Call Description

The West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce invites artists to apply for the juried, purchase award exhibition: Awareness/Conciencia.
 

Four works will be selected and purchased from experienced artists for the design and execution of murals or large wall art, not exclusive of installation, large scale paintings and drawings that can be fixed to the wall, mixed media, relief work and photography will be considered as well as traditional mural techniques. 
 

The new center is a space for meetings, entrepreneurial conversations and gatherings. 
 

The purpose of the mural or wall art is to show a connection with the rich culture, materiality and design of modern Latin American art that incorporates and engages a contemporary and sophisticated theme and composition. Themes like nature, abstract art, interactive concepts focusing on identify, universal symbolism, archaeology, material as a point of departure and non-narrative story telling are encouraged. 

Site specifications: 
1. Wall A size: Stair Atrium 22’ W x 28' H. Piece needs to be self-hanging. Artist budget not to exceed $30,000.

2. Wall B size:11’ W x 8’ H. Artist Budget: not to exceed: $7,000.

3. Wall C size: 55’ W x 8’ H. Artist Budget not to exceed: $22,000.

4. Wall D size: 11’ W x 6’ H. Artist budget not to exceed: $6,000.

*Please indicate in your proposal which wall you are applying for and whether you will be working directly on the wall or assembling in your studio.

Each Artist will submit: 
-4 sketches in jpeg format in color of a single proposed concept or finished piece to include full image and details; selections will be made on the images submitted and the final work must adhere to the original submission. If accepted, the artist may need to submit more details regarding their project. Each entry MUST list wall placement.

-A brief narrative of intent or concept of the work, bio and artist statement must accompany each entry. 

-A non-refundable application fee of $30.00 for each entry must accompany the submission. 

Artists can submit up to three entries/applications. Each subsequent entry/application is $10.00. Artists may submit additional proposals by creating a second or third application on the CaFE Prospectus page.

All decisions by the Juror are final.

A time- table will be given to winning artists. 

Submissions Due by midnight EST March 7th with notification by Juror: March 16th.

No late or incomplete applications will be accepted.

Artists must be available for a May 2026 install.

Surfaces are new build primed drywall.
 

No religious iconography, text containing obscenities or nudity is accepted.
 

Some additional funds for housing and transportation may be available to selected artists.
 

Considerations: There is a flat screen TV to be incorporated into Walls B, C (two TV screens), and D. Selected artists will receive diagram of all measurements.

About the Juror: Margaret Vega, Professor Emerita of Painting at Kendall College of Art and Design is based in Grand Rapids, MI. She is currently President of the Atlantic Gallery in NYC and curator of the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Vega is in many corporate and personal collections in the US and Europe.
 

Personal Statement regarding her 2025 solo show at Atlantic Gallery in NYC: 
“I am a multi-disciplinary artist rotating between bodies of work to consider persistent questions. My current work is about query: validity and hierarchy in recording the slivers of time between moments. It is in these interstices that movement, awareness, and transition occur. In my work, I am inspired by the landscape, stone angels, blackboards, storytelling and artifacts all overlapping in their references and association to validate our human story".
www.mvegastudio.com

Application Requirements

Each Artist will submit: 

-4 sketches in jpeg format in color of a single proposed concept or finished piece to include full image and details; selections will be made on the images submitted and the final work must adhere to the original submission. If accepted, the artist may need to submit more details regarding their project. Each entry MUST list wall placement.
 

-A brief narrative of intent or concept of the work, bio and artist statement must accompany each entry. 
 

-A non-refundable application fee of $30.00 for each entry must accompany the submission. Artists can submit up to three entries. Each subsequent entry is $10.00.
 

All decisions by the Juror are final.
 

A time- table will be given to winning artists. 
 

Submissions Due by midnight EST March 7th with notification by Juror: March 16th

Eligibility Criteria

Each Artist will submit: 

-4 sketches in jpeg format in color of a single proposed concept or finished piece to include full image and details; selections will be made on the images submitted and the final work must adhere to the original submission. If accepted, the artist may need to submit more details regarding their project. Each entry MUST list wall placement.

-A brief narrative of intent or concept of the work, bio and artist statement must accompany each entry. 

-A non-refundable application fee of $30.00 for each entry must accompany the submission. Artists can submit up to three entries. Each subsequent entry is $10.00.

All decisions by the Juror are final.

A time- table will be given to winning artists. 

Submissions Due by midnight EST March 7th with notification by Juror: March 16th.