Artina 2020 LIGHT: A Sculptural Solar Dance

Presented by Washington Sculptors Group and Sandy Spring Museum

Read the Press Release

LOCATION:
17901 Bentley Rd, Sandy Spring, MD 20860
www.sandyspringmuseum.org

Wednesday, August 5 – Sunday, November 29, 2020

JUROR: María Gabriela Mizes

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

As climate change concerns continue to rise, we need to increase the uptake of renewable energy to help reduce the use of polluting fossil fuels. In this exhibit, LIGHT: A Sculptural Solar Dance, artists will use renewable energy sculptures to represent a need for better environmental responsibility. Work proposed for this exhibition will re-imagine solar energy as an art form. It may adopt sunlight as the medium, the subject matter, or the energy source for the art. Artists may explore how light, sun, sound, and energy intersect, capturing the importance of sustainability by using solar energy in existing or site-specific outdoor sculptures: art made from sunlight—the energy source for life on Earth. Visitors will be able to find sculptural displays celebrating the energy of the sun’s warming rays.

In thinking through the dance between art and light, Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson’s and American artist James Turrell’s thoughts may come to mind:

“I am obsessed with light. How light forms a space. How a space forms light. As a child I grew up in Iceland where there is no sunlight in the winter. It simply stays dark all day. Light became something that pulled people together. Light became a way of connecting to other people. Light is social. Light is life.”

Olafur Eliasson

“Light is not so much something that reveals, as it is itself the revelation.”

James Turrell

Artists may experiment with materials such as:

  • Recycled and upcycled solar PV panels in new and innovative ways
  • The colors of the solar spectrum
  • Mirrors, prisms, lenses, sound, texts, architecture
  • Eco-friendly materials

Artwork selection will be based on the highest standards of creativity, innovation, and sustainability. 

ABOUT THE JUROR

María Gabriela (“Gaby”) Mizes is originally from Argentina. She graduated from the Instituto Argentina de MuseologÍa in Buenos Aires and Columbia University in New York, and has worked around the world for many museums and art institutions. These include: the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Buenos Aires; the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York as Assistant Curator of the traveling exhibition Latin American Artists of the Twentieth Century; and the American Federation of Arts, where she handled traveling exhibitions in the United States and abroad.

In Washington, DC, Gaby founded Latin American ERA, a private consultancy company providing expertise in exhibitions and art collections management for national and international projects, and has worked for the Smithsonian Center for Materials Research and Education, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and several private art collections. She is currently the Director of Registration at Glenstone Museum in Potomac, Maryland, where she has been coordinating exhibition installations, managing the outgoing loans program, planning and designing art storage facilities, and caring for the collection for thirteen years.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Monday, June 8, 2020 (received by 11:59pm EST)

Participating artists can upload submissions through EntryThingy (www.entrythingy.com). Artina 2020 will be juried from digital images submitted through the EntryThingy site, and there is a $5 processing fee for uploading images. No entries will be accepted by mail or email.

ELIGIBILITY

The exhibition is open to members of the Washington Sculptors Group only. Artists who are not already members may join WSG by paying annual dues of $45 ($15 for full-time students). Prospective members may download a membership form from the WSG website (www.washingtonsculptors.org), and send checks, along with the membership form, to the WSG address, or may join online through PayPal on the WSG website. Existing WSG members must renew their dues for 2020 to be eligible for this exhibition.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

WSG is accepting proposals from established and emerging sculptors for its fourth annual exhibition of outdoor sculptures at Sandy Spring Museum. The exhibition is from Wednesday, August 5 – Saturday, November 7, 2020, with installation from Friday, July 31 – Wednesday, August 5 (9am-6pm), and de-installation the week following November 7. (note new dates)

Sandy Spring Museum, located in Sandy Spring Maryland, serves as a catalyst for community building by providing opportunities for creative engagement in a range of cultural arts. The museum offers the environment and inspiration for artists and community members to create and host events, performances, activities, and exhibits, which engage, stimulate, and bring people together. The SSM grounds are open daily and many special events and programs are offered throughout the year, as are private rentals. For more information about the museum please visit www.sandyspringmuseum.org.

Sandy Spring Museum is located on 7+ acres of land, 3 acres of which are heavily forested. The remainder is naturally landscaped with mature trees. Sculptures can be installed throughout the property, including upon two 10’x 10’ concrete pads. Artists can also use a wooden trellis that blooms with wisteria in the spring and extends the entire length of the property.

Works should be suitable for long-term, outdoor exposure, as well as fabricated and installed in a viewer-safe manner. Artists are responsible for any maintenance of the work.

Artists should detail their installation requirements when submitting the application. All sites are on grassy areas, although there are two 10’ X 10’ concrete covered areas that are situated next to each other. We highly recommend artists visit the site and plan their proposals accordingly but please continue to adhere to all recommended social distancing practices.

