts. An active cooperative for over 30 years, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows in its lovely space in upper Georgetown. Distant and shared memberships are available. If interested in applying for membership please email [email protected].
Looking for artists: Multiple Exposures Gallery (VA)
Supporting The Art League has never been as sweet—literally! Stop by the King Street Arts Festival this weekend for delicious ice cream AND a handmade bowl from our ceramics department all for $15! Not sold? Here are a few ways we can sweeten the deal:
1. Ice Cream Bowls make a fantastic (and unique!) gift
A heart bowl is the perfect gift for a new couple! What anniversary is ceramics?
Have a fall wedding coming up and need a gift for the happy couple? Lovebirds love thoughtful, handmade gifts! Whatever you choose, you can be sure that your gift will stand out from a sea of toasters and stand-up mixers! Know a Virgo or Libra art lover? Our beautiful ceramic bowls come in a variety of glazes, shapes, and colors perfect for your friends’ and loved ones’ autumn birthdays!
2. Bring your honey and make your day extra sweet
Earn brownie points to go with that ice cream!
Need a weekend date idea? The King Street Arts Festival boasts 200 local and national artists, as well as food vendors, and live music. The Art League will be offering over 1,000 different homemade bowls for sale… and what’s better ending a late summer date with a cooling bowl of ice cream? Challenge your honey to pick out a bowl for you, or pick out one to match their eyes. How sweet!
3. Bowl over guests with your private art collection
How can you just choose one?
Always wanted to start your own art collection but need a push? At just $15, a handcrafted ceramic bowl made by our talented ceramic department is the perfect place to start supporting local artists…and local arts organizations. Plus, imagine how beautiful your new bowl will look on your table for a dinner party! Fill your microwaveable, and dishwasher safe bowl with hummus for dipping, artfully arranged bites for munching, or get back to basics with another scoop of ice cream!
4. Kids <3 ice cream!
Kids <3 Ice Cream…and Art!
Want to check out the festival, but don’t have a babysitter? Introduce your littles to the fun of art with activities throughout the festival for all ages. Kids love ice cream—but maybe put an adult in charge of holding the delicate ceramics!
5. Your dog called us, and asked for an extra long walk!
“Woof! All ready for the Ice Cream Bowl Festival!”
Paw through our selection of ice cream bowls with your furry best friend! Pups are always welcome at the King Street Arts Festival…just get ready for lots of head rubs and awww’s from the dog-loving Art League staff!
Ready to pick out your bowl? Come take a look at our over 1,000 beautiful bowls and pick your favorite! Find all the details here, and we’ll see you this weekend!
This month’s juror, Samira Abbassy, describes artist Noah Williams’ Best in Show piece, Illusions, as standing out for its “innovation of materials, originality of concept, and a strong unique vision. A sense of confidence and belief in the world. A lack of fear of failure.”
Interestingly, Williams almost gave up on Illusions, a huge African-style mask made of mostly found mixed media including: keys, bullet casings, shells, leather, Red Bull cans, and even his own discarded jeans.
“I was working with that piece off and on for about a year and a half…maybe two years because there was a period where I really hated that piece. I would just walk by it on occasion and be like: ‘I hate you, I hate your guts,’” he quips.
Noah William’s Illusions stares back
For Williams, finishing the piece was important, but not as important as adding the level of detail which he is known to craft into his work. His masks and sculptural work, previously on view in an Art League solo exhibit in 2013, feature a visual cacophony of items: several of which he admits people now “gift” to him en masse.
“I love doing masks,” he says of his signature work. “I’ve always had a love for African masks, the meaning behind it and what it represents. When I create my masks, each individual mask has its own spirit to it, has its own energy. Some are more ferocious than others, some more warrior-istic, some are more toned down. With this, I wanted to do a big piece. I wanted originally, to incorporate paintings into it….but it wasn’t working.”
Noah Williams works on Illusions
Though the original idea for the mask didn’t work, Williams hopes to come back to it eventually. The final piece which includes materials that the viewer may not recognize, like fabric wrapped around wine corks to make the eyes of the mask pop out, or even fragments of jeans wrapped around tightly curled wire, show the complexity of Williams’ work, and his unique vision as an artist.
“I like using materials that will catch people’s eyes…I want to see people to see the passion in my work, [for them to say] ‘I see the man hours put into this, I can see the love,’” says Williams. “When I produce art, I want it to be unique, and an individual by itself…something that will blow people’s mind.”
The mask, which hangs directly at eye level as you enter the Gallery is indeed eye catching—and as you approach the piece it draws you in for a closer inspection. Love of detail is apparent in Williams’ work as well as the influence of artists who inspire him.
Detail of Illusions
“One of my favorite artists is Diego Rivera, I find myself looking at one of his murals for hours. The magnitude of the detail that he puts in it, that’s what I aspire for my work to be like. When people are hypnotized by the amount of detail that is in it.”
Diego Rivera, A History of Medicine, 1953 Fresco
As for what’s coming next, Williams is not slowing down any time soon. Next up are some more large pieces as well as some paintings.
“I’m working on a Jamaican flag out of a window frame…after the Jamaican flag I’m working on masks, I call it “Kings and Queens”, it’s gonna be a King mask and a Queen mask…and after that some paintings.”
See Noah William’s piece in September Open Exhibit through October 7, and join us for our Opening Reception of both the September Open Exhibit and Brian Kirk’s “Natural Reaction” exhibit as well as our “Drawn In” event on September 20 starting at 6:30 pm in the Gallery!
The Center for Photographic Art: 2018 International Juried Exhibition
Deadline: September 23. The Center for Photographic Art (CPA) is pleased to announce the 2018 International Juried Exhibition. This year, CPA is offering $6,000 in awards. 45 juror-selected photographs will be exhibited in CPA’s historic gallery at Sunset Center in Carmel, California. These photographs will be featured in an online gallery on the CPA website. Up to an additional 45 images will be selected and also included in the online gallery. An exhibition catalog of the images chosen for both the gallery and online exhibitions will be available for purchase. An entry discount is available for new and current CPA members. For more information visit the CPA website.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum (DC)
Deadline: November 1. The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and its Renwick Gallery invite applications for research fellowships in the art and visual culture of the United States. Fellowships are residential and support full-time independent and dissertation research. Recipients will be part of the premier residential fellowship program in American art—one that celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2020. The museum hosts a number of fellows each year through the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP), and also awards its own named fellowships to candidates from this general pool. Only one application is necessary. All candidates should apply to the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP). More information about the many opportunities and fellowships available at the SAAM website.
Torpedo Factory Target Gallery—2019 Solo Exhibition (VA)
Deadline:November 25. Target Gallery invites artists to apply for an open call for proposals for a solo exhibition for the summer of 2019. The individual or group associated with the chosen proposal will receive an exhibition at Target Gallery from June 14 through August 4, 2019. Proposals must be new bodies of work or works that have not been previously shown in the region. Individual works that have been previously shown can be entered if they are a part of new bodies of work and/or a new concept. The artist(s) will receive a $3000 stipend. To learn more and apply, visit the Torpedo Factory website.
Artist/Writers: Medicine and the Arts (MATA) Opportunity
Deadline: Rolling. This column is the journal’s longest-running feature. It is published on two facing pages. The left-hand page features an excerpt from literature, a poem, a photograph, etc. Literature excerpts generally run no more than 700 words and may include a very brief introduction as needed. The right-hand page presents an original commentary of about 900 words that explores the relevance of the artwork to the teaching, learning, and/or practice of medicine. Since submissions cannot be fully accepted for publication until Academic Medicine acquires permission to reprint literary excerpts or artworks (which often takes many months), authors should include all relevant information about the piece they are explicating (publisher, museum, dates, etc.) to enable staff editors to find and contact the copyright holder. Submissions undergo review and editing. To apply for this opportunity, and to learn more, visit the Academic Medicine website.
Artist/Writers: Cover Art for Academic Medicine
Deadline: Rolling. Submit original works of art inspired by, but not necessarily representative of, an academic medicine experience from any perspective: caregiver, researcher, teacher, learner, or patient (for example, learning how to be a physician or scientist, caring for patients, exploring research questions, making a new discovery, being a research participant, teaching, or being cared for in a teaching hospital). The journal welcomes photography, sculpture, painting, textile work, and other visual media. Images may be cropped or resized to fit into the allotted cover space. Artists must also submit a related Cover Art essay as a narrative companion to the artwork, to explain the connection between the work and the “academic medicine experience.” The related narrative should be 250 to 600 words and is subject to editing. To apply for this opportunity, and to learn more, visit the Academic Medicine website.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
Superfine DC – The Art Fair (DC)
Deadline: September 19. The District’s First (and only) Accessible, Dynamic, Hyper-Curated, Contemporary Art Fair. When you apply to Superfine! DC you are not just entering an art fair but joining a movement, one whose primary objective is to advance sustainability in the art market. Our strategy is designed to equip you with the tools to sell and create new collectors in each and every market. Superfine! is a hyper-curated, contemporary art fair. Superfine! requires a $40 non-refundable application fee along with all application. The fair will run October 31– November 4.To learn more and to apply, visit the Superfine DC website.
