Call for Art: The Aesthetics of Power

About the Open Call

This exhibition, juried by artist Mahwish Chishty, explores the contradiction of a world where tools of harm grow remote, outsourced, and hidden, yet their impacts rapidly shape our lives. Artists are invited to submit work that responds to this theme, where power hides in plain sight but leaves unmistakable marks. A.R.C. Gallery is drawn to work that surprises, reveals itself slowly, and occupies the fragile space where beauty unsettles. Special interest is given to work exploring: Cultural Memory and Erasure (preservation/re-imagining of cultural symbols, manipulation/erasure of tradition, artistic resistance to flattening/reframing of heritage); Ornament as Language (pattern as encoded meaning, ornament as shield/weapon, meditative aesthetics resisting violence); and Craft and Geopolitical Violence (traditional craft conversing with ominous themes, intersection of aesthetic tradition and geopolitical critique, domestic visual languages juxtaposed with anonymous institutional/political rhetoric). The call is for work that suggests more than it states, living in complexity, reflecting on how aesthetic interpretations carry the weight of history, how beauty might obscure or reveal power, and how finely wrought art can bear witness. Mahwish Chishty is an Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, known for merging new media and conceptual art with South Asian artistic traditions, with works in numerous collections and a Guggenheim Fellowship.

What is Offered

Selected artists will have their work exhibited at ARC Gallery. Works will be available for sale, with ARC Gallery taking a 20% commission (artists retain 80% after any PayPal fees).

Requirements

Original works created within the last 5 years are eligible. All mediums and materials will be considered, including video and performance-based arts. Projections or media installations will not be accepted due to space limitations. Work must arrive by scheduled dates and be equipped for professional presentation. A label with name, title, medium, and price must be attached to each work. Shipped work must include a pre-paid FedEx or UPS return label with a barcode. No U.S. Postal Service shipments. Work must remain for the full exhibition dates. Images must be JPG/JPEG format, labeled with Last name, Item #, Title, Medium, size, and date. Artists must submit a brief artist statement under 125 words, without including their name or resume details. Only selected work will be hung. No peanuts in shipping boxes. ARC does not assume responsibility or liability for accidents or damaged work.

How to Apply

Artists must submit their application in three steps: STEP 1: Upload images. Images must be JPG/JPEG format, labeled with Last name, Item #, Title, Medium, size, and date. Students must also upload a photo of their student ID. Images are uploaded to a Dropbox file. STEP 2: Fill out the application form. This includes personal information (name, email, phone, website, address, country), an artist statement (under 125 words, no name or resume details), and label info for each image (item number, title, dimensions, mediums/materials, date produced, price). STEP 3: Pay fees. Fees can be paid via Apple Pay or credit card. Standard fee is $40 for 3 images, $10 for each additional image. Students pay $25 for 3 images, with $10 for each additional. Submissions will not be reviewed until payment is received. An email receipt will be sent upon completion.