When HEAT comes, it’s invisible. It doesn’t bend tree branches or blow hair across your face to let you know it’s arrived. The ground doesn’t shake. It just surrounds you and works on you in ways that you can’t anticipate or control. You sweat. Your heart races. You’re thirsty. Your vision blurs. Plants look like they’re crying. Colors fade. The air smells burned. (adapted from author Jeff Goodell)

The year 2023 was the warmest year since global records began in 1850. In the future will we look back and remark how cool it was in 2023?  Where do we go from here? How do we keep our cool? What do we lose if we fail?

The Gainesville Fine Arts Association (GFAA) invites submissions for its 4th National Biennial Juried Exhibition - HEAT.  The theme for this exhibition is informed and inspired by Jeff Goodell’s searing new book, The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet. We are seeking artworks that relate to the first order threat and prime mover of all other impacts of our climate crisis - HEAT. Participants can use any medium. All approaches - traditional and non-traditional - are welcome. We are open to the plurality of styles and expressions that the word HEAT, the idea of HEAT, allows.

Skip Snow, Co-Curator
Katy Lemle, Co-Curator

ENTRY FEE:

The $35 entry fee is for 2 images
A $5 additional fee per image will be charged if you want to submit additional images up to 6.
If you would like to submit just one piece for consideration, please submit two images of the same piece, one full image and one detail. 

CURATORS: Skip Snow, Katy Lemle 

JURORS: 
- Jeff Goodell | Author, The Heat Will Kill You First
- Jane Gilbert | Chief Heat Officer - Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience
- Katy Lemle | Executive Director, Gallery Director, Curator at the Gainesville Fine Arts Association
- Skip Snow | Biologist, Artist, Curator

AWARDS: $4000 total in award money
One $1000 Best In Show award 
Four $500 Award of Excellence awards

TIMELINE:
Open call April 8, 2024

Submission deadline July 1

Artists notified July 15

Delivery of work August 14-21
MUST be in gallery by August 21

Exhibition dates - August 28 - October 19, 2024

Exhibition Opening Reception - August 30, 2024,  7 - 10 pm

Speaker Event - September 28, 2024, 6 - 8 pm

Application Requirements

Artists must be 18 or older to submit. Only original works will be considered, no substitutes and no reproductions will be accepted. All artwork must be ready to hang with proper hardware. Framed pieces that are shipped must use plexi. Hand delivered works may use glass. GFAA is not responsible for damage incurred during shipping. Artists shipping work must provide a return shipping label. Artworks should include a price or NFS. GFAA retains a 30% commission on all works sold during the exhibition. Any work sold during the exhibition must stay up until the end of the exhibition run.  

Eligibility Criteria

Artists must be 18 or older to submit.