10th Annual Juried Show (VA)
Deadline: September 21. Riverviews Artspace announces a call to artists for a juried art exhibition, from November 2nd through December 14th, 2018 at the Craddock-Terry Gallery in Lynchburg, VA. Juror: Terence Washington. All artists that live in the United States can enter. Artwork can be any media (2D and 3D) and any subject matter.For more information, visitRiverviews Artspace website.
Rochester Arts Gallery “Family Photographs” (NY)
Deadline: September 23. Flower City Arts Center is seeking original photographic work exploring the idea of a family photograph. Unlike any other medium before it, photography allows us to capture the exact likeness of our loved ones. For this exhibition, juror Sara Macel is interested in seeing photo-based work by artists that explores the ideas of family, memory, intimacy, or domesticity through the use of contemporary and/or archival photography. Best of Show receives $500 award. For more information and to submit, visit the Rochester Arts Gallery website.
The Cup, The Mug 2018 (NY)
Deadline: September 24. Main Street Arts is now accepting submissions to our 3rd annual The Cup, The Mug exhibition. This national juried exhibition is open to all U.S. artists working in ceramics, glass, wood, or metal. Submissions must be cups, mugs, or other drinking vessels. 2018 Jurors: Ceramic artists Jenny Mendes and Melissa Weiss. For more information and to submit, visit the Main Street Art Gallery website.
New prize for women painters
Deadline: September 28. The recently announced Bennett Prize will spotlight women artists who paint in the figurative realist style, and who have not yet reached full professional recognition – both new artists and those who have painted for many years.
The Pittsburgh Foundation & Muskegon Museum of Art: The Bennett Prize (PA)
Deadline: September 28. The Pittsburgh Foundation & The Muskegon Museum of Art (MMA) in Muskegon, MI announce a call to artists for The Bennett Prize. Open only to (living) women artists who: Are eighteen 18+, reside in the United States (at least part of the year), and will submit work that does not have to cross an international border to reach Muskegon Museum of Art. Artists must have primary practice as the creation of original paintings in the genre of figurative realism, and be currently pursuing, or intend to pursue, a career as a full-time painter and will not be a student during The Prize residency. All entries must be traditional paintings, which is defined as paint upon a two-dimensional surface. Only original works completed in the past 5 years are eligible. $50 entry fee. For more information, visitThe Bennett Prize website.
32nd annual Materials: Hard + Soft International Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition (TX)
Deadline: September 30. The Greater Denton Arts Council proudly presents the 32nd annual Materials: Hard + Soft International Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition. Recognized as one of the premier craft exhibitions in the country, Materials: Hard + Soft began in 1987 and was originally initiated by area artist Georgia Leach Gough. The exhibition celebrates the evolving field of contemporary craft and the remarkable creativity and innovation of artists who push the boundaries of their chosen media. Approximately 70 works will be selected by juror Janet McCall, Executive Director of the Contemporary Craft, for exhibition at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center in Denton, Texas.
The Torpedo Factory – Target Gallery: 2019 Emerging Artists (VA)
Deadline: September 30. Target Gallery presents its annual exhibition featuring the work of three to four regional emerging artists. This exhibition spotlights new talent and the up-and-coming artistic innovators of the DC metropolitan area. Artists should have no more than five years of experience as a professional exhibiting artist, live within DC, Maryland, or Virginia, and have never had an solo exhibition in a professional gallery space (excluding BFA/MFA exhibitions). Each artist will receive a $500 stipend. To learn more (view prospectus) and apply, visit the Torpedo Factory website.
Howard County Arts Council (HCAC) Gallery Call for Entries (MD)
Deadline: October 1. The HCAC Exhibits Committee meets quarterly to review applications and select artists for exhibit space. Artists, ages 18 and older, working in all media and styles, including time-based and installation artists, are encouraged to apply either individually or as a group. The Committee also welcomes proposals from curators and organizations. Detailed entry guidelines available here, the next deadline for submission is October 1.
2019 Post Graduation Residency Program (VA)
Deadline: October 7. Jurors: Nicole Dowd, program director of Halcyon Arts Lab and Leslie Holt, DC-based artist and co-director of Red Dirt Studios. The Torpedo Factory Post-Grad Residency is a competitive juried program that provides meaningful support and three-month term solo studio space. This residency is open to recently-graduated students who earned a bachelor’s or master’s art degree from an accredited university. The program is unique for addressing the critical post-graduation juncture in an emerging artist’s career, offering an opportunity for professional development, and a chance to define their independent work process outside of the academic context. Submissions are open for both art school students in the region and nationwide, provided nationwide artists submit proof of their permanent residence in the area and/or commitment of contributing to the ongoing future of the DC/Maryland/Virginia arts scene. Please read and review Guidelines before applying.
The Chelsea International Photography Competition (NY)
Deadline: October 9. The Chelsea International Photography Competition opens August 21, 2018. With a fierce dedication to promoting the arts and discovering and exposing new talent, the CIPC will honor selected artists with an exhibition at Agora Gallery, providing invaluable exposure to promote career growth and boost recognition. Competition awards are valued at over $55,000 and designed specifically to support Agora’s mission: to promote extraordinary and innovative art in the modern world, and enhance the careers of the selected artists. Visit theAgora Gallery website to enter.
Small Works 2018 (NY)
Deadline: October 8. Main Street Arts is now accepting submissions to our 5th annual Small Works exhibition. This national juried exhibition of small artwork (12 inches or smaller in any direction) is open to artists working in all media excluding video/sound and installation art. For more information and to submit, visit the Main Street Art Gallery website.
Function: An exhibition of Contemporary Craft (GA)
Deadline: October 15. The Gallery at Sulfur Studios invites artists working in traditional craft media (ceramic, fibers, glass, metals, paper, and/or wood) to submit work to their fall juried exhibition, “Function”. Artists are encouraged to push the boundaries of what “functional” means, and work that is conceptual or satirical will be considered alongside more traditional craft forms. Visit www.sulfurstudios.org/function for more information and application instructions. Email [email protected] with any questions.
Call for Entries: Juried Exhibition Winter 2019 at Blue Mountain Gallery (NY)
Deadline: October 15. Blue Mountain Gallery invites mid-career and established artists to submit work for its 7th Bi-annual Juried Exhibition on January 2—26, 2019. The gallery’s exhibitions are frequently reviewed in both the New York and national press. Juror, Elisa Jensen, an American painter who currently teaches at the New York Studio School, exhibits widely in the US and Denmark and curates exhibitions. Entry forms must be completed and submitted online only. To apply, visit the Blue Mountain Gallery website. The prospectus can be found here.
VisArts In(Site) Project Gallery—Call for Video, Sound Art, and New Media (MD)
Deadline: October 15. “Frame & Frequency 4, Vol. 2” is an ongoing International Video and Sound Art Exchange program presented concurrently at VisArts in our In(Site) Project Gallery in Rockville, MD and at PLECTO Galeria in Medellín, Colombia, opening October 26, 2018. Video, sound art (up to eight channels), film, and new media work will be accepted, including: experimental, documentary, animation, narrative, non-narrative, multimedia, virtual reality, augmented reality, net art, interactive media, etc. All foreign language moving image artworks must have English subtitles. For more information, and to submit visit the VisArts website.
Blue Mountain Gallery 7th Biannual Juried Exhibition Winter 2019 (NY)
Deadline: October 15. Blue Mountain Gallery, in the Chelsea District of New York City, invites emerging, mid-career, and established artist to submit work for it’s 7th Biannual Juried Exhibition. Open to all artists 18+ of age, living in the USA. Two-dimensional media accepted: original oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolors, prints, drawings, and mixed media. The fee is $40 for one to three works, $5 for each additional work, up to six works total. Additional submission requirements on the Winter 2019 Juried Exhibition site, and prospectus here.
Introductions 2019 (NY)
Deadline: October 31. “Introductions” is an annual open call hosted by Trestle Gallery. In support of their 2019 exhibition theme & focus, all applicants to 2019’s open call will be considered for a solo exhibition at Trestle Gallery. The only qualification is that artists may not have participated in a show at the Trestle Gallery before (previous open calls count, member salons do not count). The exhibit will be curated by Jason Andrew, an independent scholar, curator, and producer. A prominent figure in the Bushwick, Brooklyn art scene, Mr. Andrew is the co-founder and director of Norte Maar, a non-profit now celebrating its 10th anniversary encouraging, promoting, and presenting collaborative projects in the arts. To learn more and apply, visit the Trestle Gallery website.
Call for Writing Submissions: Beyond Beautiful (MD)
Deadline: November 1. Maryland Art Place (MAP) is seeking writing submissions, love letters of all types, on behalf of “The One Thousand Love Letters Project” and the exhibition “Beyond Beautiful, created and curated by artist Peter Bruun. This exhibition is slated to open January 17, 2019 at Maryland Art Place, with a partner site for the exhibition located at Area 405. Beyond Beautiful focuses on eight topics –information and guidelines here. Peter Bruun, both curator and artist, will use these love letters to create 1,000 artistic responses to be displayed in the exhibition at MAP and Area 405. To date, Bruun has created over 600 drawings using excerpts from participant’s letters to contribute to “The One Thousand Love Letters Project.” Letters do not need to be submitted based on the listed topics and can be submitted digitally or physically.
Women Artists Call — Pen and Brush Solo Exhibit (NY)
Deadline: December 31. Long-established contemporary art gallery and nonprofit seeking talented professional female artists for various opportunities. These opportunities include, but are in no way limited to: a solo exhibition in our ground floor space on 22nd street, group exhibition opportunities, inclusion in exhibition catalogues written by art historians and curators, and opportunities to expose work to influential curators. All work submitted must be contemporary art, submitted work must be complete, to be considered work must meet standards of quality, every work in a submission must be for sale. Artists must meet professional standards of composition and presentation of their work. To apply and learn more about this opportunity, visit the Pen and Brush website.
Spark Box Studio Dawson Residency Award and Bursary (Canada)
Deadline: March 1, 2019. This award is open to residents of North America. Spark Box Studio is accepting applications from emerging, mid-career, and established artists. One artist will receive a month-long residency at our studio in Prince Edward County, plus the $1,000 Dawson bursary. The selected applicant will be granted a semi-private studio space and be given access to the Spark Box Studio equipment and resources. As well, the winner will be provided with living accommodations for their month-long stay. We support a range of disciplines including; drawers, illustrators, painters, writers, printmakers, film makers, performance artists, multidisciplinary artists, curators, book makers, musicians and photographers (digital)
Ongoing:
The Awesome Foundation Accepting Applications for Art Projects
Deadline: Open. The Awesome Foundation for the Arts and Sciences is a worldwide network of people devoted to forwarding the interest of “awesomeness in the universe.” Established in 2009, the foundation distributes $1,000 grants on a monthly basis to projects and their creators. The money is pooled from ten or more self-organizing “micro-trustees.” The chapters are autonomous and organized by the trustees around geographic areas or topics of interest. Apply on the Awesome Foundation website.
Call for Artists: Maryland Art Place Seeks Proposals for Rotating Exhibition Partnership with Baltimore’s Hotel Indigo (MD)
Deadline: rolling. Maryland Art Place (MAP), in partnership with Hotel Indigo is pleased to announce an open ‘Call to Artists’. As an extension of MAP’s annual IMPACT public art partnership projects, MAP is working with Hotel Indigo to offer rotating exhibitions in Hotel indigo’s library and Poets Modern Cocktails and Eats. This opportunity is available to visual artists living or working in Maryland. Maryland Art Place will curate four exhibitions a year based on submissions entered through a rolling basis. Guidelines and information here.
Exhibit at Hotel Indigo (VA)
Artists works will displayed in the hotel’s gallery (220 S Union St, Old Town Alexandria) for a six-month period. Two-dimensional, framed works only. Artists will install the work using the hotel’s mounting hardware. Labels will be provided by the hotel. All sales handled by artist, no commission. Preference for local or locally influenced selections but not required. The space measures approximately 7’10” by 8’3.″ If interested, contact Kate Ellis, General Manager, [email protected].
The New Project Studio – Ongoing Opportunity (VA)
Ongoing. Located in Studio 8, the New Project Studio is a community-focused arts incubator space that offers a short-term location to test new program ideas, spotlight underrepresented voices, and enhance community engagement. Projects rotate on a regular basis. For more information, click here.
Public Arts Grants & Opportunities (VA)
Ongoing. The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts provides grants for nonprofit arts organizations as well as individual artists. See all current opportunities and online applications here.
NYC volunteer opportunity (NY)
Introduce NYC school children to the world of art by giving tours at The MET Museum. Volunteer in this year-round program. Visit us at awnyc.org for more information.
Residency: Maryland
Deadline: ongoing. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its Artist-in-Residence Program, encouraging proposals that cultivate collaborative work between artists and students.
Looking for artists: Foundry Gallery (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.
Looking for artists: Printmakers (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Washington Printmakers Gallery is seeking artist members specializing in printmaking, photography and book arts. An active cooperative for over 30 years, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows in its lovely space in upper Georgetown. Distant and shared memberships are available. If interested in applying for membership please email [email protected].
Looking for artists: Multiple Exposures Gallery (VA)
The Art League Blog is taking a trip down memory lane and reposting some of our most popular resources. Please enjoy this post from the vault, originally published January 16, 2018.
If you’ve just started a painting class for the first time (or if you’re refreshing your skills) — congratulations! There are few things as rewarding as learning a whole new way to express yourself.
That said, jumping into an art form with such a long history can be overwhelming, too. That’s why we made these guides to the different types of paintbrushes and how to read a tube of paint.
Read on for a crash course and links to more info. And best of luck on your creative journey!
Other tips & resources: paintbrushes
The quality of hair and the manufacture process make a big difference in how a brush holds and distributes paint, and how it retains its shape and spring.
Try starting with just a few brushes, then invest in different sizes, shapes, and styles as you learn what you need.
Always feel free to ask at The Art League Store if you need help selecting the right brush for the job. Our supply store is staffed by working artists.
About pigments: Different manufacturers have different “common” names for paints that use the same pigment. For example, Winsor & Newton’s “Winsor Lemon,” Golden’s “Hansa Yellow Light,” and Williamsburg’s “Permanent Yellow Light” all use PY3: Arylide Yellow, but you wouldn’t know that unless you peeked at the back of the label.
About lightfastness: Lightfastness lets you know how permanent (or archival) the paint will be: will the color look the same in a few years or does it lose its vibrancy or shift hues after periods of exposure to light or heat? The manufacturer has tested it for you so you don’t have a nasty surprise years down the road.
About series numbers: The higher the number (or letter), the higher the price. Why are some paints more expensive than others? It’s all about the pigments, which might be from organic sources or manufactured synthetically, and how much they cost the manufacturer.
Of course, these are just the basics — different products have many variables that may or may not be on the label, like opacity and transparency, how thick or thin the paint is (viscosity), and drying time.
Did you find these guides useful? There are lots more artful resources in our archive.
Deadline: September 13. Exhibition Dates: November 5—November 25, 2018. Dacia Gallery invites emerging and established artists to submit artwork for an opportunity to have a Solo Exhibition at Dacia Gallery in NYC. We are actively searching for new talented artists in all media and styles to work with, exhibit and represent. If you are looking for gallery representation and to have a Solo Exhibition in New York City, submit your art that we may discover your compelling work and present it to the public, gallery directors, curators and collectors. For more info, and to apply visit the Dacia Gallery website.
The Art of New York: Annual Juried Art Show (NY)
Deadline: September 14. The Arkell Museum & Canajoharie Library announces a call to artists for a juried art exhibition, November 2—December 30, 2018 in Canajoharie, NY. $900 total for Best in Show, 2 Juror’s Choice, and 2 Awards of Excellence. Juror: Corey Pitkin. Artists living in New York State are invited to submit entries in any medium. For more info, visit the Arkell Museum website.
Craft Forms 2018 (PA)
Deadline: September 18. The Wayne Art Center in Wayne, PA seeks entries for Craft Forms, December 7, 2018—January 26, 2019. $8,000+ in awards. Juror: Perry Allen Price. Open to all professional artists working in clay, fiber, quilt, glass, metal, jewelry, wood, 3D printing, and/or mixed media crafts. Work submitted must be innovative and original in design. Work derivative of other artists or work created in a workshop with the aid of an instructor is not acceptable. Works submitted must have been completed after January 1, 2016. If the work was accepted into a previous Craft Forms exhibition, the work cannot be re-submitted for this or future Craft Forms. For more information, visit the Craft Forms website.
10th Annual Juried Show (VA)
Deadline: September 21. Riverviews Artspace announces a call to artists for a juried art exhibition, from November 2nd through December 14th, 2018 at the Craddock-Terry Gallery in Lynchburg, VA. Juror: Terence Washington. All artists that live in the United States can enter. Artwork can be any media (2D and 3D) and any subject matter.For more information, visit Riverviews Artspace website.
The Pittsburgh Foundation & Muskegon Museum of Art: The Bennett Prize (PA)
Deadline: September 28. The Pittsburgh Foundation & The Muskegon Museum of Art (MMA) in Muskegon, MI announce a call to artists for The Bennett Prize. Open only to (living) women artists who: Are eighteen 18+, reside in the United States (at least part of the year), and will submit work that does not have to cross an international border to reach Muskegon Museum of Art. Artists must have primary practice as the creation of original paintings in the genre of figurative realism, and be currently pursuing, or intend to pursue, a career as a full-time painter and will not be a student during The Prize residency. All entries must be traditional paintings, which is defined as paint upon a two-dimensional surface. Only original works completed in the past 5 years are eligible. $50 entry fee. For more information, visit The Bennett Prize website.
