The Delaware Valley Arts Alliance is inviting artists across disciplines to take part in a new call for entries that aims to capture the breadth of creativity in the Upper Delaware River Valley while marking a milestone year for the organization.
The open call, titled “Revolutions,” encourages submissions from both emerging and established artists and is intentionally broad in scope. According to gallery manager and co-curator Tanner Simon, the theme is meant to be interpreted in multiple ways — from political or social upheaval to personal transformation or cyclical change.
“Revolution” can describe work that is “groundbreaking” or “defies expectations,” Simon said, but it can also refer to rotation, cycles, or historical movements such as resistance to the status quo. The goal, he said, is to leave the theme open-ended enough to invite a wide range of artistic responses across mediums.
The call is part of DVAA’s broader effort to celebrate its 50th anniversary, a milestone that executive director Ariel Shanberg said is as much about looking forward as it is reflecting on the past.
The anniversary programming includes four exhibitions, two of which will open the celebration by inviting community participation. In addition to “Revolutions,” DVAA will present “One for All,” an exhibition designed to evoke the organization’s early years when group shows emphasized inclusion and community engagement.
For “One for All,” artists are asked to submit a single work no larger than 20 by 20 inches. Pieces must have been created in or after 1976, the year DVAA’s visual arts program was founded. Organizers are also encouraging submissions from collectors, families, and others who may hold works by artists who exhibited with DVAA over the past five decades.
Drop-off for that exhibition is scheduled from May 28 through June 7, with organizers anticipating a large-scale installation featuring potentially hundreds of works.
The submission process for “Revolutions” differs in that it is conducted entirely online. Artists may submit up to 10 images along with a written statement explaining how their work connects to the theme. The deadline is midnight May 8.
Simon said the jurying process will focus on how thoughtfully artists engage with the theme, whether through traditional interpretations or more unexpected approaches. He added that submissions that “speak to the call” in a meaningful or surprising way are more likely to stand out.
Shanberg noted that artists have historically played a key role in documenting and shaping moments of change, pointing to movements where art intersected with activism and social awareness. He said the exhibition may also include documentation or materials tied to artist-led movements that contributed to broader cultural shifts.
Organizers emphasized that the call is open to anyone, including those who may be submitting work for the first time.
“This is about building momentum for the next 50 years,” Shanberg said, encouraging new artists to participate alongside more established voices.
DVAA is a financial supporter of Radio Catskill.
Image Credit: Delaware Valley Arts Alliance