Call to Artists

Feminist Art: Contemporary Perspectives 

Dates: March 22–May 3, 2024

There is a long line of artists who have created feminist art – Judy Chicago, Faith Wildling, Ana Mendieta, Louise Bourgeois, Barbara Kruger, Betye Saar, Lorna Simpson, and many more. Their work continues to be relevant today as women and other marginalized genders are facing the same issues of oppressive body politics.

There is a present-day resurgence in feminist art, as well as an interest in the history of feminist art and its connection to current intersectional feminist political and art activism. Themes of the body, particularly the bodies of women and trans individuals, and how it is viewed in today’s society are open to reexamination. How are gender roles changing in a post-pandemic world? How do we talk about the experiences of marginalized genders and how these experiences are shaping female identities? In addition, this exhibition would like to examine the connection between contemporary feminist ideas and ecofeminism. Is ecofeminism relevant today? Does it offer a more holistic path to understand and live in the natural world?

These are only some of the questions we hope to have answered by contemporary feminist artists. Moreover, what are the implications of the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and end the Constitutional right to abortion? Restriction and lack of reproductive rights were some of the issues addressed by feminist artists in the 1970’s, and reproductive justice issues have had a particularly devastating impact on Black and Indigenous communities. In addition, the idea of domination over nature, its exploitative use by systems created in the patriarchal society and how it relates to gender is also open to reexamination.

Mosesian Arts accepts artworks of all media such as painting, printmaking, drawing, illustration, photography, 3D, mixed media, and video.

The call is open to all artists who reflect on these themes regardless of gender as well as artists who do not identify with any gender.

The work can be representational or conceptual in nature.

Important Dates:

• Deadline: February 12
• Announcing selected artists:  After February 20
• Opening reception: April 4, 5:30–7:30 PM
• Work Drop Off: March 9, Saturday, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and March 12, 10:30 AM–3:00 PM
• Shipped work arriving by: March 14
• Work Pick Up: Saturday May 4, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, Tuesday, May 7, 10:30 AM–3:00 PM
  *Please note that the Mosesian Center for the Arts reserves the right to make minor adjustments to the exhibition timeline.

About Mosesian Arts:

The Mosesian Center for the Arts is a multidisciplinary arts venue in Watertown, Massachusetts. The 30,000 square foot center, located within a former U.S. Army arsenal, houses a 339-seat main stage theater, a 100-seat black box theater, exhibition galleries, classrooms, and rehearsal studios. Mosesian Arts is located six miles from downtown Boston, borders the Charles River and Brighton, and is easily accessible from surrounding suburbs and Metro West. Programs include professional theater and musical performances, gallery exhibitions, literary and art discussions, and performing and visual arts classes and workshops for all ages.

Eligibility:

All artists regardless of location are welcome to apply, including international artists. Local artists may drop their work off on Saturday, March 9, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM and Tuesday, March 12, 10:30 AM-3:00 PM. Non-local artists work must be received at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472 c/o exhibitions by March 14, 2024. Non-local artists are responsible for shipping costs both to and from the MCA and are responsible for insuring their work while in transit. If shipping work, each artist must provide a pre-paid, UPS or FedEx return shipping label including insurance. Please pack your work in sturdy reusable packaging. The Mosesian Center for the Arts carries appropriate insurance to cover all artwork in the show for the duration of the exhibition, including the time frame of drop-off, installation, de-installation, and pick-up.

Additional guidelines: 

• Any work accepted for exhibition may not be removed or exchanged during the duration of the exhibition.
• Work must be framed and ready to hang with wires and screws. Saw tooth hangers and sandwich frames may not be used.
• Works on paper and smearable mediums such as charcoal and pastels must be protected under glass or acrylic.
• For framed artwork larger than 24” on the longest side, glass may not be used. Instead, artists must use Plexiglas or comparable acrylic glass.
• If used, mats must be white, off white, gray, or other neutral tones. Frames should be neutral colors (white, black, silver, gold, wood).
• Unframed stretched canvases must have the sides painted or otherwise finished to be integral to the work and must be dry.

Submission Fee:
$10 per submission. Limit 5 submissions per artist. Artwork must be submitted online here at: https://mca-feministart.artcall.org. To submit work, click the register or login buttons at the top of this page. There's an Application Process Tutorial if you'd like more info on the submission process.

Commission Structure:
Artists receive 60% commission, and the Mosesian Center for the Arts receives 40% for art sold during the exhibition. The Artist reserves all copyrights and reproduction rights on the artwork in the exhibition. Mosesian Center for the Arts may duplicate and reproduce images of work for purposes of public relations and exhibition announcements directly related to the exhibition.

The Mosesian Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Featured image:
Heather Hertel, Heather Floating