The Chelsea International Photography Competition (NY)
Deadline: October 9. The Chelsea International Photography Competition opens August 21, 2018. With a fierce dedication to promoting the arts and discovering and exposing new talent, the CIPC will honor selected artists with an exhibition at Agora Gallery, providing invaluable exposure to promote career growth and boost recognition. Competition awards are valued at over $55,000 and designed specifically to support Agora’s mission: to promote extraordinary and innovative art in the modern world, and enhance the careers of the selected artists. Visit the Agora Gallery website to enter.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
Woven Tale Press Photography Competition (NY)
Submissions open July 15–September 15. Open to film, digital, Polaroid, photo collage, any photographic form. Can include mixed media, as long as the origin of the work is photographic. Cash prizes, first place award, one-week stay in expanded 1909 charming cape in the legendary Hamptons, NY, destination to artists from around the world; home to the Pollock-Krasner House, Parrish Art Museum, contemporary art galleries; accommodations for two; one block to NYC train, Atlantic ocean beach,and town; full amenities; flexible bookings. More information here.
City of Takoma Park Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Art Wrap Project (MD)
Deadline: September 12. TheCity of Takoma Park invites artists to design a mural to be used as vinyl wraps for two electric vehicle charging stations as part of the City’s ongoing efforts to promote public art. Both charging stations are owned by the City of Takoma Park and are located on public property or in the public right-of-way. Applicants do not need to be residents of Takoma Park. For more information and to apply, visit theCity of Takoma Park website.
The Center for Contemporary Art 2018 International Juried Exhibition (NJ)
Deadline: September 16. The Center for Contemporary Art’s annual International Juried Exhibition celebrates contemporary art by both established and emerging artists. The Center for Contemporary Art (“The Center”) is a vibrant regional non-profit art center with studio art classes, a summer art camp, rotating exhibitions and community outreach programs. Juror Midori Yoshimoto, Ph.D., will select work for inclusion in the exhibit and for three cash prizes. The Center’s Exhibitions Committee will review the body of work of each artists selected and choose one for a solo exhibit in 2019. Please check out The Center’s website for more details.
Crafty Bastards Craft Festival 2018 (DC)
Deadline: September 14. The Craft Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair will be held at the Capitol Riverfront in southeast DC from October-October 28. The outdoor fair will be held under its signature tents this year in Lot A at The Yards Park (near the Nationals Baseball Stadium in Washington, DC) Artists wanting to participate in this year’s festival can submit an application via theCrafty Bastards Craft Festival website.
Travel the World with AFAR & United
Deadline: September 18. Apply for the first-ever AFAR Travel Photography Awards, which highlight the diverse and creative ways in which photographers are celebrating the world. Since its launch in 2009, AFAR has been recognized for its vibrant and authentic travel photography. Winners will receive international exposure, publication in AFAR, cash awards, free business class air, and more. Choose from: the photo series category, the five photo series category, or a single photo category. To apply and learn more, visit theLens Culture website.
Superfine DC – The Art Fair (DC)
Deadline: September 19. The District’s First (and only) Accessible, Dynamic, Hyper-Curated, Contemporary Art Fair. When you apply to Superfine! DC you are not just entering an art fair but joining a movement, one whose primary objective is to advance sustainability in the art market. Our strategy is designed to equip you with the tools to sell and create new collectors in each and every market. Superfine! is a hyper-curated, contemporary art fair. Superfine! requires a $40 non-refundable application fee along with all application. The fair will run October 31– November 4.To learn more and to apply, visit the Superfine DC website.
Rochester Arts Gallery “Family Photographs” (NY)
Deadline: September 23. Flower City Arts Center is seeking original photographic work exploring the idea of a family photograph. Unlike any other medium before it, photography allows us to capture the exact likeness of our loved ones. For this exhibition, jurorSara Macel is interested in seeing photo-based work by artists that explores the ideas of family, memory, intimacy, or domesticity through the use of contemporary and/or archival photography. Best of Show receives $500 award. For more information and to submit, visit theRochester Arts Gallery website.
The Cup, The Mug 2018 (NY)
Deadline: September 24. Main Street Arts is now accepting submissions to our 3rd annual The Cup, The Mug exhibition. This national juried exhibition is open to all U.S. artists working in ceramics, glass, wood, or metal. Submissions must be cups, mugs, or other drinking vessels. 2018 Jurors: Ceramic artists Jenny Mendes and Melissa Weiss. For more information and to submit, visit the Main Street Art Gallery website.
New prize for women painters
Deadline: September 28. The recently announced Bennett Prize will spotlight women artists who paint in the figurative realist style, and who have not yet reached full professional recognition – both new artists and those who have painted for many years.
32nd annual Materials: Hard + Soft International Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition (TX)
Deadline: September 30. The Greater Denton Arts Council proudly presents the 32nd annual Materials: Hard + Soft International Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition. Recognized as one of the premier craft exhibitions in the country, Materials: Hard + Soft began in 1987 and was originally initiated by area artist Georgia Leach Gough. The exhibition celebrates the evolving field of contemporary craft and the remarkable creativity and innovation of artists who push the boundaries of their chosen media. Approximately 70 works will be selected by juror Janet McCall, Executive Director of the Contemporary Craft, for exhibition at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center in Denton, Texas.
The Torpedo Factory – Target Gallery: 2019 Emerging Artists (VA)
Deadline: September 30. Target Gallery presents its annual exhibition featuring the work of three to four regional emerging artists. This exhibition spotlights new talent and the up-and-coming artistic innovators of the DC metropolitan area. Artists should have no more than five years of experience as a professional exhibiting artist, live within DC, Maryland, or Virginia, and have never had an solo exhibition in a professional gallery space (excluding BFA/MFA exhibitions). Each artist will receive a $500 stipend. To learn more (view prospectus) and apply, visit the Torpedo Factory website.
Howard County Arts Council (HCAC) Gallery Call for Entries (MD)
Deadline: October 1. The HCAC Exhibits Committee meets quarterly to review applications and select artists for exhibit space. Artists, ages 18 and older, working in all media and styles, including time-based and installation artists, are encouraged to apply either individually or as a group. The Committee also welcomes proposals from curators and organizations. Detailed entry guidelines available here, the next deadline for submission is October 1.
2019 Post Graduation Residency Program (VA)
Deadline: October 7. Jurors: Nicole Dowd, program director of Halcyon Arts Lab and Leslie Holt, DC-based artist and co-director of Red Dirt Studios. The Torpedo Factory Post-Grad Residency is a competitive juried program that provides meaningful support and three-month term solo studio space. This residency is open to recently-graduated students who earned a bachelor’s or master’s art degree from an accredited university. The program is unique for addressing the critical post-graduation juncture in an emerging artist’s career, offering an opportunity for professional development, and a chance to define their independent work process outside of the academic context. Submissions are open for both art school students in the region and nationwide, provided nationwide artists submit proof of their permanent residence in the area and/or commitment of contributing to the ongoing future of the DC/Maryland/Virginia arts scene. Please read and review Guidelines before applying.
Small Works 2018 (NY)
Deadline: October 8. Main Street Arts is now accepting submissions to our 5th annual Small Works exhibition. This national juried exhibition of small artwork (12 inches or smaller in any direction) is open to artists working in all media excluding video/sound and installation art. For more information and to submit, visit the Main Street Art Gallery website.
Function: An exhibition of Contemporary Craft (GA)
Deadline: October 15. The Gallery at Sulfur Studios invites artists working in traditional craft media (ceramic, fibers, glass, metals, paper, and/or wood) to submit work to their fall juried exhibition, “Function”. Artists are encouraged to push the boundaries of what “functional” means, and work that is conceptual or satirical will be considered alongside more traditional craft forms. Visit www.sulfurstudios.org/function for more information and application instructions. Email [email protected] with any questions.
Call for Entries: Juried Exhibition Winter 2019 at Blue Mountain Gallery (NY)
Deadline: October 15. Blue Mountain Gallery invites mid-career and established artists to submit work for its 7th Bi-annual Juried Exhibition on January 2—26, 2019. The gallery’s exhibitions are frequently reviewed in both the New York and national press. Juror, Elisa Jensen, an American painter who currently teaches at the New York Studio School, exhibits widely in the US and Denmark and curates exhibitions. Entry forms must be completed and submitted online only. To apply, visit theBlue Mountain Gallery website. The prospectus can be foundhere.
VisArts In(Site) Project Gallery—Call for Video, Sound Art, and New Media (MD)
Deadline: October 15. “Frame & Frequency 4, Vol. 2” is an ongoing International Video and Sound Art Exchange program presented concurrently at VisArts in our In(Site) Project Gallery in Rockville, MD and at PLECTO Galeria in Medellín, Colombia, opening October 26, 2018. Video, sound art (up to eight channels), film, and new media work will be accepted, including: experimental, documentary, animation, narrative, non-narrative, multimedia, virtual reality, augmented reality, net art, interactive media, etc. All foreign language moving image artworks must have English subtitles. For more information, and to submit visit theVisArts website.
Blue Mountain Gallery 7th Biannual Juried Exhibition Winter 2019 (NY)
Deadline: October 15. Blue Mountain Gallery, in the Chelsea District of New York City, invites emerging, mid-career, and established artist to submit work for it’s 7th Biannual Juried Exhibition. Open to all artists 18+ of age, living in the USA. Two-dimensional media accepted: original oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolors, prints, drawings, and mixed media. The fee is $40 for one to three works, $5 for each additional work, up to six works total. Additional submission requirements on theWinter 2019 Juried Exhibition site, andprospectus here.
Introductions 2019 (NY)
Deadline: October 31. “Introductions” is an annual open call hosted by Trestle Gallery. In support of their 2019 exhibition theme & focus, all applicants to 2019’s open call will be considered for a solo exhibition at Trestle Gallery. The only qualification is that artists may not have participated in a show at the Trestle Gallery before (previous open calls count, member salons do not count). The exhibit will be curated by Jason Andrew, an independent scholar, curator, and producer. A prominent figure in the Bushwick, Brooklyn art scene, Mr. Andrew is the co-founder and director of Norte Maar, a non-profit now celebrating its 10th anniversary encouraging, promoting, and presenting collaborative projects in the arts. To learn more and apply, visit theTrestle Gallery website.
Call for Writing Submissions: Beyond Beautiful (MD)
Deadline: November 1. Maryland Art Place (MAP) is seeking writing submissions, love letters of all types, on behalf of “The One Thousand Love Letters Project” and the exhibition “Beyond Beautiful, created and curated by artist Peter Bruun. This exhibition is slated to open January 17, 2019 at Maryland Art Place, with a partner site for the exhibition located at Area 405. Beyond Beautiful focuses on eight topics –information and guidelines here. Peter Bruun, both curator and artist, will use these love letters to create 1,000 artistic responses to be displayed in the exhibition at MAP and Area 405. To date, Bruun has created over 600 drawings using excerpts from participant’s letters to contribute to “The One Thousand Love Letters Project.” Letters do not need to be submitted based on the listed topics and can be submitted digitally or physically.
Women Artists Call — Pen and Brush Solo Exhibit (NY)
Deadline: December 31. Long-established contemporary art gallery and nonprofit seeking talented professional female artists for various opportunities. These opportunities include, but are in no way limited to: a solo exhibition in our ground floor space on 22nd street, group exhibition opportunities, inclusion in exhibition catalogues written by art historians and curators, and opportunities to expose work to influential curators. All work submitted must be contemporary art, submitted work must be complete, to be considered work must meet standards of quality, every work in a submission must be for sale. Artists must meet professional standards of composition and presentation of their work. To apply and learn more about this opportunity, visit thePen and Brush website.
Spark Box Studio Dawson Residency Award and Bursary (Canada)
Deadline: March 1, 2019. This award is open to residents of North America. Spark Box Studio is accepting applications from emerging, mid-career, and established artists. One artist will receive a month-long residency at our studio in Prince Edward County, plus the $1,000 Dawson bursary. The selected applicant will be granted a semi-private studio space and be given access to the Spark Box Studio equipment and resources. As well, the winner will be provided with living accommodations for their month-long stay. We support a range of disciplines including; drawers, illustrators, painters, writers, printmakers, film makers, performance artists, multidisciplinary artists, curators, book makers, musicians and photographers (digital)
Ongoing:
The Awesome Foundation Accepting Applications for Art Projects
Deadline: Open. The Awesome Foundation for the Arts and Sciences is a worldwide network of people devoted to forwarding the interest of “awesomeness in the universe.” Established in 2009, the foundation distributes $1,000 grants on a monthly basis to projects and their creators. The money is pooled from ten or more self-organizing “micro-trustees.” The chapters are autonomous and organized by the trustees around geographic areas or topics of interest. Apply on the Awesome Foundation website.
Call for Artists: Maryland Art Place Seeks Proposals for Rotating Exhibition Partnership with Baltimore’s Hotel Indigo (MD)
Deadline: rolling. Maryland Art Place (MAP), in partnership with Hotel Indigo is pleased to announce an open ‘Call to Artists’. As an extension of MAP’s annual IMPACT public art partnership projects, MAP is working with Hotel Indigo to offer rotating exhibitions in Hotel indigo’s library and Poets Modern Cocktails and Eats. This opportunity is available to visual artists living or working in Maryland. Maryland Art Place will curate four exhibitions a year based on submissions entered through a rolling basis. Guidelines and information here.
Exhibit at Hotel Indigo (VA)
Artists works will displayed in the hotel’s gallery (220 S Union St, Old Town Alexandria) for a six-month period. Two-dimensional, framed works only. Artists will install the work using the hotel’s mounting hardware. Labels will be provided by the hotel. All sales handled by artist, no commission. Preference for local or locally influenced selections but not required. The space measures approximately 7’10” by 8’3.″ If interested, contact Kate Ellis, General Manager, [email protected].
The New Project Studio – Ongoing Opportunity (VA)
Ongoing. Located in Studio 8, the New Project Studio is a community-focused arts incubator space that offers a short-term location to test new program ideas, spotlight underrepresented voices, and enhance community engagement. Projects rotate on a regular basis. For more information, click here.
Public Arts Grants & Opportunities (VA)
Ongoing. The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts provides grants for nonprofit arts organizations as well as individual artists. See all current opportunities and online applications here.
NYC volunteer opportunity (NY)
Introduce NYC school children to the world of art by giving tours at The MET Museum. Volunteer in this year-round program. Visit us at awnyc.org for more information.
Residency: Maryland
Deadline: ongoing. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its Artist-in-Residence Program, encouraging proposals that cultivate collaborative work between artists and students.
Looking for artists: Foundry Gallery (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.
Looking for artists: Printmakers (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Washington Printmakers Gallery is seeking artist members specializing in printmaking, photography and book arts. An active cooperative for over 30 years, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows in its lovely space in upper Georgetown. Distant and shared memberships are available. If interested in applying for membership please email [email protected].
Looking for artists: Multiple Exposures Gallery (VA)
This fall The Art League will be focusing on self-portraiture. Whether you are an Exhibiting Artist, planning your entry for the October Self Portrait show, or a potential student looking to explore self-portraiture in your own practice, this post is for you!
September 12—14 Art League instructor Tania Karpowitz will be teaching “The Self Portrait” workshop. The Art League asked her a few questions about the workshop, as well as for some tips on entering the October Self Portrait exhibit.
Mountain Head by Tania Karpowitz
Artist and Art League instructor Tania Karpowitz, whose work has been exhibited in New York, Madrid, DC, Boston, and is currently in the permanent collection of the Borowsky Gallery in Philadelphia is a seasoned self-portrait painter, and will also be teaching “The Self Portrait” workshop on September 12—14. The Art League asked her a few questions about the workshop, as well as for some tips on entering the October Self Portrait exhibit.
“I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best.” – Frida Kahlo
As an artist, why do you make self-portraits?
As a young person, I needed to look at myself to ask important questions. I wanted to SEE how my face reacted to the feelings evoked by such questions.
As I get older, I go to self-portraiture images as a way to transition into new places artistically. I know myself well and don’t care how I look in a painting , so I am free to tell a story and take an account of where I am.
When painting or drawing yourself, is it hard to see yourself objectively?
Once when I was lecturing on Rembrandt’s Self Portraits ( he made 64 in his lifetime), a student once remarked that one didn’t look like him. How did she know?! More importantly, who cares?! It is a painting, telling a story.
Sky Head by Tania Karpowitz
How do costume and gesture play a part in the self-portrait?
They both play a huge role in storytelling. Costume tells about wealth, position, culture. In fact, that is what made me start painting nudes. A nude is a man or woman in their humanity. It is universal. A costume is very significant and so is the decision to jettison the costume altogether.
Gesture is critical in a still image. One body can have different gestures, creating tension and drama. I love that moment in a painting. Light (or darkness), space (specific or non-specific), and objects also add to a self-portrait.
Wind by Tania Karpowitz
Does a self portrait have to be a rendering of your face?
No. I think all paintings, in part, are self-portraits. As my brother once said, while posing for me, “It may be my face, but it expresses your mood.”
Artwork by Tania Karpowitz
Are there any artists whose self-portraits you are particularly inspired by?
Rembrandt is the self-portrait painter I always return to, because of the number and quality [of his works]. He tells the story of his life through [his] paintings. His young insecurity turned into arrogance and success, [followed by, later] acquisitions and wealth. Then in a turn of events… losses and suffering; until he was left deeply sad, alone and poor. I have made a deep friendship with him through his paintings. I am grateful for what he left us, even though he died without anyone caring for him or his work.
You will be teaching a Self-Portrait workshop September 12—14. What can potential students hope to get from the course?
I hope students will work through different compositions and expressions in order to find a place that surprises them.
Artwork by Tania Karpowitz
The Gallery will be having a Self-Portrait exhibit in October. What advice would you give our exhibiting artists as they prepare?
Take risks and experiment. Try things that take you in a direction where you can’t predict the outcome.
Be sure to register for Tania’s Self-Portrait workshop coming up September 12—14, and remember that the last day to submit to the October Self-Portrait exhibit is September 15.
After years of trying to prevent rust in his steel sculptures, artist Brian Kirk now welcomes the beauty and complexity of oxidation as an art in and of itself.
But how does Kirk create these haunting compositions? Imagine the marks on your bathtub or sink when you leave something metal there for so long that it starts to rust in the soapy residue and leaves an ochre shadow…Kirk’s process takes that everyday phenomenon and stretches it to a monumental scale to make his rust imprints, finding art in the unpredictability of corrosion. Kirk remarks that “this process is unpredictable—and that’s what makes it interesting to me.”
Brian Kirk: Natural Reaction
Sandwiched between two sheets of thick watercolor paper or linen, flat metal objects (like keys, metal sculptures, or wire) stay submerged, weighted under a marble slab in a bath of soapy water for several months. The result is a rust print that is almost akin to looking through a microscope—swirling particles, bubbles, and inconsistencies resembling organelles of a cell.
Detail of Cyclon II by Brian Kirk
Kirk’s creations aren’t just industrial, they’re also influenced by the natural world. Votive Hand, inspired by a similar mica hand made by the Hopewell Indians, was originally steel, cut with a plasma cutter, before being reborn via Kirk’s oxidation method.
Dancing Moons by Brian Kirk
“Art doesn’t just happen in a vacuum,” says Kirk. “It’s a part of living.”
The Art League Blog is taking a trip down memory lane and reposting some of our most popular resources. Please enjoy this guest post from the vault, originally published September 9, 2016.
The author (in green) poses with her Basic Drawing class and their teacher, Scott Hutchison.
Today’s guest post is by Claire Mouledoux, vice president of communications for Visit Alexandria who is one of Alexandria’s 40 Under 40 honorees and a former member of The Art League Advisory Council.
If you are considering taking a basic drawing class for the first time, I can’t recommend it highly enough.
I took basic drawing with artist and Art League instructor Scott Hutchison and it was a great experience. As someone with a busy career and other life demands, I was feeling depleted creatively. I had taken a drawing course in college and there were other periods in life where I was dedicated to different kinds of crafting. Enrolling in an art class guaranteed I would spend time each week using my hands to make art.
It also allowed me to connect with people of other learning levels — some drawing for the first time and others much more advanced than me. It turned out that the class was not only enriching, it was fulfilling in some ways that I didn’t expect. Here are five things I learned:
All images courtesy Claire Mouledoux
Go with the flow
One of our very first assignments was blind contour drawing, which is essentially looking at an object and drawing it in a continuous line without looking at your paper. As someone who likes to get things just right, it was a great exercise in letting go of my expectations and going with the flow to see what creation emerges.
Sometimes white is shades of gray
One thing I loved about drawing class was that I got to practice making myself let go of preconceived notions of what I think I see. In this case it was a white pyramid on a white tablecloth. How on earth are you supposed to draw white on white? As Scott showed us, when you looked carefully, each surface was a different shade just waiting to be rendered. How often in life do we make quick judgments of things we observe? It’s exhilarating to step away from common perception to see a more nuanced reality.
Shading is meditation
When shading, it was tempting to simply press down hard on my pencil to make a darker mark. Our instructor Scott taught us to shade in layers, building depth and richness gradually. As you can imagine, this takes time — and patience. It’s not easy to step away from the fast-paced demands of life and be completely absorbed in the moment. I found myself going into a state of meditation as I gave in to the process of shading. Not only was it calming, it was satisfying to see the result.
Drawing can raise eyebrows
Scott led a very fun activity in which one 8 ½ × 11 image of a face was cut into a grid of squares and we were each given two of those squares. Without a reference to the full face, the challenge was to represent as closely as possible what you see in that small square frame. Once the drawings were hung together, it was a treat to see that a class friend and I had created two sides of the same eyebrow.
Hands are hard – and you feel like a boss when you begin to master them
Even professional artists say that drawing hands is difficult. But after the coaching and hours of practice that came through the basic drawing course, it was very rewarding to use my new skills to make a drawing that actually looked like hands.
Of course I learned many other things over the course of basic drawing class. I hope you’ll sign up now if you haven’t already – and make your own top five list!
The Center for Contemporary Political Art–”Defining the Art of Change in the Age of Trump” (DC)
Deadline: September 10. This Open Call challenges America’s artists to respond to “The Age of Trump” with Art as powerful as the times are dangerous, to help Americans understand what’s at stake–and why it’s their duty to vote in the November 2018 midterm elections. Because of its scope, timing and institutional backing, The Center is hopeful its first, Defining exhibition will lead to a redefinition of the role artists play in our society; identify the country’s leading practitioners of political art; and demonstrate why political art should be recognized as a valued genre of American art in the 21st Century. For more information about the exhibit, visit the Politics Art US website.
Rochester Arts Gallery “Family Photographs” (NY)
Deadline: September 23. Flower City Arts Center is seeking original photographic work exploring the idea of a family photograph. Unlike any other medium before it, photography allows us to capture the exact likeness of our loved ones. For this exhibition, juror Sara Macel is interested in seeing photo-based work by artists that explores the ideas of family, memory, intimacy, or domesticity through the use of contemporary and/or archival photography. Best of Show receives $500 award. For more information and to submit, visit the Rochester Arts Gallery website.
Call for Entries: Juried Exhibition Winter 2019 at Blue Mountain Gallery (NY)
Deadline: October 15. Blue Mountain Gallery invites mid-career and established artists to submit work for its 7th Bi-annual Juried Exhibition on January 2—26, 2019. The gallery’s exhibitions are frequently reviewed in both the New York and national press. Juror, Elisa Jensen, an American painter who currently teaches at the New York Studio School, exhibits widely in the US and Denmark and curates exhibitions. Entry forms must be completed and submitted online only. To apply, visit the Blue Mountain Gallery website. The prospectus can be found here.
VisArts In(Site) Project Gallery—Call for Video, Sound Art, and New Media (MD)
Deadline: October 15. “Frame & Frequency 4, Vol. 2” is an ongoing International Video and Sound Art Exchange program presented concurrently at VisArts in our In(Site) Project Gallery in Rockville, MD and at PLECTO Galeria in Medellín, Colombia, opening October 26, 2018. Video, sound art (up to eight channels), film, and new media work will be accepted, including: experimental, documentary, animation, narrative, non-narrative, multimedia, virtual reality, augmented reality, net art, interactive media, etc. All foreign language moving image artworks must have English subtitles.For more information, and to submit visit the VisArts website.
Introductions 2019 (NY)
Deadline: October 31. “Introductions” is an annual open call hosted by Trestle Gallery. In support of their 2019 exhibition theme & focus, all applicants to 2019’s open call will be considered for a solo exhibition at Trestle Gallery. The only qualification is that artists may not have participated in a show at the Trestle Gallery before (previous open calls count, member salons do not count). The exhibit will be curated by Jason Andrew, an independent scholar, curator, and producer. A prominent figure in the Bushwick, Brooklyn art scene, Mr. Andrew is the co-founder and director of Norte Maar, a non-profit now celebrating its 10th anniversary encouraging, promoting, and presenting collaborative projects in the arts. To learn more and apply, visit the Trestle Gallery website.
Re-runs: These announcements have been posted here before, but it’s not too late to enter!
Woven Tale Press Photography Competition (NY)
Submissions open July 15–September 15. Open to film, digital, Polaroid, photo collage, any photographic form. Can include mixed media, as long as the origin of the work is photographic. Cash prizes, first place award, one-week stay in expanded 1909 charming cape in the legendary Hamptons, NY, destination to artists from around the world; home to the Pollock-Krasner House, Parrish Art Museum, contemporary art galleries; accommodations for two; one block to NYC train, Atlantic ocean beach,and town; full amenities; flexible bookings. More information here.
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Accepting Applications for USArtists International Grant Program
Deadline: September 7. Administered by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, the USArtists International program supports performances by American artists at important cultural festivals and arts marketplaces around the globe. USAI encourages and promotes the vibrant diversity of American artists and creative expression in the performing arts by expanding opportunity and exposure to international audiences, encouraging international cultural exchange, and enhancing the creative and professional development of US-based artists. To that end, grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded to American dance, music, and theater ensembles and solo performers that have been invited to perform at international festivals, and/or for performance engagements that represent extraordinary career opportunities anywhere in the world outside the U.S. To apply, visit the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation RFP website.
The Torpedo Factory Art Center – Seasonal Art Installations (VA)
Deadline: September 7. The Torpedo Factory Art Center invites artists and artist teams residing in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, to submit proposals for the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s temporary art installations to activate the building’s main spaces during the fall. The exhibit will be juried by Elsabé Dixon, and will take place October 5th–November 26. Artwork is encouraged but not limited to involve themes related to fall/autumn, folklore (such as Dia de los Muertos or All Hallow’s Eve), or Alexandria’s naval history. These themes will correspond to different programming that will be happening in the Art Center for the duration of the exhibition. To learn more and apply, visit the Torpedo Factory website.
