Exhibition to be on view at Commune NFK
Words and Images courtesy of Downtown Norfolk Council.
The artist open call for Homegrown, the first exhibition to be exclusively juried by the NEON District Public Art Committee, is now live. Artists of all ages are invited to submit works of art in all media for the exhibition, which will be on view at Commune NFK August 5 to October 3, 2021. This juried show seeks to both refine and expand the definition of "home" through a survey of art by artists who have called Virginia home. The exhibition will be on view at the CROP Foundation's home inside Commune NFK, whose goals to build a sustainable local community through creating opportunities are in line with the exhibition theme. Curator Janelle Burchfield said of Homegrown, "The feeling of home embodies how we live, who we spend our lives with, what we value, and where we see ourselves. This has been a year spent at home, and we are ready to move out into the world after much reflection and introspection."
Artists are encouraged to think on the evolution and growth of home and how it can be welcoming, nostalgic, familiar, familial, and a genuine reflection of its inhabitants. The NEON jury encourages submissions in all artistic interpretations of the culture, community, landscape, and stories that shape the definition of home.
Recognizing the abundance of talent in Virginia, artists can be born and raised in Hampton Roads, visiting artists who have spent time studying here, or a Virginia resident. Artists of all stripes will be accepted - an amateur doodler, art instructor, professional artist, or anywhere in between. Anyone who has called Virginia home is welcome. The call is open to artists working in all media. There is a submission fee of $25 for up to three works of art, and cash prizes for first, second and third place will be awarded.
Since 2013, the NEON District has had a Public Art Committee, led by a diverse team of artists, cultural partners and neighborhood residents who are committed to planning, curating and maintaining one of the largest collections of art in public spaces in Virginia. In a first for the committee, members will serve on the jury to select artworks for the exhibition. An original member of the committee, and co-founder of the NEON Festival, Charlotte Potter Kasic, will serve as the awarding juror. Potter Kasic was essential to the artistic growth in the early years of the NEON District and recently returned to Norfolk as executive director of the Barry Art Museum.
"We are thrilled to turn our focus to curating and jurying an indoor art exhibition, after many years of creating murals and street art in the NEON District," said Rachel McCall, director of strategic initiatives for Downtown Norfolk Council. "Members of the art committee are very proud to be taking this step, especially with Charlotte by our side, and in a space we all love, the Texaco Building."
Open Call Details:
* Artists may submit up to three completed artworks for individual consideration
* All submitted works should be new and created within the last 2 years
* Significantly-conceived proposals for site-specific installations will also be considered
* Entries will be accepted in 2-D and 3-D visual art, including, but not limited to, paintings, drawings, photographs, sculpture, ceramic, glass, and metal art. Collaborative pieces are welcomed.
For all exhibition rules, including size restrictions and installation details, click here<https://neondistrict.submittable.com/submit/196847/homegrown-exhibition-call-for-artists>.
The open call went live on June 14, and submissions are due by July 6 at 11:59 pm. For more information and to apply, visit https://neondistrict.submittable.com/submit.
Norfolk’s first official arts district, NEON (New Energy of Norfolk), is home to long-time cultural institutions like the Chrysler Museum of Art and Harrison Opera House as well as studio-based ventures like d’Art Center and the Rutter Family Art Foundation, all providing artists a place to make, create and show. Within a few short blocks you can see a muralist at work, take in an improv comedy performance at Push Comedy Theater, watch a live glass-working demonstration, shop for unique home goods, get a tattoo or dine out at an eclectic restaurant. Learn more at www.NEONNFK.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @neonnfk.