Call Description

Thinking Through Tapestry is a juried exhibition featuring work that celebrates, explores, and builds upon specialized techniques often associated with tapestry. Thinking Through Tapestry invites artists to submit work exploring discontinuous weft-faced woven processes rooted in tapestry techniques such as wedge weave, pulled tapestry, the use of hachures, or other structures such as H.V. (Handarbetets Vänner also known as Theo Moorman technique). The exhibition seeks to highlight work illustrating the close relationship between tapestry weaving*, drawing, painting, and sculpture. Experimentation and inclusion of additional materials (such as clay, steel, or wood) are encouraged and welcome; however, the majority of the submitted work must incorporate mostly handwoven work.

The jurors for the exhibition are Emily Silver and Erin M. Riley. Emily lives and works in Los Angeles and is on the faculty at Santa Monica College in the Sculpture Department and the Director/Curator of the Pete and Susan Barrett Gallery. Emily holds a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and an MFA from Penn State University. She is also the co-founder of L.A. Tactile Lab, along with Svetlana Shigroff and Liv Aanrud. Erin M. Riley is a Brooklyn-based artist whose work focuses on women and women's issues primarily in hand-woven, hand-dyed wool tapestries. Riley's work challenges society's comfort level by displaying shocking images, including nudity, drugs, violence, self-harm, sexuality, and menstruation.

A catalog will accompany the exhibition. Artists do not have to be members of the American Tapestry Alliance to submit work. 

*The American Tapestry Alliance defines tapestry for this exhibition as any work created through a woven process on any type of loom resulting in a weft-faced structure utilizing a discontinuous weft.

Exhibition Venue:
Evanston Arts Center
1717 Central St.
Evanston, IL 60201

Calendar:

October 15, 2025                    Entry opens
January 31, 2026                    Deadline for Call for Entry
February 15, 2026                  Artist Notification
May 31-June 28, 2026            Opening 1st Sunday, 1-4 pm

Press & Promotions
The American Tapestry Alliance is committed to promoting and elevating contemporary work in tapestry. In addition to a catalog featuring all artists included in the exhibition, ATA will be promoting the exhibition in regional and national art publications. Additionally, the Evanston Art Center will submit an exhibition listing to local agencies in Chicago, including New City Magazine, Chicago Gallery News, and other relevant media outlets.

Awards
Two awards will be given.
First-place Teitelbaum Award for technical proficiency in tapestry weaving will be awarded to an artist selected by the jurors with a monetary award of $300.

Second-place Teitelbaum Award will also be awarded to an artist selected by the jurors with a monetary award of $200.

Application Requirements

Applicants may submit up to three works for consideration. Applicants will need to provide the following materials:

·      Total of 6 images (1 overview, 1 detail of each work)
·      Artist statement related to the work submitted
·      Artist biography (3-4 sentences)
·      Title, media, size, and year completed for each work submitted
·      Contact information, including website and social media handles

ATA Member: $45, ATA Non-Member $70 

Eligibility Criteria

Entry to the American Tapestry Biennial is open to all artists who design and weave their own tapestries either individually or collaboratively (as long as all artists are named). Artists from any location may apply. Please note that artists are responsible for shipping their work to and from the exhibition venue. Members of the American Tapestry Alliance receive a discount for entry, but membership is not required to enter.