Call For Artists
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched…they must be felt in the heart.” —-Hellen Keller
Sight Unseen: challenging the visual in visual art
Zyp Art Gallery (Calmar, Alberta} invites artists from the non-visual community (blind, low-limited vision, colour-blind and partially sighted) and visual community to display their work as part of Zyp Art Gallery's Sight Unseen exhibition (May 3, 2024- July 31, 2024). Through participatory exhibits and educational events, the project aims to raise awareness among the sighted community about the challenges the non-visual community faces in the art world.
Background
According to CNIB, an estimated 1.5 million Canadians are blind or have limited sight. Although non-visual individuals are a significant proportion of our society, too few adaptations have been developed to meet their needs. Whether it is inaccessible infrastructure and architecture that hampers their daily mobility, or technological advancements ignoring their accessibility needs, or representation in media that portrays non-visual individuals as less capable -- the non-visual community faces perpetual barriers.
One space that continues to neglect the non-visual individual is the arts. As a medium meant to provide unrestricted freedom of expression, the arts and the industry surrounding it generally caters to the sighted community. This exhibition aims to highlight and bridge the inequity faced by non-visual individuals in the art world. Further, incorporating the works of non-visual artists, the project aims to improve accessibility and diversity in the arts and provide new ways for people to engage with the community.
Eligibility: Canadian-based artist who are from the blind, or low-limited vision community. Visual artists are welcome to submit.
Artists selected for the exhibition will be compensated. Further details will be discussed.
Submission Format:
Applications must be in PDF format via email to calmarartsociety@gmail.com.
Application must include:
i. An Expression of Interest describing the artist's art making practice and how the artwork or proposed artwork fits the theme of the Sight Unseen exhibition
Or for new artists, an Expression of Interest describing your interest in partaking in the exhibition and how you see your work fitting into the theme of the Sight Unseen exhibition.
ii. Artist’s CV or Resume
iii. Sample images of past work (JPEG or PNG via email) or link to your online portfolio, Instagram page, or website.
Dates:
Artist Application Deadline: January 8, 2024 (Competition now closed)
Successful Artists Notified: January 15, 2024
Artwork Received by Gallery: April 19. 2024
Exhibition: May 3, 2024 – July 31, 2024
Contact: For further information or in case of any queries, please contact us at calmarartsociety@gmail.com
(Sight Unseen exhibit is supported by a generous grant from the Alberta Government. We are grateful for their support.)
About Zyp Art Callery
Since 2018, Zyp Art Gallery has provided a space that amplifies the voices of the voiceless within our community. With physical and online art-based exhibitions, featuring diverse artists and indigenous performers. Zyp Art Gallery facilitates the appreciation of art and uses it as a medium to bring awareness and empathy to socially relevant issues. Through partnerships with local non-profit organizations, government bodies, and schools, with community engagement initiatives. such as workshops and educational programs. Zyp Art Gallery collaborates, empowers, and serves its community.
