OPEN CALL
OPEN15 is an open call for artists reflecting the vast scope of art being made today worldwide. As implied in the name, OPEN15 is a universally open invitation for artists to submit works of art in any media, whether it is painting, drawing, or sculpture, or in any style whether it is abstract, cubist, or realistic.
OPEN15 is strongly focused on the mastery of medium, the vision, and the concept which are the main curatorial guidelines of FRONT. We are looking for works of art that are uncompromisingly honest, a feast for the senses, and fearlessly surprising.
FRONT’s mission is to exhibit, promote and sale a wide range of exemplary works of art in all media, and advance the professional career of talented emerging and mid-career artists from local, national, and international communities.
LEVELS OF RECOGNITION
Juror's Selection: NYC Art Fair – One artist selected from Juror's Triad to participate in the New York City Affordable Art Fair, Spring 2016 along with a group of artists presented by FRONT art space. This award will include an additional group show at FRONT art space during the month of the Affordable Art Fair.
Juror's Triad: NYC Group Exhibition – Three artists selected from OPEN15 finalists to show in the juried exhibition at FRONT art space in New York City to run during the month of June, 2015.
OPEN15 Finalists: Publication & Online Exhibition – Thirty artists selected to be published in printed catalog and to shown in online group exhibition at FRONT art space’s website. Each finalist will receive a free copy of the catalog.
Art Acquisition Awards - Up to $1000 in art acquisition awards from the finalists pool.
Guest Juror: LOTHAR OSTERBURG
artist | printmaker | educator
German-born, New York City-based artist and printmaker Lothar Osterburg has etched a name for himself in the art world as a rare practitioner of photogravure. His uncanny photogravure images, all with a sense of suspension somewhere between the real and the imaginary, are achieved by a long and labor-intensive journey through time and space. Mr. Osterburg constructs tiny models for each of his pieces, which are placed within different environments, natural or man-made. The final photograph depicts what appears to be a life-size situation rendered in soft focus, with an infinite range of velvet blacks and rich grays, with scratches and traces from the printmaking process.
His mastery of the technique of platemaking and printing, in addition to the total control and precision with which he produces his work, has given him wide recognition in the art world: Mr. Osterburg was nominated for the Pulse Prize in the 2014 edition of PULSE, one of the most important contemporary art fairs. In 2013, the NYC MTA Arts for Transit commissioned Mr. Osterburg 'Zeppelins in Grand Central'. His piece was displayed throughout 2013 in all NYC subway cars. The model and original photogravure for 'Zeppelins…' was included in the exhibition “On Time - Grand Central at 100" at the New York Transit Museum Gallery in Grand Central. In 2010, Mr. Osterburg was awarded the prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship. Also, in 2010 The American Academy of Arts and Letters selected Mr. Osterburg as one of five recipients for the "Academy Awards in Art". In 2009 he received various awards including a NYFA Grant for Printmaking, an art residency in Japan, and a grant from the AEV Foundation.
In addition to his practice as an artist, Mr. Osterburg is in high demand as an educator and as a master printer in photogravure and intaglio. His work has been exhibited worldwide, including the III Print Biennial at ICPNA in Lima, Peru, the Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery, the Lesley Heller Gallery, and at Moeller Fine Art, among others. His work is included in the collections of the New York Public Library, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chazen Museum of Art in Madison, the Fine Arts Museum Houston, the Fitchburg Art Museum, the Jersey City Museum, and the Library of Congress. Mr. Oterburg is on the art faculty of Bard College and the Cooper Union.
To see some of Mr. Osterburg's work and learn more about his technique, please click here to visit his website.
OPEN15 Guidelines
Thank you for your interest in OPEN15. Please read the guidelines in full and find the required Entry Form at end.
There are four main parts to OPEN15 guidelines:
A. IMPORTANT DATES & GENERAL INFORMATION
B. SUBMISSION INFORMATION
C. SELECTION & AWARDS
D. AGREEMENTs
A. IMPORTANT DATES & GENERAL INFORMATION
IMPORTANT DATES:
APRIL 30 - Early Submission Deadline
MAY 14 - Regular & Student Submission Deadline
June 4 - Deadline to recieve artwork for group exhibition at FRONT art space
PARTICIPATING:
Any artist/creative individual over the age of 18 is eligible to submit works for consideration. We require original art pieces created in the last 4 years.
TYPES OF WORK:
OPEN15 welcomes submissions of all artistic/creative media - including, but not limited to painting, drawing, collage, photography, and sculpture. FRONT is open to works of art in any style; from realistic to conceptual and welcomes all approaches to art making from traditional to experimental.
WORK SIZE:
Technically there are no size restrictions, but please take into account the size of the exhibition spaces, and the shipping costs to and from our gallery. FRONT has two gallery spaces; our storefront space which has three 6ft wide by 13ft tall walls, and our second floor gallery which is approximately 1000sf in floor space with 12ft ceilings.
PARTICIPATION FEE:
Early Registration $25 for up to three submission, $5 for each additional entry
Students $15 for up to three submissions, $5 for each additional entry
Regular Registration $35 for up to three submissions, $8 for each additional entry
NUMBER OF WORKS:
While one work will be the minimum, there is no limit as to the number of works to submit. We encourage you to submit between three (3) and six (6) works so that the Guest Juror and the Selection Committee gains insight into your artistic pursuits.
B. SUBMISSION INFORMATION
IMPORTANT MESSAGE:
IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE OPEN CALL YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FOUR STEPS:
1 - SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FORM | 2- SUBMIT IMAGE INFO FORM | 3- SUBMIT ENTRY PAYMENT | 4 - EMAIL YOUR ENTRY IMAGES.
SUBMITTING IMAGES:
In an effort to conserve resources, FRONT art space accepts only digital submissions for consideration: images and entry form. FRONT will retain submitted images of all selected artwork and reserves the right to use the images in publications and promotional materials.
Images must be sent via email to: OPEN15@frontartspace.com. In the subject line please include: OPEN15 First Name - Last.
Images must meet the following specifications:
NAMING FILES:
Please name all of your entry files as follows:
artist's last name (underscore) first name, followed by the entry number from the entry form
Example: Smith_John_1.jpg.
There is no need to include any other information in the file name such as title, media, year, etc. - you will include any and all technical information in the Entry Form.
Additional Detail Images - If you think it is absolutely necessary to submit detail(s) to support a particular piece, you are welcome to do so; just be sure not to miss adding ‘detail’ to the name of your file. Otherwise, the entry system will count it as an additional entry and it will charge a corresponding fee. Please limit your detail images to two per entry.
Example: Smith_John_1_detail1.jpg
Please make a note on the Notes section of the Entry Form if you are submitting detail images.
There is no need to submit resume, C.V., or bio at this stage of the call. If you are notified as being one of the finalists, we will ask you then to provide us with these documents.
FORMATTING IMAGES:
Format - Entry image files should be in High Quality JPG Format ONLY, In Full Color.
Files in TIFF, PDF, RAW, or any other format other than JPG will be automatically disqualified.
Size – Entry image files should be no smaller than 1000 pixels in any direction (about 13'') and be exactly 72dpi. This should result in most image files ranging from 700kb to 2mb in file size. No file bigger than 3mb will be accepted.
Images must be oriented properly (i.e. top of image is top of artwork) and should not include any text on the borders, unless it is considered part of the actual work.
SUBMITTING TIME-BASED WORK :
FRONT art space requests that all video or interactive submissions be in the format of a link to a viewable online copy of each work. The sample should be shown online in its full length. It is understood that online versions of video files may be of lower quality due to file compression and/or Internet formatting.
Please note that a .JPEG still image should still be submitted along with the link and listed in the entry form. FRONT art space will represent video works via still images in publications, so please be selective on your video stills. Please email us if you have any uncertainty about this at front@frontartspace.com with the subject line AV-Question.
Links to video support materials should be provided on the entry form for each entry in the "Notes" section on the form, and should link directly to online streaming content that does NOT require a password or membership to view. YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, or similar platforms will be acceptable. Effort should be made to eliminate confusion or extraneous information that may interfere with the jury's viewing of the work. Any extraneous information, or material not considered to be "the work" itself will detract from the jury’s score for that submission.
Please ensure that links to video material remain valid/active through the notification of jury results.
C. SELECTION & AWARDS INFORMATION
SELECTION AND AWARDS:
OPEN15 will be juried by a Selection Committee composed of 4 to 6 members including one Guest Juror. This team is made up entirely of artists and art professionals with a broad range of expertise relative to art, architecture, and design, and with educational backgrounds including the Yale School of Art, the Cooper Union, the Pratt Institute, and Hunter College.
The Guest Juror and the Selection Committee will confer the following levels of recognition and awards:
Juror's Selection: NYC Art Fair – One artist selected from Juror's Triad to participate in the New York City Affordable Art Fair, Spring 2016 along with a group of artists presented by FRONT art space. This award will include an additional group show at FRONT art space during the month of the Affordable Art Fair.
Juror's Triad: NYC Group Exhibition – Three artists selected from OPEN15 finalists to show in the juried exhibition at FRONT art space in New York City to run during the month of June, 2015.
OPEN15 Finalists: Publication & Online Exhibition – Thirty artists selected to be published in printed catalog and to shown in online group exhibition at FRONT art space’s website. Each finalist will receive a free copy of the catalog.
Art Acquisition Awards - Up to $1000 in art acquisition awards from the finalists pool.
