Native Reflections: Visual Art by Native Americans of Kentucky

Traveling Exhibit, March-November 2020
Application Deadline: Feb. 5, 2020

CALL FOR ENTRIES

The Kentucky Arts Council, the Kentucky Heritage Council and the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission announce a call to Native American artists living in Kentucky to submit visual art for consideration in a new juried traveling exhibit. Goals of this exhibit are to share expressions of Native Americans’ experiences in Kentucky today, and recognize that Native American individuals, families and communities have lived in Kentucky all along.

Artwork will be chosen by a panel of individuals and experts of Native American heritage. This exhibit will debut at The Kentucky Crafted Market in Lexington, March 13-15, 2020, then travel to various galleries and host sites across Kentucky until November 30, 2020.

Eligibility

• This call to artists is open to federally recognized, state recognized, and unrecognized Native Americans, 18 or older, who are Kentucky residents.
  
  
• Artwork may be 2D work, such as painting and photography, or 3D, such as textile and beadwork. 2D and 3D pieces must be installation-ready for wall hanging. Each work must be no larger than 48 inches in height or width, 6 inches in depth, and no more than 30 pounds.

Exhibit Details

• There is no submission fee.
  
  
• To apply, the artist or a representative of the artist must fill out the online application form and email digital images of their work, 300 ppi resolution or greater.
  
  
• Slides, printed photographs, photocopies of artwork and original artworks will not be accepted for the jury process.
  
  
• The artwork must be original and completed within the last 10 years. Limit of two submissions per artist.
  
  
• Dimensions—including frame, if any—should not exceed 48 inches in height or width, and no more than 6 inches in depth. Weight should not exceed 30 pounds.
  
  
• Each art piece chosen for the exhibit will include an interpretive label with the title of the work, artist’s name, county, a brief artist quote and either federally- or state-recognized “Enrolled Member” status, or “Native Inspired Art” as required by law and custom.
  
  
• The artist may decide whether or not to offer their work for sale. Buyers must wait until the end of the exhibition in December 2020 to pick up their artwork in Frankfort.
  
  
• If works are accepted, it is the responsibility of the artist to deliver or ship the artwork to the arts council office in Frankfort February 11-21, 2020.
  
  
• Before submitting a piece for consideration, please make sure that you can provide the appropriate packaging for the piece. The arts council will transport the artwork to the first venue. Each subsequent venue will transport the work to the next venue. In order to protect the artwork during transport, all work MUST be wrapped in bubble wrap, or other protective wrapping, and then completely enclosed in a box. Do not use Styrofoam peanuts or shredded paper as packing material.
  
  
• An exhibit loan agreement form will be sent to all artists whose works are selected for this exhibit. This should be returned to the arts council with the work.
  
  
• All works will be insured by the Kentucky Arts Council.

Important Dates

Application Process

• Complete the online application form. Do not press the Enter/Return key while filling out the form, as this will submit the form prematurely. If this happens, you will have to start over with a new form. Save or print a copy of the confirmation page for your records.
  
  
• Label image files using your last name, followed by the code NR20, then the title of the piece. For example, if Jane Doe submits a piece titled “Spring Meadow,” the file name would be DoeNR20SpringMeadow.jpg. If you submit more than one piece that is untitled, label them sequentially: DoeNR20Untitled1, DoeNR20Untitled2, etc. Please do not use spaces or underscores in the file name.
  
  
• Email the image file or a link to download the image file to kyartscouncil@gmail.com.
  
  
• Within two to three days, you will receive an email confirming receipt of the application and images.

Acceptance

• Artists will be notified of acceptance to the exhibit via email around Feb. 10, 2020.

• Artwork MUST be packed appropriately for traveling. The exhibit will travel for approximately nine months and the artwork will be handled by many individuals. The work MUST be wrapped in foam or bubble wrap and packed in a cardboard box. Do not use packing peanuts or shredded paper. Elaborate packaging should include instructions for repacking.
  
  
• You may deliver or ship (via USPS, UPS or FedEx) the accepted works to the arts council office, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern.
  
  
• The KAC office is in the Mayo-Underwood Building in downtown Frankfort.
  The mailing address is:
  
  Kentucky Arts Council
  500 Mero St., Fifth Floor
  Frankfort, KY 40601

Questions?

For more information, contact Mark Brown, arts council folk and traditional arts director, at 502-892-3115 or mark.brown@ky.gov.