Still Something Singing

Presented by Washington Sculptors Group and The Kreeger Museum.

Exhibit dates: Saturday, October 21, 2023 – Saturday, January 27, 2024

“Even when silvery fish after fish comes back belly up, and the country plummets into a crepitating crater of hatred, isn’t there still something singing?”

–from “The Leash” by Ada Limón (The Leash by Ada Limón | Poetry Foundation)

The Washington Sculptors Group is excited to partner with The Kreeger Museum for an exhibition of outdoor work. Artists are invited to submit images of existing sculptures and installations to this call for works that reflect the role of art in our contemporary moment. Artists may also submit proposals for new site-specific installations. All work must be suitable for being outdoors for a period of several months without the need for maintenance. Works will be installed on the grounds of the museum—the grounds have varied terrain and elevations and artists are strongly encouraged to visit the museum before submitting to ensure their work is suitable for the site.

Betsy Johnson, Assistant Curator, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Betsy Johnson joined the Hirshhorn’s staff in January 2016 and was appointed Assistant Curator in March 2018, with responsibilities for overseeing the Museum’s photography collection. She organized Tony Lewis: Anthology 2014–2016 (2018), The Evidence Room (2019), Feel the Sun in Your Mouth: Recent Acquisitions (2019), Toyin Ojih Odutola: A Countervailing Theory (2021), One with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama in the Hirshhorn Collection (2022), Rirkrit Tiravanija: (who’s afraid of red, yellow, and green), Wrightwood 659, Chicago (2022), and A Window Suddenly Opens: Contemporary Photography in China (2022).

Prior to working for the Hirshhorn, Johnson was at Glenstone from 2011 through 2015, where she guided the development of their visitor experience and education programs. She holds a master’s degree in art history from Pennsylvania State University and is ABD in the Department of Art History and Archaeology at the University of Maryland, College Park. She has curated exhibitions across the region for institutions such as the Korean Cultural Center, Maryland Institute College of Art, Washington Project for the Arts, Arlington Arts Center, McLean Project for the Arts, Metro Micro Gallery, and the University of Maryland Art Gallery.

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 2023 to be eligible for this exhibition.

  • Individual artists or teams may submit outdoor, three-dimensional freestanding sculptures and installations. Artists are strongly encouraged to visit the museum before making a submission to ensure their work is suitable for the site.
  • All proposals must be submitted online at http://www.entrythingy.com/ (see instructions below). No other forms of application will be accepted.
  • Each artist or team may submit no more than three (3) works with one main and one optional detail image per work (total of 6 images). Submit all images with a resolution of 300 dpi and a maximum of 2MB each. Videos must be under 2 minutes and the files smaller than 50MB each.
  • Submissions MUST be anonymous—please remove any identifying labels from titles, file names, images, etc. Submissions that are not anonymous will be disqualified.
  • Files should be named with only the title of the work (no first or last names). Use the actual title for each work (e.g., Sculpture 1.jpeg, culpture 1 (detail).jpeg).
  • Accepted work must be delivered in person on Saturday, October 14 10am-5pm. Artists unable to deliver on this day may arrange delivery on Monday or Tuesdays, October 16 or 17. The museum will organize deliveries and artists will be required to sign up for a timeslot (details will be sent to accepted artists).
  • Submissions will be accepted by individual artists or teams and may be for existing outdoor works or proposals for new, site-specific installations. Written proposals for new installations must be submitted in a 250-word (max) essay, uploaded as a PDF. Take care not to state your name or the names of your team in the written proposal, only the title. Proposals may include sketches and/or images of previous relevant work.
  • The museum grounds have two main points of entry that can accommodate the following dimensions:
    • The Sculpture Garden Gate (off the Courtyard): 59 inches
      • This is accessed through the courtyard gates, which are 14.5 feet wide but work must be fit through the smaller Sculpture Garden Gate.
    • The North Service Gate Driveway: 115 inches

All sculptures must be able to fit through one of those entrances. Artists are strongly encouraged to visit the museum to see the landscape in person.

  • Artists are solely responsible for delivery and installation of their accepted work on the specified installation date and de-installation of their work on the pick-up date. The museum will coordinate installation and deinstallation times and artists will be required to sign up for a time slot. Staff will be available on site to offer guidance but artists are responsible for having the requisite tools, equipment, and labor force needed to complete the installation. All work accepted and exhibited must remain on display for the full duration of the show. WSG and the gallery will not receive shipments of artwork or mail inquiries.
  • All applicants will receive ‘accepted’ or ‘not accepted’ notifications via email.
  • Accepted artists will receive a modest stipend—the final amount will be determined after the jurying process is completed.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ENTRYTHINGY

  1. Applicants should go to http://www.entrythingy.com/ and click on the tab (at top) ‘for artists’.
  2. Click on ‘list of current calls’.
  3. Scroll down and click on the Still Something Singing 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 Still Something Singing 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.

INSURANCE, COMMISSIONS, AND SALES:
 The Kreeger Museum insures works on loan after the work is delivered and the exhibition loan agreement is signed. Insurance during transportation is the responsibility of the artist. All inquiries regarding sales and sales must go directly through the artist. The Kreeger Museum does not handle sales or take commissions on any sold work.

Exhibition Dates: Saturday, October 21, 2023 – Saturday, January 27, 2024

Call for Entry Posted: Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Submission Deadline: Sunday, September 10, 2023 (received by 11:59 pm EST)

Jurying Period: Monday, September 11 – Friday, September 15, 2023

Artist Notification: By Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Drop off & Installation: Saturday, October 14 (10 am – 5 pm)

Opening Reception: Thursday, October 26, 6-8 pm

Artist & Juror Talk: TBD

Deinstallation/Pickup: Sunday, January 28, 2024 (10 am – 5  pm)

Submission Deadline: Sunday, September 10, 2023 (11:59pm EST)

Enter your Submission

The Kreeger Museum

One of the greatest legacies of David and Carmen Kreeger is the Museum that bears their name. In 1959, The Kreegers began to amass a formidable collection of modern art. For the next fifteen years they assembled most of the Museum’s holdings. The collection reflects the spirit of David and Carmen Kreeger who agreed on every piece they purchased –their approach to collecting was a personal one –they bought what they loved.

The Kreeger’s focus on 19th and 20th century paintings is evidenced by works by Monet, Picasso, Braque, Stella, Mitchell, and Frankenthaler, among others. Also included in the permanent collection are works by prominent Washington artists, including William Christenberry, Gene Davis, Sam Gilliam, Simmie Knox, and Paul Reed. Outstanding examples of African and Asian art are integrated in gallery spaces on both levels. Designed in 1963 by Philip Johnson and Richard Foster, the building sits on five acres and is surrounded by gardens and terraces filled with sculpture.

2401 Foxhall Road, NW Washington D.C. 20007