Contrive: A National Exhibition of Photo Manipulation and Surreal Photography

Description: Contrive is a national juried exhibition that features surreal photography and photo manipulation. This exhibition is open to all photography that involves transforming or altering a photograph using either digital or physical methods, such as long or double exposures, compositing, or digital software AS WELL AS photography that is surreal in content. Throughout history, photographers have created their own worlds using darkroom tricks and optical illusions. Today we can create our own peculiar worlds using real-life objects/settings, editing programs, or both. This exhibition is open to all artists living in the United States and will be juried by Amanda Bradley, and curated by d’Art Center Staff. The d’Art Center is Norfolk’s thirty-year-old art center and includes working professional artist studios and provides a wide variety of exhibitions and programming open to the public. The d’Art Center is located in the NEON district of Norfolk.

Exhibition dates:        Saturday, September 14th 2019 - Tuesday, October 8th 2019

Reception:            Thursday, September 19th 2019, 5:30-7:30pm

Call Open:                              Monday, July 8th 2019 - Sunday, August 11th 2019

Notifications (by email):         By 5pm, Friday August 23rd, 2019 

Accepted works arrive by:   Friday, September 6th, 2019

Submission fee:             $35.00 for up to 3 works  

Awards:

1st Place:            $500.00

2nd Place:            $300.00

3rd Place:            $150.00

Juror Biography: Amanda is a Norfolk native, and her background consists of management, art, freelancing, communications, and working with non-profits.  Amanda is a photographer and graphic artist. She earned her BFA in Photography and Print Media in 2013 at Old Dominion University. Her photography focuses mostly on photo manipulation work, and has appeared in the PFAC Genesis show, Compelling Images, the Amalgamation art exhibit, and several student art shows at ODU.  After obtaining her BFA, Amanda started her own freelance graphic design and photography business, Bradley Depictions. Her design work has appeared in many local advertisements, non-profits, events, business logos, and commercials.  Amanda's true passion lies in poster design and typography,  and her poster was chosen for Norfolk's 43rd Annual Harborfest Poster in 2019. Since July 2017,  Amanda has been working in Norfolk's NEON District at the d'Art Center as its Communications, Marketing, and Gallery Manager. She produces all of the graphic art and marketing material for the center, manages its social media presence, curates exhibitions, and manages the gallery. Amanda has curated over 15 national or local/statewide exhibitions, as well as several installations. Amanda designed the poster for this exhibition.     

Eligibility: This exhibition is open to all artists living in the United States. Work needs to have been produced within the last three years. Work may be no longer/larger than 48 inches in its longest dimension. The d’Art Center is a public non-profit art center open to everyone; as such, the content of submissions should be appropriate for all viewers. 

Submissions: All entries and payments must be submitted via Call for Entries (Cafe). Please follow the directions on Cafe. If you have exhibition questions, please contact abradley@d-artcenter.org; questions related to submitting through the Cafe platform should be directed to Cafe. 

Limitations: Works cannot exceed a weight of 40 pounds. Work can not be longer/larger than 48 inches in its longest dimension. All works must be equipped with hanging hardware for installation. Works that require special installation must come with clear instructions. Any works that require complicated specialized installation must be installed by the artist. We reserve the right to reject work for the exhibition that differs significantly from the submitted images and/ or for craft issues. Work must be presentation/display quality and hang ready. Binder clips and command strips are not considered presentation/display quality.

Liability: The gallery staff will take great care handling artworks for exhibition. However, the d’Art Center, its staff, and gallery are not responsible for any damage that may occur. We strongly recommend artists insure the works themselves, and purchase insurance from the shipping company used. Shipping your work means you agree to this.

Shipping: The artist is responsible for shipping costs to and from the gallery. All accepted works must arrive by Friday, September 6th, 2019 without exception. Hand delivered works are accepted through pre-arrangement; please contact abradley@d-artcenter.org. Artists must issue pre-paid return labels for their works through UPS or FedEx. We do not arrange shipping in any other manner. Works must have pre-paid return labels through FedEx or UPS to be returned. Please make your return label easy to locate in packaging. Any additional details on shipping will be included upon notification of accepted entries. Please no packing peanuts. Works should be shipped in reusable containers for return. Clearly indicate any packing directions for return of works. Works that do not include a return label, and works that are not picked up within one month of the end of the exhibition become property of the d’Art Center. 

Entry Fees and Materials: Artists may submit up to 3 artworks for consideration and the entry fee is $35.00. Commission for works is 60% (artist)/ 40% (d’Art), not including awards.

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria