LGBTQ+ 2023 Call to Artists - Lansing Art Gallery

OVERVIEW

The LGBTQ+ artist in Michigan

Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center is accepting proposals for a group exhibition of artists who identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. The Gallery is seeking submissions of artwork made within the past three years which explores the experience of LGBTQ+ identified artists living in Michigan. This exhibition is in partnership with “Suits and the City,” whose mission is to promote the interests of LGBTQ+ persons in the Mid-Michigan area through education and advocacy and increase the visibility and integration of LGBTQ+ persons in the broader community through networking events.

Artworks of all media are eligible, including but not limited to: painting, sculpture, printmaking, mixed media, fiber, photography, graphic design, installations, short film, and video games. Utilizing guidelines approved by our Board of Directors, a panel of art specialists will adjudicate exhibition proposals. Preference will be given to proposals showcasing innovation in theme, media, or style. Adjudication will be based on originality/creativity, quality and consistency, technical competence, and strength of the concept.

JURORS

Sara Pulver
She/Her/Hers
Lansing, MI

Inspired by nature, humanity, and the exploration of how the two are connected, Sara’s work is playful and vibrant, with moody undertones. The presence of this duality in the Midwest provides her with a constant source of material. As a multimedia artist, Sara works digitally, as well as utilizing more traditional techniques with acrylic, gouache, and watercolor paints. Simple shapes, lines, and experimentation with pattern give her illustrations a whimsical feel intended to bring joy and reflection.

Often perplexed about how she landed her dream job, Sara is the most self-deprecating Leo you’ve ever met. An avid feminist and mental health advocate, these themes frequently present themselves in her artwork as well.

Alongside her personal artwork, Sara keeps her passion for snail mail alive by owning and operating Dear Ollie, a line of illustrated paper goods and gifts.

When she’s not busy creating, you can find her wandering aimlessly in the woods, consuming pop culture at indescribable speeds, or at home with her husband, two dogs, two cats, and chickens who provide hours of endless entertainment.

Jamie John
He/Him or They/Themme
Traverse City, MI

Jamie John is a two-spirit trans and queer Anishinaabe and Korean-American multi-disciplinary artist (he/him and they/themme) They are a dually enrolled tribal citizen of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the United States of America. A lack of connection with Korean heritage and family and being raised alongside their adopted Olmec/Nahua descendant family, much of early life was full of cultural richness and contrasts. Jamie’s cultural and familial background gives a profound sense of kinship and belonging as well as what it means to connect to the land, to our ancestry, and to each other.

From early on, art has been a way of navigating and communicating the complexities of colonialism, Indigenous worldviews, gender variance, and the intergenerational capacity for trauma and joy. The viewing of Jamie’s work begins with the understanding that we do not live in a post-colonial society and the Indian Wars never ended. The responsibilities Jamie has to their community(ies), kin, and culture is a mindset that extends throughout their body of work. Intertwining personal narrative with historical memory and cultural loss provides a window into Indigeneity in the 21st century. With works tackling topics of imperialism, colonial genocide, and historical consciousness Jamie hopes to uplift and emphasize stories of Indigenous resistance, kinship, and collective survival.

Nick Nortier
He/Him
Grand Rapids, MI

Nick Nortier is an illustrator, mural painter, and printmaker, but also enjoys woodworking, performing spoken word poetry, and the overall process of making creative work. Growing up, his main interests were skating and drawing, two hobbies that would eventually merge into one. From skating, he learned to look at the environment in new and creative ways, which would end up influencing how his work interacts with the area that it’s placed in. He believes the role of street art and murals is to be an art form that is accessible to everyone.

Old Growth Creative is the business name for artist and muralist Nick Nortier. It comes from the admiration of old-growth forests and the reverence that comes from seeing something existing in the natural world that hasn’t been altered by human hands. Due to deforestation these forests are increasingly rare and symbolize a need for us to protect our planet and the life that lives here.

