Manifest Gallery Seeks Entries for 'Semblance: An International Call for Portraiture'

Manifest Gallery Seeks Entries for 'Semblance: An International Call for Portraiture'

Website: http://www.manifestgallery.org/semblance/?fbclid=IwAR3p7yDAYIrtR3bZJnt__ZTnAXEz_nc_P1krRl2kq8QxwsFoH3PFMS5Yxbs

 Cincinnati, OH, Unknown

SEMBLANCE
An International Call for Works of Portraiture
At Manifest Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio

Submission Deadline: May 8, 2021

As they stated three years ago when we last approached the theme of portraiture, technology exacerbates people’s retreat into the upper limb of their body, encouraging portraiture on a mass scale in the form of social networks such as Facebook and Instagram with their flood of selfies. Facial recognition tools which help sort photos of friends and family based on images of their face, and video conference calling also put the focus on the front of the human head, and puts a premium on visual identity. The center of our humanity has coalesced into the mind, behind the face. When we think of each other, we (usually) start with the face.

Recognition matters. Throughout art history the ability of the artist to not only capture a likeness but also the character and spirit, if you will, of the subject has defined whole careers.

With this in mind they again offer this call to artists for works that address the portrait. All manner of interpretations, explorations, and machinations involving the portrait are welcome, including traditional and non-traditional approaches in any media.

This exhibit has no defined expectation for type or style of work to be considered or selected. Submissions can range from the most traditional to the most conceptual, abstract, or experimental of any media addressing this theme. This theme is very much open to interpretation by each artist.

ELIGIBILITY
SEMBLANCE is open to everyone. The only limitation is that entries must represent original works which address the broad theme described above. Submitting specific works shown previously in Manifest’s physical gallery exhibits is discouraged.

MEDIA
Open to any and all traditional and non-traditional visual arts 2d or 3d media.

Manifest’s carefully assembled juries change from project to project, and have no collective predisposition towards any particular kind or style of art.

SIZE LIMIT
Unless specified otherwise by the exhibit theme (for example, our Small Works exhibit) Manifest has no size restrictions on submissions other than what can fit in our spaces, on our walls, and through our door. Artists considering submitting who have work which may exceed these limits are welcome to contact us to inquire about specific limits (info@manifestgallery.org)

DATE RESTRICTIONS
Unless specified otherwise by the exhibit or project parameters Manifest has no requirements on timeframe when submitted works must have been made. At Manifest we do not believe great art has an expiration date. Furthermore we believe that older work gains new meaning when contextualized in a new space alongside different works by different artists. Why should an exceptional work of art cease being experienced by the public once it is just a few years old? In fact, why should it ever stop being experienced? While most work submitted to our exhibits has been made within the past five years or so, sometimes works are submitted (and accepted) that are older. Our jury process does not consider this information when scoring or selecting works for exhibit.

ANNUAL CASH AWARD
The annual Manifest Grand Jury Prize will result in the awarding of one significant cash prize ($2500) to a single work selected as the ‘best of the entire season’. Winner will be determined by a final end-of-year jury from among a pool of all top-scoring works from each exhibit’s jury process across the current exhibition season. This process will apply to exhibits from the start of our 17th season on September 25, 2020, and applies to each exhibit through August 2021, including this one. Details on the Manifest Grand Jury Prize can be found here.

Learn more and apply here.