Overview

Mid-South Sculpture Alliance (MSA) is excited to present Solidarity, a curated exhibition held at Space One Eleven Art Center in Birmingham, AL during MSA’s 2024 Conference.

Solidarityis an exhibition dedicated to creative visual expressions on the complex dialogue surrounding rights and social justice. Artworks for this exhibition will address current topics such as racial justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, gender equality, immigrant and refugee rights, income inequality, indigenous rights, criminal justice reform and disability rights.

The intent of this exhibition will be to showcase a wide range of approaches and practices. The shape and content of the show will be defined entirely by the curators and will explore important and thought-provoking issues affecting and uniting people across the world.

MSA Professional Member Artists are encouraged to submit up to three artworks for consideration.

Application and Exhibit Timeline

Call opens: June 2
Deadline for submission: August 25
Artists to be notified: September 15
Shipping artwork deadline: October 18
In-person delivery deadline: October 18
Installation dates: October 18 - 23
Exhibition dates: October 24 - November 15 
Exhibition Reception: November 8, 6-9pm
De-installation dates: November 16-22
                                      

Artist Eligibility

• This opportunity is open to all professional visual artists, aged 18 and older, who are current or new Professional members of MSA. 

• Each applicant may enter up to THREE artworks; all entries must have been conceived and created by the artist submitting the artwork; all media suitable for indoor exhibition will be considered. 

• Applying for membership can be made when submitting for this exhibition.

• Application is free for MSA Professional members

Curators
The curatorial committee is composed of members of the staff of Space One Eleven and the Board of Directors from Mid-South Sculpture Alliance.

Site
Space One Eleven Art Center’s mission is to provide professional opportunities for artists, create a forum for public understanding of contemporary art, and offer arts education to area youth. They are located at 2407 Second Avenue North in Birmingham, Alabama.

The exhibition will be held in the AHA Gallery and small gallery with additional exhibition space in the storefront windows of the main entrance to Space One Eleven. Reference images are included in the Gallery Floor Plan section of this call.

Artwork Themes

Solidarity is an exhibition dedicated to creative visual expressions on the complex dialogue surrounding rights and social justice. Artworks for this exhibition will address current topics such as racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, immigrant and refugee rights, income inequality, indigenous rights, criminal justice reform and disability rights.

The intent of this juried exhibition will be to showcase a wide range of approaches and practices. The shape and content of the show will be defined entirely by the jurors and will explore important and thought-provoking issues affecting and uniting people across the world.

Catalog

An exhibition catalog documenting all accepted artworks will be produced after the exhibition run. Artwork images, artist statements and biographies submitted for the jurying process will be used for the catalog production. 

Shipping, Installation, and Deinstallation

All accepted artwork should either be shipped or hand delivered at the artist's expense. All shipped artworks must arrive by Friday, October 18th. All artworks requested to be returned by shipping must include a return shipping label in the arriving package. 

Shipping address:

Space One Eleven
2407 2^nd Avenue North
Birmingham, AL  35203
Attn: Curtis Stallworth

In-person delivery:

Please coordinate and schedule an in-person delivery with Curtis Stallworth, Programs Assistant, by phone at (205) 328-0553. 

Deinstallation 

Deinstallation will begin promptly on November 16.

Return Shipping: All artists requesting return shipping of artworks must include a return shipping label during delivery. 

Artwork remaining on campus after 45 days following the conclusion of its associated exhibition is considered the property of Space One Eleven for dispersal as it sees fit.

Artwork Scale

The exhibition space allows for free standing, pedestal, wall-hung and suspended pieces of varying sizes. Please contact Chelsea Gardiner, MSA Administrative Assistant, for suspended or wall-hung pieces weighing over 50lbs.

Limitation & Restrictions

1. All work must be original and completed within the last 5 years.

2. Wall mounted artworks must be ready to hang upon delivery and include anchoring hardware.

3. All shipping or hand delivery and the return of work for the exhibition is the responsibility of the artist.

4. MSA reserves the right to reject works that are misrepresented in the application process or are not properly outfitted to display in the gallery.

Artist Responsibilities

The artist will provide any specialty hardware that is needed. Selected artists are encouraged to send a detailed installation instruction of artwork. If needed, Artists may come during installation to set up their own artwork. Space One Eleven will supply power, tools, pedestals, basic installation materials and assistance for installation.

Notification: Both selected and rejected artists will be notified of their selection by email.

For further information regarding MSA and this exhibition, please visit www.midsouthsculpture.org, or contact Chelsea Gardiner, Administrative Assistant, at admin@midsouthsculpture.org or 803.956.9876

Application Requirements

1. Completed entry form 

2. Artist statement - about artwork conception. Submissions should be no more than 400 words in length. These statements will be used for exhibition didactics including artist labels and exhibition catalog.

3. Artist biography statement - 100 to 150 words in length

4. Images - please submit up to three artworks. Detail images are encouraged with a maximum of up to ten image files total. Works in progress will be considered only if images clearly depicting where the sculpture is to this point and a detailed technical drawing are included. For work better suited for representation by video (installation, kinetic sculpture, etc), post a video and include a link in the application form.
   
   Image upload directions - each image must be:

   • Saved in jpeg or png format

   • Set color to RGB

   • Image size should not exceed horizontal pixel dimension of 1600 pixels or vertical pixel dimension of 1200 pixels

   • each file must be less than 1MB

   • Saved as the artist's last name and image title.
     Example: DOE_UNTITLED.jpg
     
     

5. Image list - for each image, include:

   • Title

   • Date completed

   • Media

   • Dimensions (please be as accurate as possible)

   • Weight of artwork

   • Description of how the artwork would be installed/hung etc

   • Optional description about the artwork

Submitting your application indicates that you have read and understood all guidelines and criteria contained within this prospectus. To the best of your knowledge, you are eligible to be considered for this for exhibition. Your application contains your work and the information in your statements is complete and true. You understand that if accepted, it will be your responsibility to ship/deliver your exhibition ready artwork to the correct location and on time, concurrent with any schedules given to you upon acceptance. If accepted, the artwork presented with this application is the artwork that will be installed in the exhibit. 

Space One Eleven does not provide insurance for the artwork during the exhibition. The Artist assumes all liability and any injury or damages incurred directly from the artwork or associated malfunctions of equipment/technology in the exhibition. This includes damages to networks in conjunction with internet or server access required for the exhibition.

No person will be excluded from participation in or otherwise subjected to discrimination in regards to services, programs and employment, provided by the exhibition venue based on color, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, age or religion.