Exhibition Details & Calendar

THIS APPLICATION IS NOW CLOSED

Calendar

Submission Deadline (online only): April 5, 2023, at 11:59 PM
Jury Notification: April 14, 2023
Artwork Delivery: April 27 - 29, 2023
Exhibition: May 3 - June 29, 2023
Reception and Awards Presentation: Thursday, May 11, 2023
More details to come about additional events and/or programs to support this exhibition.
Art Pick-up: Fri. June 30, & July 5, 2023.

Elizabeth Charles Award, $1,000

Elizabeth Charles believed in the arts as a vehicle for self-expression and as a means to develop a deeper understanding of our humanity. As a student, Elizabeth actively championed human equity and diversity. In 2020, the Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center and Elizabeth's father, Norm Charles, established the fund in her honor. Funding is provided by Norm Charles, Phyllis Mellon, as well as additional funders who seek to continue her championship by supporting Michigan artists and amplifying their voices through monetary awards and promotions. Preference will be given to artists with a vision for or emphasis on enhancing awareness and equity across race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or ethnicity.

This award will be given to an artist who demonstrates artistic excellence and works in the fields of social justice and or Diversity Equity and Inclusion.

Eligibility

Artists must have a Michigan residence.
Artists must be a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Artists must be 18 years of age or older.
All artwork must be original art of the artist’s own design and creation. Commercial reproductions, including giclée prints, will not be accepted.
Artwork must have been completed within the past 3 years.
Artwork must be properly prepared for presentation.
Artwork may not exceed 4’ in any direction.
Artwork must be appropriate for audience members of all ages.

Sales

Artwork exhibited is not required to be for sale. If the artwork is for sale, the artist must determine the retail price. Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center retains a commission on all works of art sold: members of the gallery have a reduced commission rate of 45%, while non-members are 50%. All commission payments are mailed after the fifteenth of the month following the sale.

Promotions

Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center will widely promote exhibiting artists through press release distribution locally and statewide, radio interviews, emails, print materials, social media, public speaking engagements, and word-of-mouth.

Delivery

All accepted entries must be hand-delivered or shipped to: Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center, 300 S. Washington Sq. Suite 100, Lansing, MI 48933. The Gallery is located inside the historic Knapp’s Building in downtown Lansing. Shipped works must be prepaid and arrive by April 22, 2023. For shipped work, please include a prepaid return shipping label with the entry. All packing and shipping costs are the responsibility of the artist.

Entry Conditions

Artwork must be ready for presentation upon delivery. All hanging works should be framed and fitted with secure hanging wire. Fabric-wrapped canvases are allowed and do not require additional framing. Frames with exposed glass edges are not acceptable. Saw tooth hangers are not permitted. Entries must be dry, completely assembled, framed, matted, or mounted. 3-dimensional entries that hang must have adequate hanging hardware or a hanging system. Work requiring special handling or installation will be accepted only at the discretion of Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center. Unsuitably prepared, hazardous, unstable, or extremely fragile works will be declined.

All art not removed by July 29, 2023, will become the property of the gallery. Entries will be handled with all possible care, but Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center does not provide insurance for artwork and is not responsible for loss or damage from any cause whatsoever. Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center reserves the right to remove artwork for any reason. Entry to the exhibition also constitutes the artists' consent to the Gallery to use images of their artwork for publicity purposes. Participating artists will be required to sign a contract and complete a W-9 form for tax purposes.

Entry Guidelines

Entries must be made online, via Submittable. Applicants must create a user account to submit the entry form. Submissions should represent the exact works of art the artist intends on exhibiting in this exhibition. Entries should include:

– Up to 3 works of art. Two-dimensional artworks should be represented in 1 photo each, while three-dimensional artworks are allotted up to three photos. IMPORTANT: Images should be named as the title of artwork (ex. titleofartwork.jpg)

– Media, retail price (if applicable), and artwork size for each image

– Artist statement to be used for promotional purposes, including the website (Note, changes to the artist statement will not be accepted after the work is accepted).

This exhibition is generously supported by Becky Ten Brink.

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