calls for art

The Dayton Society of Artists (DSA) is pleased to present MIDWEST AMERICANA, a regional call for lens-based artwork. All artists, 18 years or older and living or working in Ohio, Indiana, or Kentucky are eligible for entry. Each piece must be lens-based (including but not limited to photography, computer edited photos, video, etc.) but may have other mediums or techniques incorporated into the work. Traditional and non-traditional approaches are welcome, and the medium may be interpreted broadly. Art should fit into the theme, Midwest Americana. Francis Schanberger will jury the entries and $1,000 will be awarded in prizes.

Support for this exhibition is provided by FotoFocus.

CALENDAR

Submissions Due: Mon, August 5, 2024 by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time

Notification of Jury Results: Mon, August 12

Reception: Fri, September 13, 5-8 PM & Fri, October 4, 5-8 PM

Exhibition Dates: Fri, September 13 – Saturday, October 26

ABOUT

Dayton Society of Artists: The DSA is a non-profit, member-based organization. It was founded in 1938 and acquired a Victorian house in the 1960s, which was converted into a gallery. The DSA’s mission is to “connect, support, and educate artists and the community.” The DSA hosts various workshops and events throughout the year to fulfill its mission as well as hosts a variety of exhibitions. 

Tripod Camera Club: Tripod Camera Club is a non-profit organization located in Dayton, Ohio. It is designed for any individual - amateur or professional - that has an interest in photography. Membership is intended for local residents of the greater Dayton and Cincinnati areas. The club was organized in the early 1940's as a successor to a local NCR camera club. Today, we have approximately 90 members and many of our members are among the finest photographers and print makers in the area. Tripod Camera Club is DSA's community partner in the FotoFocus Biennial, providing support and educational opportunities during the exhibition.

FotoFocus Biennial: The 2024 FotoFocus Biennial, now in its seventh iteration, activates over 100 projects at museums, galleries, universities, and public spaces throughout Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton and Columbus, Ohio in October 2024. Each Biennial is structured around a unifying theme; for 2024 that theme, backstories, focuses on stories that are not evident at first glance. These stories offer context for what happened previously or out of view, providing narratives not yet told or presented from a new perspective.

FotoFocus welcomes global artists, curators, critics, educators, and regional visitors to Cincinnati with exhibitions, talks, performances, screenings, and panel discussions during an expanded week of programming September 26–28, 2024.

JUROR

Francis Schanberger received his Master of Fine Arts from the Ohio State University in 2002. He has been an artist in residence at the Headlands Center for the Arts (2005), Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts (2011) and Vermont Studio Center in 2013. He has exhibited at Soho Photo in New York, the Houston Center for Photography, the Free University of Brussels, as well as COHJU Gallery in Kyoto, Japan.

Midwest Americana: The DSA, along with local photography club, Tripod Camera Club will be holding an open call for work with the theme Midwest Americana.

The American Midwest, a vast area ranging from Ohio to the Dakotas, is a region distinct from the rest of the United States. In a broad sense, the American Midwest is known for cornfields, state fairs, factory towns, and humble values. Too often, it is a region defined by what it lacks. Largely due to its geography—vast plains and lack of coastline and mountains—it is often dismissed as “flyover country.” However, the Midwest has a rich culture all its own. As a broad area of America, its large cities, small towns, and rural areas differ from the Southern states, the Eastern New England states, and the West in certain definable ways. It is an area with a distinctive culture, history, architecture, and industry. Beyond the stereotypical broad view, a closer look reveals that, though the Midwest has a certain cultural flavor, within that culture, much variety exists. This photographic exhibition seeks to explore the forgotten history of Midwest Americana. It includes, but goes beyond, a romantic view of rural farm life, small towns, and industry. It considers the realties of urban blight, poverty, and inequality while also celebrating the cultural and artistic diversity and accomplishments of this region through its cities, small towns, industry, rural areas, and people.

Support for this 2024 FotoFocus Biennial exhibition was provided by FotoFocus.

ENTRY FEES

• $20 for the first image and $5/each additional image for up to 5 images total. (1 image: $20, 2 images: $25, 3 images: 30, 4 images: $35, 5 images: $40)
• Pay online by card when you submit your work.

REQUIREMENTS

• Artists must be 18 years of age or older and live and/or work in Ohio, Indiana, or Kentucky.
• Art must be professionally presented and ready to hang with wiring on the back, be displayed on a pedestal (maximum footprint of 15” x 20”) or sit on the floor. High Street Gallery uses a hook and rod system due to their plaster and lathe walls. For details visit: daytondsa.org/exhibitors. DSA is open to innovative installation solutions, but they must be pre-approved.
• 2D Art must not be larger than 48” wide x 60” tall or more than 30 pounds.
• DSA has two flat screen TVs and one projector for use. Any digital submissions must provide all additional hardware and software.
• Artwork must not have been exhibited before at the Dayton Society of Artists.
• Artwork may not be picked up before the close of the show.
• Submit up to five (5) lens-based works. Due to the nature of the theme, there is no restriction as to when the work was created but must be the original work of the submitting artist and professionally presented. Work that does not meet these two requirements is subject to disqualification.
• Object details are required for each work submitted: Title, Date, Medium, Dimensions, Sale price (or insurance price if “Not For Sales”), as well as a brief description of the work. How a work pertains to the theme, location within the Midwest, technique, time period, etc. are some examples of what could be written about in the description of a work.
• All applications submitted will be considered final and treated as such. Applicants will not be permitted to add to or edit an application once it has been submitted. All incomplete or duplicate applications will be immediately disqualified.