PALIMPSEST: EXPLORING CONTEMPORARY CALLIGRAPHY 

An Exposition for Southeast Calligraphers

Exhibition Dates: 10/01/21 - 11/30/21
Submissions due: 09/01/2021

Call: More than three decades have passed since we first sponsored an exposition of calligraphy by calligraphic artists in North and South Carolina. 30 years ago, calligraphy in the Southeast was just burgeoning. The show was composed of works with exquisite calligraphy in small formats. As a part of the Bob Jones University Division of Art + Design (BJU A+D) Legacy Series exhibitions, we invite calligraphers and lettering artists in Southeastern United States to submit work displaying significant exploration of contemporary innovations in the art of fine lettering. This call is also open to all Bob Jones University Alumni!

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pal·imp·sest  /ˈpaləm(p)ˌsest/

1) a manuscript or piece of writing material on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for later writing but of which traces remain. 2) something reused or altered but still bearing visible traces of its earlier form.
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Manuscripts dating back to 200 BC use valuable animal skin as a calligraphic surface. Occasionally, monks or scribes would scrape off old writings and record new information on the same parchment. Many years later, the old layers have become visible once more creating a palimpsest. Palimpsest seeks to peel back the surface to explore those layers. This year’s theme asks applicants to explore this theme in their own unique way.

The historical layering of knowledge stems from early manuscript writing and illumination to recent playful manipulation of letter forms. Donald Jackson, Thomas Ingmire, and Brody Neuenschwander are but a few contemporary masters who have taken calligraphy to the next level. As a response to computer-generated typography, a number of artists and designers, such as Niels Meulman, Tobias Saul, Neil Secretario, and Jake Weidmann, have looked to hand-lettering to expand their ability to express ideas.

To encourage the present generation of Southeastern US calligraphers to continue this kind of innovation, we call for work that creatively responds to the theme, Palimpsest, while exemplifying technical proficiency. Such exploration can be created in 2-D in any stable medium on any flat surface that can be matted and framed, in 2-D on a gallery ready support, or in 3-D in a stable form including original art books. The 2021 ECC will be juried by calligrapher and retired Art + Design faculty member, Kathryn Bell.

Juror: Kathryn Bell, retired Department Head of Department of Art Education, School of Education, Bob Jones University will lead a small panel of jurors. Bell has 40 years of experience in calligraphy and lettering in a variety of scripts and techniques. Bell was awarded the article of distinction from Graphics Philately Association in 2016.
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ARTWORKS WILL BE OFFERED FOR SALE AT A PRICE SET BY THE ARTIST WITH A 15% COMMISSION FEE DEDUCTED FROM THE SALES PRICE. Artists can choose to designate work as "not for sale."

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Eligibility: Open to artists who live in Southeastern United States and are 18 and older. Open to all BJU Alumni. Submissions must be original works created within the last five years, including but not limited to pen & ink, printmaking, mixed media, bookmaking, sculpture. Due to the educational purpose of the exhibition and University mission, works that are explicit in language, content, or tone will not be considered for selection. 

Display: Frames will be provided by Bob Jones University for the duration of the exhibition for each selected flat piece. In order to ensure that your artwork will fit into the frame, each piece must arrive matted in or mounted on a horizontal or vertical, 16 x 20 inch or 24 x 36 inch white or off-white mat. If your flat piece is not matted or mounted, it will not be displayed. If the entry is a 3-D, gallery-wrapped canvas, mounted panel piece, or calligraphic book (with appropriate binding), it must be gallery ready and have instructions about how the artist prefers it to be displayed.

Works Accepted: Results of the selection process will be emailed to all entrants the week of September 7, 2021. Each piece selected for exhibition must be received by BJU A+D no later than September 24, 2021. Shipping to and from the exhibition are the artist’s responsibility. Please include a return label with your artwork.

Images and Catalog: Each artist may submit up to three pieces, represented in a digital format (JPEG only) with file dimension of no less than 1200 pixels on the longest side and no greater than 5MB. The digital files must be print quality for an archived full-color catalog. By entering this exhibition each artist grants consent for the use of submitted images for reproduction in a web catalog, for publicity and for educational purposes. Images should be cropped to the edges of the artwork. If selected, the digital files must be print quality for an archived full-color catalog and the no less than 300 dpi at 5 x 7 inches or 1500 x 2100 pixels.

Entry Fee: A nonrefundable $30 entry fee permits each artist to submit up to three works. Your fee covers expenses involved with the submission process, framing the selected works, and a juror honorarium. Any additional funds will support the educational mission of the BJU A+D exhibition committee to expose students to high quality guest artists.

Sales: The sale of prints in the exhibition will be promoted, although artists can choose not to sell their work by indicating NFS. We will collect payment for any work purchased plus 6% sales tax. A commission of 15% will be retained from the sale price. At the end of the exhibition, works not sold will be returned to the artist in the same package they came in using an artist-provided return label. Payment for sold works will be sent by check. Sales are encouraged.

Location & Date: The exhibition will be held in the Art + Design Department Exhibition Corridor in the Sargent Art Building on Bob Jones University campus, Greenville, SC, opening (TBD) during normal hours of operation.

Entry Process: Each entrant may submit 3 entries for consideration through CaFÉ (https://www.callforentry.org/). The entry fee of $30.00 will be collected at the time of submission. The sale price should be included on the entry form, or if the artwork is not for sale, indicate as NFS.

Contact Jared Stanley, jstanley@bju.edu with questions.

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria