CALL FOR ARTISTS
Final Submission Deadline: June 23, 2024, by midnight
On View: August 11 to September 8, 2024
Curator's Statement: Makeba Kedem-DuBose
"The exhibition 'Migrations In Black And White | 2.0' explores the theme of freedom, tracing its evolution from 2020 onwards. Through various artistic expressions, it tackles urgent global issues such as the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict, the Me Too movement, challenges to abortion rights and female body autonomy, Black Lives Matter, worldwide protests against police brutality and racism, the removal of Confederate statues, migration crises, censorship through book bans, food insecurity, climate change, and the political landscape including an attack on the United States capitol, plus past and upcoming U.S. elections. Additionally, the exhibition encourages reflection on the dichotomy of seeing things in stark black and white, advocating for a nuanced perspective that acknowledges the complexities of our shared reality, where a balanced gray might be a more useful benefit to all concerned.
Summary: Migrations in Black and White | 2.0
The art exhibition titled "Migrations in Black and White | 2.0" is a bold showcase of black and white artworks, exclusively. With a thematic focus on the essence of freedom, it reflects on recent global events while projecting forward into the future. This exhibition stands out for its unique approach to color theory, allowing artists to use only black and white, defined in color theory as shade and tint, rather than colors. Globally and symbolically, black and white carry implications connected to culture, religion, race, life and death, and myriad other concepts.
Encouraging experimentation through sculptural design elements and the use of texture, the exhibition aims to create a distinctive and compelling experience. The title "Migrations in Black and White" reflects the striking graphic appearance of the works, limited to black and white. While artists have creative freedom in addressing disciplines, styles, subjects, and media, they must strictly use pure black and white, with no gray tones or mixing allowed. The only exception is for photo-based works, where photographers are expected to express the strongest possible contrast.
This exhibition represents an innovative and daring rethinking of the inaugural iteration, "Migrations in Black and White," which drew inspiration from the Great Migration, also spoke of freedom, and specifically spoke to the lack of visibility South side Chicago-based Black artists have in the northern stretch of the city. The curator, Makeba Kedem-DuBose, received both the curatorial and best artist awards for the first exhibition, selected by the City of Chicago as a featured program for Chicago Artist Month 2015. Originally intended to travel to various locations to expand its reach and impact, the exhibition garnered attention from multiple publications, including DNA Info Chicago, which featured an article by Rosalind Cummings-Yeates, who now serves as a juror for the 2.0 edition. The feature played a crucial role in enhancing the show’s visibility and engagement, promoting its message to a broader audience, thus generating greater awareness.
Considering the global response to recent events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing conflicts, alongside the aftermath of tragedies like the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and freedoms lost by all, the curator deemed it critical to consider all artists, but with a particular emphasis on BIPOC and women artists, who often face greater restrictions in the arts. "Migrations in Black and White | 2.0" aims to transcend past limitations by showcasing a diverse range of artists and perspectives. This exhibition offers a unique exploration of black and white as an artistic medium and prompts reflection on the artist's role in shaping the world, devoid of color.
- Featured Guest Artists - Cheryl R. Riley (New Jersey) and Tracie D. Hall (Chicago)
Confirmed Jurors Include:
- - Curator, Makeba Kedem-DuBose
- - Lead Juror, Patricia Andrews-Keenan, CEO/Founder, Pigment Magazine
- - Ana Croegaert, Curator, Field Museum of Natural History - Anthropology Department
- - Rosalind Cummings-Yeates, Award-winning author, journalist (arts, entertainment, travel)
- - Indira Freitas Johnson, Award-winning sculptor, curator, and peace advocate
We invite all interested artists to participate in current and future exhibitions of ‘Migrations in Black and White (MIBAW)’. To ensure smooth programming and effective marketing, kindly read, and submit the following materials in a single digital document to Makeba Kedem-DuBose at [email protected]. The nonrefundable submission fee of $22 may be sent to the independent curator via Makeba DuBose at Cash App ($MakebaDuBose).
• **Artist Statement: A concise statement (200-word max) tailored to this exhibition.
• **Artist Bio and CV**: Include your name, city, state, and contact information (350-word max).
• **Headshot**: Provide a black and white preferred headshot taken between 2020 and 2024 at 300 dpi (dots per inch/1500x2100 pixels) –professional photographer recommended
• **W9 Form**: Complete this form for potential art sales. All sales will be processed through Evanston Art Center. Do not submit form until it is requested. Once requested send to Emma Rose Gudewicz, Director of development and exhibition manager at [email protected]
• **Image Sheet**: Include 1-5 images of pure black and white works created between 2020 and 2024. Each image should include artist’s name, artwork's title, medium, dimensions (H” x W” or H’ x W’), completion date, retail price, and digital image size of at least 1200ppi (pixels per inch) – professional photographer recommended. Images should be labeled – artist’s first initial, dot, last name, hyphen, dot, image title, dot, (example – (J.Doe -Mother and Child.jpeg)
• Artwork Specifications:
• Artwork dimensions must not exceed 40” in any direction without pre-approval.
• 2D artworks should be gallery-ready - securely framed, wired, and labeled including artist’s name, art title, medium, size, date, and price. Artworks need not be framed but it’s suggested. If unframed, the artwork must be completed on all visible sides.
• 2D relief artworks must be securely prepared for hanging, including necessary materials.
• Sculptures, textiles, and installations must be freestanding, self-supported, and pre-approved via a curatorial studio visit.
• All artworks may not exceed 50lbs in weight.
• Frames may be pure black, pure white, pure black and white, or red only.
• Important Dates:
• Exhibition Dates: August 11 to September 8, 2024
• Location: Main Gallery, Evanston Art Center, 1717 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
• Press Submission Deadline: June 16, 2024, by midnight
• Final Submission Deadline: June 23, 2024, by midnight
• Opening Reception: August 11, 2024, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
• Closing Reception: September 8, 2024, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
• Special Programs: To be announced (artist talk, performances, speakers)
• Art Drop-off: August 2024, dates to be announced
• Art Pickup: September 2024, dates to be announced
We appreciate your attention to these guidelines. Failure to comply may result in the rejection of your submission. Thank you for your cooperation.