Works needed for exhibition for adult artists with disabilities

The Frist Center announces a statewide Call for Works for an exhibition highlighting adult artists with disabilities. Entries are open to emerging and professional artists ages 18 years and older living in the state of Tennessee who have a physical, cognitive or mental disability (a disability is defined as an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity). All proposals must be submitted by Oct. 1, 2007.

The exhibition, scheduled from May 16 to Sept. 14, 2008 in the Frist Center’s Conte Community Arts Gallery, is conceived to provide an opportunity for emerging and professional artists with disabilities a showcase for their work, to promote disability awareness, and to help eliminate barriers for people with disabilities through the arts. All Frist Center visitors may view artwork in this gallery space free of charge.

Artists are asked to submit up to five slides or JPEG images of their work. Work size should not exceed 40 inches in width or height. Due to exhibition space limitations, three-dimensional work more than 12 x 12 x 12 inches cannot be accepted. Artists should not submit actual work for the review process. Applicants should include an artist’s narrative (no more than 200 words) and a personal artist statement (no more than 100 words). Entry forms and full details are available on the Frist Center’s website, www.fristcenter.org or by contacting Susie Elder at 615-744-3351.

“At the Frist Center, we have long been committed to reaching out to all areas of our community and beyond, and we are tremendously excited about this opportunity to again recognize the work of local artists in our state,” says Frist Center Outreach Educator Susie Elder, who is coordinating this exhibition. “We are pleased to be working with a number of advisors, organizations and community leaders in developing this wonderful exhibition, and we are particularly pleased that VSA arts Tennessee is offering sessions to help artists of all abilities learn how to develop portfolios of their work.”

VSA arts Tennessee Training Sessions

In conjunction with the statewide, juried exhibition, VSA arts Tennessee, with funding from the Tennessee Arts Commission, is offering free training sessions in five Tennessee cities for artists with and without disabilities. Artists will receive information on how to create a professional portfolio of their work and how to photograph work for submission to juried art exhibitions. In addition, a photographer will be present to photograph up to three pieces of artwork free of charge for artists with disabilities. Dates and locations for the sessions which all are scheduled from 1:00 ‘ 4:00 p.m.

‘ Saturday, July 14, Clarksville, Custom House Museum

‘ Saturday, July 21, Knoxville, Farragut Branch Library

‘ Saturday, July 28, Chattanooga, Downtown Branch Library

‘ Saturday, Aug. 18, Germantown, Germantown Library

‘ Saturday, Aug. 25, Nashville, Green Hills Library

Registration is required by June 25, 2007. More details on these sessions are available by calling (615) 826-5252 or by email at [email protected].

A panel of distinguished practicing artists, educators and arts administrators will select the final works for the exhibition. The selection committee will announce selected works for the exhibition by Nov. 15, 2007. All decisions are final. Late proposals will be not considered.