Self-guiding maps of the exhibition will be available at Sandy Spring Museum and on the websites of WSG and SSM. Exhibition cards will be distributed to WSG, SSM members, and the community. Promotion of the show will be actively pursued.

INSURANCE, COMMISSIONS, AND SALES

SSM insures works on loan up to $10,000 after the work is delivered and the exhibition loan agreement is signed. Insurance during transportation is the responsibility of the artist. All purchases during the exhibit will go through the museum. The museum charges a 30% commission fee.

WORK TO BE CONSIDERED

A maximum of 6 images (including any detail images) of sculptures/installations per artist or team may be submitted for consideration.

In addition, please include:

  • A description of where the project pieces are to be placed
  • The brief background or narrative information about the artwork or proposal
  • An explanation of how the project relates to the theme and whether there is light, sound, or movement that may impact the ability of others to experience nearby artworks.
  • Artists may choose to install their work with public participation and involvement during the installation period, or if required, over the life of the artwork.
  • Artists will submit a proposal in .doc or .pdf format.  The proposal should include the project description, concept sketches or renderings, and any other information pertaining to the proposed project. In addition, artists will provide up to 6 images of existing work in .jpg format titled “portfolio001”– ‘portfolio005”.jpg.” Submit all images with a resolution of 300 dpi and a maximum of 2MB each.
  • It is highly recommended that artists visit Sandy Spring Museum to get a sense of the surroundings and possibilities prior to applying. Artists can visit the site seven days a week, at any time.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ENTRYTHINGY

  • Submit all images with a resolution of 300 dpi and a maximum of 2MB each. Video files must be smaller than 50MB each (about five minutes).
  • Files should be named with only the title of the work (no first or last names). Use the actual title for each work. Example:

Title 1.jpeg

Title 1 (detail).jpeg

Title 2.jpeg

Title 3.jpeg

etc.

  • The EntryThingy platform allows you to submit a statement about how your work relates to the exhibition’s requirements. It also offers you a chance to provide a brief description of each work along with a title, dimensions, etc. To avoid being disqualified, do not include your name in either the statement or any of the description paragraphs.
  1. Applicants should go to http://www.entrythingy.com/ and click on the tab (at the top) “for artists”.
  2. Click on “list of current calls”.
  3. Scroll down and click on the Artina 2020 listing.
  4. Create a login account to http://www.entrythingy.com/ if you don’t have an account, or if you do, login to your existing account with the “Click here to login” button.  After logging in, select the Artina 2020 call and complete the entry steps.
  5. There is a $5 entry fee.
  6. All applicants will receive ‘accepted’ or ‘not accepted’ notifications via email.

UPDATED CALENDAR (as of 5/22/2020)

Exhibition Dates:                  Wednesday, August 5 – Saturday, November 7, 2020

Call for Entry Posted:          Monday, April 13, 2020

Submission Deadline:        Monday, June 8, 2020 (received by 11:59pm EST)

Jurying Period:                    Wednesday, June 10 – Sunday, June 14, 2020

Artist Notification: By Monday, June 22, 202

Drop off & Installation: Friday, July 31 – Wednesday, August 5 (9am-6pm)

Due to existing social distancing recommendations, we will have a limit of three artists at any given time. Artists will be required to sign up for a specific time slots during the installation period to help facilitate this process. More details will be sent out to accepted artists.

Opening Reception: NO OPENING RECEPTION FOR THIS EVENT. This is in keeping with recommended social distancing practices. However, the exhibition and site will be open.

Artist & Juror Talk: Saturday, November 7, 2020 (12-2pm)

This may change as the COVID-19 situation evolves. Updates will be sent closer to the date.

Deinstallation/Pick up: Saturday, November 7 – Wednesday, November 11, 2020

This may also change as the COVID-19 situation evolves. Updates will be sent closer to the date if more time is needed to accommodate social distancing.

Please contact exhibits@washingtonsculptors.org with any questions.

Please contact exhibits@washingtonsculptors.org with any questions.

Due to existing social distancing recommendations, we will have a limit of three artists at any given time. Artists will be required to sign up for a specific time slots during the installation period to help facilitate this process. More details will be sent out to accepted artists.

Opening Reception:           
NO OPENING RECEPTION FOR THIS EVENT. This is in keeping with recommended social distancing practices.
Artist & Juror Talk:            
Saturday, November 7, 2020 (12-2pm)

This may change as the COVID-19 situation evolves. Updates will be sent closer to the date.

Deinstallation/Pick up:       
Saturday, November 7 – Wednesday, November 11, 2020

This may also change as the COVID-19 situation evolves. Updates will be sent closer to the date if more time is needed to accommodate social distancing.

Please contact exhibits@washingtonsculptors.org with any questions.