The 37th Annual Smithsonian Craft Show 2019 — National Building Museum (DC)
Deadlines: September 7. Late Deadlines: September 8 – September 21.The Smithsonian Craft Show is a prestigious juried exhibition and sale of contemporary American craft in art and design held annually in Washington, DC. Three jurors who are experts in the field and newly selected each year choose 120 artists from a large pool of applicants. Artists are selected on the basis of the originality, artistic conception, and quality of their work. The show is produced by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee. Proceeds from the Show fund grants that benefit the Smithsonian’s education, outreach, research, and conservation programs. ACCEPTABLE MEDIA CATEGORIES: Basketry, ceramics, decorative fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper, wearable art, and wood. Learn more about this opportunity here.
Call for Solo & Group Exhibition Proposals (OH)
Deadline: September 7. The Fitton Center for Creative Arts, a community art center in Hamilton, Ohio, is accepting proposals in all visual art media for solo and group exhibitions for the 2019-2020 schedule. We also offer group shows of existing guilds or alliances and to individuals willing to be selected into a curated group show. A completed Online Submission Form that includes file uploads of 150-word Artist Statement, 150-word Presentation Statement, CV, 10 artwork JPEGS with corresponding Image List and $25 non-refundable fee are required for gallery proposals. Get full requirements and submit your proposal online at the Fitton Center website.
Enter RITUALISMS at the Target Gallery (VA)
Deadline: September 9. Exhibition Dates: January 19–March 3, 2019. Juror: Katy Scarlett, independent curator. The Target Gallery invites artists working in all visual media to submit toRITUALISMS, a group exhibition that explores how rituals are an intrinsic part of the human experience. Whether it be through personal rituals, such as daily habits or quirks, or through a larger cultural context, such as religious or cultural ceremonies, the work in this exhibition will address the universality of rituals and how they foster connection or isolation.
Art Vendors Needed: “Arts in the Alley” Festival – Friends of Leesburg Public Arts (VA)
Deadline: September 10. Friends of Leesburg Public Arts is seeking vendors for its 2nd annual “Arts in the Alley” festival located in downtown Leesburg. The fair will be held on September 22 from 10:00 am–6:00 pm. Only original artwork is accepted. For more information and to apply see: The Friends of Leesburg Public Arts website.
City of Takoma Park Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Art Wrap Project (MD)
Deadline: September 12. The City of Takoma Park invites artists to design a mural to be used as vinyl wraps for two electric vehicle charging stations as part of the City’s ongoing efforts to promote public art. Both charging stations are owned by the City of Takoma Park and are located on public property or in the public right-of-way. Applicants do not need to be residents of Takoma Park. For more information and to apply, visit the City of Takoma Park website.
The Center for Contemporary Art 2018 International Juried Exhibition (NJ)
Deadline: September 16. The Center for Contemporary Art’s annual International Juried Exhibition celebrates contemporary art by both established and emerging artists. The Center for Contemporary Art (“The Center”) is a vibrant regional non-profit art center with studio art classes, a summer art camp, rotating exhibitions and community outreach programs. Juror Midori Yoshimoto, Ph.D., will select work for inclusion in the exhibit and for three cash prizes. The Center’s Exhibitions Committee will review the body of work of each artists selected and choose one for a solo exhibit in 2019. Please check out The Center’s website for more details.
Crafty Bastards Craft Festival 2018 (DC)
Deadline: September 14. The Craft Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair will be held at the Capitol Riverfront in southeast DC from October-October 28. The outdoor fair will be held under its signature tents this year in Lot A at The Yards Park (near the Nationals Baseball Stadium in Washington, DC) Artists wanting to participate in this year’s festival can submit an application via the Craft Bastards Craft Festival website.
Travel the World with AFAR & United
Deadline: September 18. Apply for the first-ever AFAR Travel Photography Awards, which highlight the diverse and creative ways in which photographers are celebrating the world. Since its launch in 2009, AFAR has been recognized for its vibrant and authentic travel photography. Winners will receive international exposure, publication in AFAR, cash awards, free business class air, and more. Choose from: the photo series category, the five photo series category, or a single photo category. To apply and learn more, visit the Lens Culture website.
Superfine DC – The Art Fair (DC)
Deadline: September 19. The District’s First (and only) Accessible, Dynamic, Hyper-Curated, Contemporary Art Fair. When you apply to Superfine! DC you are not just entering an art fair but joining a movement, one whose primary objective is to advance sustainability in the art market. Our strategy is designed to equip you with the tools to sell and create new collectors in each and every market. Superfine! is a hyper-curated, contemporary art fair. Superfine! requires a $40 non-refundable application fee along with all application. The fair will run October 31– November 4.To learn more and to apply, visit the Superfine DC website.
The Cup, The Mug 2018 (NY)
Deadline: September 24. Main Street Arts is now accepting submissions to our 3rd annual The Cup, The Mug exhibition. This national juried exhibition is open to all U.S. artists working in ceramics, glass, wood, or metal. Submissions must be cups, mugs, or other drinking vessels. 2018 Jurors: Ceramic artists Jenny Mendes and Melissa Weiss. For more information and to submit, visit the Main Street Art Gallery website.
New prize for women painters
Deadline: September 28. The recently announced Bennett Prize will spotlight women artists who paint in the figurative realist style, and who have not yet reached full professional recognition – both new artists and those who have painted for many years.
32nd annual Materials: Hard + Soft International Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition (TX)
Deadline: September 30. The Greater Denton Arts Council proudly presents the 32nd annual Materials: Hard + Soft International Contemporary Craft Competition and Exhibition. Recognized as one of the premier craft exhibitions in the country, Materials: Hard + Soft began in 1987 and was originally initiated by area artist Georgia Leach Gough. The exhibition celebrates the evolving field of contemporary craft and the remarkable creativity and innovation of artists who push the boundaries of their chosen media. Approximately 70 works will be selected by juror Janet McCall, Executive Director of the Contemporary Craft, for exhibition at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center in Denton, Texas.
The Torpedo Factory – Target Gallery: 2019 Emerging Artists (VA)
Deadline: September 30. Target Gallery presents its annual exhibition featuring the work of three to four regional emerging artists. This exhibition spotlights new talent and the up-and-coming artistic innovators of the DC metropolitan area. Artists should have no more than five years of experience as a professional exhibiting artist, live within DC, Maryland, or Virginia, and have never had an solo exhibition in a professional gallery space (excluding BFA/MFA exhibitions). Each artist will receive a $500 stipend. To learn more (view prospectus) and apply, visit the Torpedo Factory website.
Howard County Arts Council (HCAC) Gallery Call for Entries (MD)
Deadline: October 1. The HCAC Exhibits Committee meets quarterly to review applications and select artists for exhibit space. Artists, ages 18 and older, working in all media and styles, including time-based and installation artists, are encouraged to apply either individually or as a group. The Committee also welcomes proposals from curators and organizations. Detailedentry guidelines available here, the next deadline for submission is October 1.
2019 Post Graduation Residency Program (VA)
Deadline: October 7. Jurors: Nicole Dowd, program director of Halcyon Arts Lab and Leslie Holt, DC-based artist and co-director of Red Dirt Studios. The Torpedo Factory Post-Grad Residency is a competitive juried program that provides meaningful support and three-month term solo studio space. This residency is open to recently-graduated students who earned a bachelor’s or master’s art degree from an accredited university. The program is unique for addressing the critical post-graduation juncture in an emerging artist’s career, offering an opportunity for professional development, and a chance to define their independent work process outside of the academic context. Submissions are open for both art school students in the region and nationwide, provided nationwide artists submit proof of their permanent residence in the area and/or commitment of contributing to the ongoing future of the DC/Maryland/Virginia arts scene. Please read and review Guidelines before applying.
Small Works 2018 (NY)
Deadline: October 8. Main Street Arts is now accepting submissions to our 5th annual Small Works exhibition. This national juried exhibition of small artwork (12 inches or smaller in any direction) is open to artists working in all media excluding video/sound and installation art. For more information and to submit, visit the Main Street Art Gallery website.
Function: An exhibition of Contemporary Craft (GA)
Deadline: October 15. The Gallery at Sulfur Studios invites artists working in traditional craft media (ceramic, fibers, glass, metals, paper, and/or wood) to submit work to their fall juried exhibition, “Function”. Artists are encouraged to push the boundaries of what “functional” means, and work that is conceptual or satirical will be considered alongside more traditional craft forms. Visit www.sulfurstudios.org/function for more information and application instructions. Email [email protected] with any questions.
Blue Mountain Gallery 7th Biannual Juried Exhibition Winter 2019 (NY)
Deadline: October 15. Blue Mountain Gallery, in the Chelsea District of New York City, invites emerging, mid-career, and established artist to submit work for it’s 7th Biannual Juried Exhibition. Open to all artists 18+ of age, living in the USA. Two-dimensional media accepted: original oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolors, prints, drawings, and mixed media. The fee is $40 for one to three works, $5 for each additional work, up to six works total. Additional submission requirements on the Winter 2019 Juried Exhibition site, and prospectus here.