PARTICIPATING IN NYC AFFORDABLE ART FAIR 2016:
The artist selected to participate in the NYC Affordable Art Fair Spring 2016 along with the FRONT group, must deliver original pieces of art created in the last five (5) years. The works should arrive ready to install. All pieces MUST be available for sale. Every piece delivered must comply with standards of professional presentation and craftsmanship. Works not complying with any these requirements will be omitted from the fair.
Work may be hand-delivered or shipped. If shipping, works must be packed in a reusable container with return shipping prepaid. Works will be returned in the same manner as delivered. All work must be delivered at FRONT art space at dates to be determined closer to the fair. Work will be on display for sale for the duration of the fair, dates to be confirmed. If the work was hand-delivered, it must be claimed within 30 days of the end of the fair otherwise it will become the property of FRONT art space. The artist is responsible for all delivery/shipping costs to and from FRONT.
Fair Insurance:
Works will be insured while on the fair premises and in accordance with the fair’s insurance policy. Insurance will not cover any damaged artwork due to any of the following reasons: failure of the work itself; failure of its mounting systems; breakdown due to the nature, materials or craftsmanship of the piece; or by failed mounting instructions given by the artist. Note: Insurance does not cover damage caused during delivery/shipping of the work to/from FRONT.
Fair Sale of Artwork
All work MUST be available for sale for the fair. FRONT art space works with a 50% artist - 50% gallery commission on all pieces sold during the fair.
EXHIBITING IN GROUP EXHIBITION at NYC FRONT art space:
The three (3) artists selected to participate in the group exhibition OPEN15 at FRONT art space in NYC must deliver original pieces of art, created in the last 5 years, in ready-to-install condition. All pieces MUST be available for sale. Every piece's delivery must comply with standards of professional presentation and craftsmanship. Works not complying with any these requirements will be omitted from the exhibition.
Work may be hand delivered or shipped. If shipping, works must be packed in a reusable container with return shipping prepaid. Works will be returned in the same manner as delivered. All work must be delivered at FRONT art space by June 4, 2015. Work will be on display for the duration of the exhibition from June 11 - July 2, 2015. If the work was hand delivered, it must be claimed within 30 days of the end of the exhibition otherwise it will become the property of FRONT art space. The artist is responsible for all delivery/shipping costs to and from FRONT.
Exhibition Sale of Artwork
All work MUST be available for sale for the exhibition. FRONT art space works with a 60% artist - 40% gallery commission on all pieces sold during the exhibition.
INCLUSION IN PUBLICATION & ONLINE EXHIBITION:
OPEN15 Catalog - The OPEN15 printed catalog will be designed and published by FRONT and it is expected to be available for shipping by the end of 2015.
OPEN15 Online Exhibition – The OPEN15 Online Exhibition will be launched in conjunction with the group exhibition and remain active for the duration of the show: June 11 to July 2, 2015. After the show dates, the Online Exhibition will be filed in FRONT’s archives and will remain accessible at all times.
Hi-Res Images - The thirty (30) selected artists notified as finalists MUST e-mail us high-resolution images by May 25, 2015 in order to be included in the OPEN15 Printed Catalog and Online Exhibition.
ART ACQUISITION AWARDS
At the discretion of FRONT art space, up to $1,000 could be awarded in art acquisition from the pool of 30 finalists. Acquired pieces will become part of FRONT art space collection.
D. AGREEMENTs INFORMATION
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
By submitting the OPEN15 Entry Form you are in full agreement with the terms and conditions of this open call as outlined in these guidelines. If you don't agree with any of the requirements stated above, please DO NOT submit the entry form.
ARTIST/GALLERY AGREEMENTS
NYC Art Fair - The finalist selected to participate in the NYC Affordable Art Fair Spring 2016 will receive an Artist/Gallery Agreement prior to the event.
NYC Group Exhibition - The three finalists selected to participate in the OPEN15 Exhibition at FRONT art space in NYC will receive an Artist/Gallery Agreement prior to the event.
CALENDAR
April 30, 2015 Early Registration deadline
May 14, 2015 Student/Regular Registration deadline
May 18, 2015 Notifications emailed to all entrants
May 25, 2015 HI-Res images to FRONT due
June 4, 2015 Artwork delivered/shipped to FRONT art space
June 11-July 2, 2015 Exhibition dates for OPEN15 at FRONT art space
June 18, 2015 OPEN15 exhibition opening
July 2, 2015 Last day of OPEN15 Exhibition at FRONT art space
July 16, 2015 Last day to pick up hand-delivered artwork
July 23, 2015 Expected date for returned artwork (shipped)
QUESTIONS?
Please e-mail us any questions or concerns at: front@frontartspace.com with subject line "OPEN15-Inquiry".
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!
Please feel free to share or forward the OPEN15 call for artists. Come visit us whenever you are in New York City!