FISHY FACE

I have more than one friend that won’t eat food with a face… which should make her a vegetarian on moral grounds, right?  Well, while out to lunch with one of them many years ago, my friend ordered fish.  I promptly reminded her that she didn’t eat food with faces and that fish definitely have faces.  She looked at me as seriously as possible and said, “I’ve looked into a fish’s eyes.  They have no story to tell.  There’s nothing going on up there.  Bring on the tuna.”  This next Call will require that your face tell a story.

Check out this Call for Entries from the Annmarie Sculpture Garden (an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute) for About Face.  The entry fee is only $20 for up to four pieces, and this is an excellent opportunity to put your best face forward.  Take a look!

CALL for ENTRIES:  About Face

About Face explores the artist as storyteller. How does an artist develop and arrange the elements of a good story—character, setting, plot, conflict, climax, and resolution—through the format of a portrait?  Though we all have a story to tell, what is gained or lost when we are rendered through an artist’s point of view?  Do the completed works represent the person we are, the person we strive to be, or the character the artist sees?  How do traditional and new media types affect the impact of a portrait?  To this end, the jury seeks portraits that tell a compelling story in a visually interesting way.

About Face will be installed in the spacious Mezzanine Gallery of Annmarie Sculpture Garden’s Arts Building.  With over 3300 sq ft of exhibition space, moveable walls, high ceilings, tile floors, an Arakawa hanging system, Internet access, and electricity, the Mezzanine Gallery can accommodate all sizes and types of installations.  A few outdoor works will also be considered for inclusion in About Face.

ELIGIBILITY:  All media types are welcome.  The exhibition is open to all artists age 18 and older working in the U.S.  Video entries must be submitted on DVD, playable on QuickTime or RealPlayer, and no more than 30 minutes in length.
DVD or computer based works must be exhibited on equipment provided by artist. Internet access is available.  Bases and pedestals must well-balanced and sturdy. Annmarie has a limited number of bases available, please inquire.  All frames must be black or silver and simple in design.  All works that will be hung on the wall must have brackets that work with the Arakawa hanging system. More information on this system will be provided upon acceptance.

DEADLINE:  March 1, 2011 is the deadline for your application.

NOTIFICATION:  Artists will be notified of final acceptance status via email by March 7, 2011.

ENTRY FEE:  Artists must submit a $20 non-refundable entry fee for up to four entries. Entry fee must be paid by check, money order, or credit card. Each entry must be submitted with three images of the artwork, including one overall view of the artwork, one detail shot, and one installation shot.

ABOUT the ANNMARIE SCULPTURE GARDEN:  An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, Annmarie is a thirty-acre public sculpture garden and arts center located in scenic Solomons, Maryland, on the Chesapeake Bay. The sculpture garden features a walking path which meanders through the forest, past permanent and loaned sculpture, including more than thirty works on loan from the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art. The garden also presents a variety of special events, gallery shows, and engaging public art programs. The new Studio School offers creative classes taught by a talented faculty. The award-winning Arts Building, which opened in May ‘08, is a 15,000 sq.ft. museum-grade exhibition space that includes two large galleries, a gift shop, café, and a sunny patio that offers lovely views of the outdoor sculpture.

For complete details, Download the Prospectus!