Call for Writing Submissions: Beyond Beautiful (MD)
Deadline: November 1. Maryland Art Place (MAP) is seeking writing submissions, love letters of all types, on behalf of “The One Thousand Love Letters Project” and the exhibition “Beyond Beautiful, created and curated by artist Peter Bruun. This exhibition is slated to open January 17, 2019 at Maryland Art Place, with a partner site for the exhibition located at Area 405.
Beyond Beautiful focuses on eight topics –information and guidelines here. Peter Bruun, both curator and artist, will use these love letters to create 1,000 artistic responses to be displayed in the exhibition at MAP and Area 405. To date, Bruun has created over 600 drawings using excerpts from participant’s letters to contribute to “The One Thousand Love Letters Project.” Letters do not need to be submitted based on the listed topics and can be submitted digitally or physically.
Women Artists Call — Pen and Brush Solo Exhibit (NY)
Deadline: December 31. Long-established contemporary art gallery and nonprofit seeking talented professional female artists for various opportunities. These opportunities include, but are in no way limited to: a solo exhibition in our ground floor space on 22nd street, group exhibition opportunities, inclusion in exhibition catalogues written by art historians and curators, and opportunities to expose work to influential curators. All work submitted must be contemporary art, submitted work must be complete, to be considered work must meet standards of quality, every work in a submission must be for sale. Artists must meet professional standards of composition and presentation of their work. To apply and learn more about this opportunity, visit the Pen and Brush website.
Spark Box Studio Dawson Residency Award and Bursary (Canada)
Deadline: March 1, 2019. This award is open to residents of North America. Spark Box Studio is accepting applications from emerging, mid-career, and established artists. One artist will receive a month-long residency at our studio in Prince Edward County, plus the $1,000 Dawson bursary. The selected applicant will be granted a semi-private studio space and be given access to the Spark Box Studio equipment and resources. As well, the winner will be provided with living accommodations for their month-long stay. We support a range of disciplines including; drawers, illustrators, painters, writers, printmakers, film makers, performance artists, multidisciplinary artists, curators, book makers, musicians and photographers (digital)
Ongoing:
The Awesome Foundation Accepting Applications for Art Projects
Deadline: Open. The Awesome Foundation for the Arts and Sciences is a worldwide network of people devoted to forwarding the interest of “awesomeness in the universe.” Established in 2009, the foundation distributes $1,000 grants on a monthly basis to projects and their creators. The money is pooled from ten or more self-organizing “micro-trustees.” The chapters are autonomous and organized by the trustees around geographic areas or topics of interest. Apply on the Awesome Foundation website.
Call for Artists: Maryland Art Place Seeks Proposals for Rotating Exhibition Partnership with Baltimore’s Hotel Indigo (MD)
Deadline: rolling. Maryland Art Place (MAP), in partnership with Hotel Indigo is pleased to announce an open ‘Call to Artists’. As an extension of MAP’s annual IMPACT public art partnership projects, MAP is working with Hotel Indigo to offer rotating exhibitions in Hotel indigo’s library and Poets Modern Cocktails and Eats. This opportunity is available to visual artists living or working in Maryland. Maryland Art Place will curate four exhibitions a year based on submissions entered through a rolling basis. Guidelines and information here.
Exhibit at Hotel Indigo (VA)
Artists works will displayed in the hotel’s gallery (220 S Union St, Old Town Alexandria) for a six-month period. Two-dimensional, framed works only. Artists will install the work using the hotel’s mounting hardware. Labels will be provided by the hotel. All sales handled by artist, no commission. Preference for local or locally influenced selections but not required. The space measures approximately 7’10” by 8’3.″ If interested, contact Kate Ellis, General Manager, [email protected].
The New Project Studio – Ongoing Opportunity (VA)
Ongoing. Located in Studio 8, the New Project Studio is a community-focused arts incubator space that offers a short-term location to test new program ideas, spotlight underrepresented voices, and enhance community engagement. Projects rotate on a regular basis. For more information, click here.
Public Arts Grants & Opportunities (VA)
Ongoing. The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts provides grants for nonprofit arts organizations as well as individual artists. See all current opportunities and online applications here.
NYC volunteer opportunity (NY)
Introduce NYC school children to the world of art by giving tours at The MET Museum. Volunteer in this year-round program. Visit us at awnyc.org for more information.
Residency: Maryland
Deadline: ongoing. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its Artist-in-Residence Program, encouraging proposals that cultivate collaborative work between artists and students.
Looking for artists: Foundry Gallery (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.
Looking for artists: Printmakers (DC)
Deadline: ongoing. Washington Printmakers Gallery is seeking artist members specializing in printmaking, photography and book arts. An active cooperative for over 30 years, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows in its lovely space in upper Georgetown. Distant and shared memberships are available. If interested in applying for membership please email [email protected].
Looking for artists: Multiple Exposures Gallery (VA)
Exhibit view of “A Murder in Bruges: Cast of Characters”
Last night, during our monthly “Drawn In” event, solo artist Ito Briones let the cat out of the bag and revealed to a packed crowd just who murdered the ‘Tattoo-Man’ in his murder-mystery exhibit, “A Murder in Bruges: Cast of Characters.”
Briones wrote a story to fill in all the blanks and connect the characters and clues in the mystery. He read the story to the crowd and posted it on his website. Read on to find out who murdered the ‘Tattoo-Man’!
Connecting the clues
Did you notice that two of the portraits, which seem to be of the same person, actually are not?
“Tattoo-Man 2”
“Tattoo-Man 1”
“The dead body that you have lying in the morgue is not the Tattoo-man who is the art model and boyfriend of Ivana but a twin brother,” Inspector Luttwak explained. “The fact of the matter is that there are two Tattoo-men.”
The answer was in front of the viewer, within the artwork all along! Tattoo-Man 2 was murdered by Tattoo-Man 1, his twin brother. How and why? Read about it here.
The Tattoo-Men
Who did you think the murderer was?
Did you guess correctly? Let us know in the comments. And, stop by the gallery before Sunday evening to get one, last in-person glimpse of this unique exhibit.
For Ted Upton, getting connected with The Art League was a series of seemingly accidental events. The unlikely story of how a pipeline, clay, The Art League ceramics department, and a family reunion yielded a series of beautiful vases is nothing short of serendipitous.
Digging up Art
In 1952, Upton’s parents bought a plot of land – an old, non-functioning farm in rural West Virginia. There, among chickens and the rolling hills, Upton and his 12 siblings grew up. To this day, the land still remains in the family. When the youngest of the siblings passed away last year, Upton started looking for a way gift something special for his siblings at the annual family reunion.
Pipeline construction across the Upton property
That March, construction for a pipeline project started across the Upton’s property, and the digging uncovered what looked to be a clay vein. Not a potter himself, Upton packed a bag of clay to take to a local shop to assess the materials. Unfortunately, the shop was closed. Forced to look for a new option, Ted remembered a ceramics offshoot near the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria near where he now lives. Enter The Art League.
The clay vein in the raw
Concept and Clay
When Upton stepped into The Art League Madison Annex with several buckets of raw clay, he didn’t know what to expect. Luckily, ceramics instructor Ryan Rakhshan, happened to be there that day teaching a class.
Rakshan agreed to test the clay out, “mixing it into a slurry, the raw clay turned a beautiful, mustardy yellow. Aside from the occasional rock and root, it was an absolute dream to throw on the wheel,” he said.
Raw Clay (left), Clay Slurry (center), Pre-glaze vases (right)
Since the clay was easy to work with and matured at the same temperature that the clay studio fires at, Rakhshan created a concept for a series of pieces to create for Upton’s eight siblings and his deceased brother’s three children. “If I can do something,” said Upton about the project. “I would like to do it for my siblings and my brother’s three kids for a family reunion.”
The concept: 12 different vases are “simple cylinders that have soft, undulating lines on their surface—an ode to the rolling hills and farmland where [the Upton children] grew up,” said Rakhshan. The pieces, holistically made from material from the Upton property, feature a glaze made of a mix of ash made from wood from the farm as well as clay and Gerstley Borate.
Unique Clay
Not only was Rakhshan able to create several vases, but Upton also kindly donated extra clay from the farm for the ceramics students in The Art League school to experiment with.
Rakhshan at the wheel
“I was able to teach my students about prospecting, mining, testing, and processing raw local clay,” said Rakhshan. “This was a unique opportunity for them to learn about the joys and challenges of using local clay, and an insightful glimpse of what potters would have been working with several hundred years ago.”
Final vase
The final vases now sit on the tables and counters of the Upton family siblings and their children, each one unique but similar in its own way, much like the family members they were gifted to. When asked if he is thinking of taking a class at The Art League soon, Upton says that he would definitely like to take a class with Rakhshan in the future.
Andy Warhol
“Son of Man” Rene Magritte painting 
