now accepting applicants

Overview

The Mid-South Sculpture Alliance (MSA), in collaboration with Vinegar, invites artists to submit three-dimensional works for consideration in Embattled Bodies, an exhibition at Vinegar in Birmingham, Alabama from November 12, 2022 to January 7, 2023. The juror for this exhibition is Karlota Contreras-Koterbay, Director of Slocumb Galleries at East Tennessee State University, with the deadline for submission of September 14, 2022.

This exhibition fosters MSA’s mission to advance the creation and awareness of sculpture in its many and varied forms and promote a supportive environment for sculpture and sculptors. Selected sculptures will offer a dynamic exhibition highlighting a variety of techniques, media and content. 

MSA professional and student member artists are encouraged to submit up to ten images of three dimensional work for consideration.

Application and Exhibit Timeline

Application Deadline                                        September 28, 2022  

Acceptance Notification                                 September 30, 2022

Accepted Work Delivery Deadline Oct. 31- Nov. 4, 2022

Installation                        Nov. 7 – 10, 2022

Exhibition Opens          November 12, 2022                                        

Closing                         January 7, 2023          

                                                                                                                                 

Artist Eligibility

This opportunity is open to all visual artists, aged 18 and older, who are current or new members of MSA. Each applicant may enter up to THREE works; all entries must have been conceived and created by the artist submitting the work; all media suitable for indoor exhibition will be considered. Applying for membership can be made when submitting for this exhibition.

Juror
Karlota I. Contreras-Koterbay is an Appalachian-based Filipinx curator, artist and arts  administrator. She is Director of the ETSU Tipton & Slocumb Galleries under the  Department of Art & Design at East Tennessee State University where she develops diverse, innovative and collaborative exhibitions and educational programs that serve the  Appalachian Highland region.  

As curator, Contreras-Koterbay organizes exhibitions that promote cultural diversity,  gender equality and social justice. For two consecutive years, Contreras-Koterbay received  the Awards of Excellence from the Tennessee Association of Museums for her Diverse  and Empowered (2020) and Visibility as Presence (2021) exhibition programming with  Award of Commendation (2020) for her catalog design publications. Karlota Contreras-Koterbay received her Master of Art (MA) in Art History and Bachelor of Art (BA) in Anthropology with honors from the University of the Philippines - Diliman.

Site
The host gallery, Vinegar, is an artist-run, women-led nonprofit contemporary art gallery in Birmingham, Alabama. Vinegar champions artists, facilitating the creation and experience of contemporary art and infusing it into communities to support, challenge, and enrich our collective consciousness.

Artwork Themes

This exhibition centers the governed, embattled, empowered bodies of resistance and agency. Current cultural and political struggles exemplify the enduring challenges that women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ individuals face in pursuit of bodily autonomy, equality, and self-representation. Through this exhibition MSA proclaims art's potential as a strategy for agency and as a platform for visibility and discourse. Artists are encouraged to submit works that redefine, reinvestigate and recontextualize the body and its politics. The selection criteria favors diversity in media/perspective and innovation in form that prompts critical dialogue, yet are inclusive, empowering and serve as embodiment of contemporary issues. 

Work must not exceed a 100 lb. weight limit, all three dimensional media are accepted except those that present a safety hazard, at the discretion of MSA and Vinegar. Selected artists shall be responsible for shipping both ways, but will receive a $100 stipend from Vinegar and a $50 shipping honorarium from MSA.

Installation

All accepted artwork should either be shipped or hand delivered to Vinegar. 

Artwork Scale

The exhibition encourages small and medium sized work due to space limitations. Sculptural assemblage may be considered but too elaborate installation is discouraged. Wall mounted works and lightweight suspension works are permissible. Works must not exceed 5 ft in any direction and not weigh over 100 lbs. 

Limitation & Restrictions

1. All work must be original and completed within the last 5 years.

2. Wall mounted artworks must be ready to hang upon delivery and include anchoring hardware appropriate for masonry walls.

3. All shipping or hand delivery and the return of work for the exhibition is the responsibility of the artist.

4. MSA reserves the right to reject works that are misrepresented in the application process or are not properly outfitted to display in the gallery.

 

Artist Responsibilities

MSA and Vinegar will supply power, tools, pedestals and installation of artworks shipped to the gallery. The artist will provide all hardware needed. Selected artists are encouraged to send a detailed installation instruction of artwork. If needed, Artists may come during installation to set up their work.

Notification: Both selected and rejected artists will be notified of their selection by email.

For further information regarding MSA please visit midsouthsculpture.org or contact Baggs McKelvey, Managing Director at admin@midsouthsculpture.org or 423.903.5648

 

Application Requirements

1. Please upload up to ten image files, including detail images where needed. No more than three artworks accepted. Works in progress will be considered only if images clearly depicting where the sculpture is to this point and a detailed technical drawing is included. Each image file must not exceed 1MB. For work better suited for representation by video (installation, kinetic sculpture, etc) post a video and include a link in the application form below.Image upload directionsNo more than 10 images total. Each image must be:

●  Saved in jpeg or png format

●  Set color to RGB

●  Image size should not exceed horizontal pixel dimension of 1600 pixels or vertical pixel dimension of 1200 pixels

●  each file must be less than 1MB

●  Saved as the artist's last name and image’s title. Example: DOE_UNTITLED.jpg

1. A complete list of images. For each image, include:

●  Title

●  Medium

●  Dimensions

●  Weight of sculpture

●  Date completed

• Description of how the sculpture would be installed/hung etc

1. Brief artist statement with bio

2. Completed entry form 

 

Apply and upload here

Submitting your application indicates that you have read and understood all guidelines and criteria contained within this prospectus. To the best of your knowledge, you are eligible to be considered for MSA’s Juried Member Exhibition. Your application contains your work and the information in your resume is complete and true. You understand that if accepted, it will be your responsibility to deliver your work to the Vinegar ready for hanging and on time, concurrent with any schedules given to you upon acceptance. If accepted, the work presented with this application is the work that will be installed in the exhibit. All works are insured while on Vinegar premises.

No person will be excluded from participation in or otherwise subjected to discrimination in regards to services, programs and employment, provided by Vinegar based on color, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, age or religion.