Ag In Art 2024 Juried Exhibition Call for Artists
“We have neglected the truth that a good farmer is a craftsman of the highest order, a kind of artist.” — Wendell Berry
The Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council (ARCD) announces a call for entries for “Ag in Art,” a regional juried exhibition at Fischman Gallery in Johnson City, Tennessee. Artists are encouraged to submit work related to farming, gardening, farmers markets, food access, generational farming, land conservation, food systems, growing and harvesting food and goods, food justice, and other related topics. The Juror will be Heather F. Wetzel, Galleries and Collections Manager for Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Submission deadline: March 15, 2024. Exhibition dates: Friday, May 3 through Friday, May 31, 2024.
The Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving northeast Tennessee and beyond. ARCD provides training to farmers and gardeners, lends support to local farmers markets, and strives to improve the local food system. Our mission is to conserve natural resources and improve rural economies through community leadership and enhanced educational opportunities.
ARCD environmental conservation efforts ensure that our rural landscape be protected for future farming generations for the security and accessibility of healthy, nutritious food for all community members. From where we live, work, and play to what we eat and wear, agriculture connects us to our family, community, heritage, and even our health. Ag in Art is an exhibition that will explore the importance of agriculture in the everyday lives of people in the Appalachian Highlands through visual arts and storytelling.
Fischman Gallery is located in Atelier 133, a renovated warehouse space located at 133 N Commerce Street in downtown Johnson City. The space includes a gallery, 14 for-rent studios, and a bakery-café. The gallery is adjacent to King Commons Park and a block away from Founders Park and the Founders Park Pavilion, home of the Johnson City Farmers Market.
About the Juror: A practicing artist working primarily in historic photographic processes, hand papermaking, and book arts, Heather F. Wetzel is currently the Galleries & Collections Manager at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in the Great Smoky Mountains of Eastern Tennessee. Here she manages a robust exhibition schedule for four rotating galleries as well as the permanent collection which consists of over 1,000 works in a variety of arts and crafts media. She earned her Master of Arts & Humanities from Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania, her Master of Fine Arts in Visual Studies from the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, New York, and she completed the University of Iowa Center for the Book Graduate Certificate in Book Arts Technologies. Her work has been widely exhibited and can be found at the Anzenberger Gallery in Vienna Austria, Momentum Gallery in Asheville, NC, as well as in multiple collections.
Submission Requirements:
Theme: Artists can submit a work in any medium that speaks to or reflects a connection with agriculture. For example, works can feature imagery that connects to agriculture or be made of locally sourced or repurposed materials. In the submission form, artists will be asked to pick a word from a list of concepts that reflect the work, vision, and mission of ARCD. Artists may use these words as prompts for creating a new piece of art or describe how an existing piece fits into the Ag In Art theme.
Appalachia/Appalachian; Community; Conserve/Conservation; Food Justice; Generational; Growth; Heritage; Home Grown; Innovative/Innovation; Land; Local; Organic; Preserve/Preservation; Regenerative; Resourceful; Reuse; Sense of Place; Stewardship; Sustainable; Traditional
Eligibility: Regional artists aged 16+ residing in the ARCD service area of Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties of Tennessee as well as the adjacent counties of Lee, Scott, and Washington counties of Virginia and Ashe, Avery, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Swain, Watauga, and Yancey counties of North Carolina.
Entries: All submitted entries must be original and completed within the past five years. All-media Exhibition. Two-dimensional work must be ready to hang with appropriate devices; framed work must have a wire for hanging–no sawtooth hangers; work not to exceed 60” on longest side. Three-dimensional work may not exceed 100 pounds in weight and 2’ in diameter. For time-based work, artist must provide technology needed to display. Hand-delivery of work is preferred.
Artists may submit up to three (3) pieces for exhibit consideration. Each piece should be represented by one Hi-Res 300 dpi or greater image in jpeg or png format; no detailed views or images depicting the same piece from multiple angles. Photos should be labeled with artist’s last name and numbered in sequence from 1-3. The application will require information on the photo label, title of work, medium, and dimensions of work. Artists will also submit a written statement of 100 words or less that includes a description of their work and how it relates to agriculture.
Entry fee: $25 fee covers submission of up to three pieces for consideration.
Awards: Cash prizes for Juror’s Awards: first ($500), second ($350), and third ($200) place. The Peoples’ Choice Award ($100).
Exhibition Details:
Transportation, shipping, and related expenses to and from Fischman Gallery are the sole responsibility of the artist. Fischman Gallery will use the same shipping/delivery method used by the artist for return of artwork. If artwork is shipped, artist must supply a return, pre-paid shipping label. All work to be exhibited, whether hand-delivered or shipped to Fischman Gallery, must be received between April 25 and April 28.
The object(s), to include time of receipt, exhibition timeframe, and repacking period, will be insured by Fischman Gallery. Insurance during transport to and from the gallery is the responsibility of the lender.
Once accepted, artists will be required to fill out a Fischman Gallery loan agreement form.
Work may or may not be for sale during the duration of the exhibit. Work not for sale must be labeled NFS. Fischman Gallery will take a 30 percent commission for any work sold. Purchasers will be required to pay Tennessee sales tax. Artists’ checks for any work sold will be sent out after the show closes by the 15th of June.
Timeline:
Friday, March 15, 2024: Deadline for artists submissions
Monday, April 8, 2024: Notification of acceptance (by email)
Thursday, April 25 – Sunday, April 28, 2024, between 11:00 am – 4:00 pm: Displayed art pieces to be delivered to Fischman Gallery
Monday, April 29 – Thursday, May 2, 2024: Exhibit installation
Friday, May 3, 2024: Exhibition opening and announcement of juried winners
Sunday, June 2, 2024: Closing day of exhibition
Sunday June 2, 2024: Work can be picked up after 3 p.m. Arrangements can be made to pick up work by Tuesday, June 4, if necessary.
Click Here for the Ag In Art Submission Form
Click Here to Pay Your $25 Submission Fee
The Ag In Art Exhibit is funded by a grant from the Arts Fund for East Tennessee, a fund of the East Tennessee Foundation
The East Tennessee Foundation is a public charity and community foundation created by and for the people of East Tennessee. Serving 25 counties within East Tennessee, ETF consists of many donors joined together to make the region they love a better place. ETF seeks to build endowments, creating a permanent source of philanthropic funding for the East Tennessee region. For more information, visit www.easttennesseefoundation.org.