To see "through a glass" — or mirror — "darkly" is to have an obscure vision of reality. The expression comes from the writings of the Apostle Paul; he explains that we do not now see clearly, but at the end of time, we will do so. 

Historically, glass has augmented human perception, allowing us to view parts of the world that are otherwise elusive to our limited natural senses. While revealing the minuscule and distant, preserving the fleeting, and encapsulating the fragile and reactive, glass also obscures out perception of the very things it helps us to observe. The nature of the material is two-sided, it both enhances and subverts vision; glass is an instrument for enlightenment, and at the same time, it is a driver of misinformation. 

"Through a Glass, Darkly," will be on display at The Delaware Contemporary, September 1 through December 31, 2022, and will include new and recent works by artists working with glass and glass-related materials and processes, exposing the material's dual nature. This exhibition will span across six galleries and will occupy more than 6,000 square feet. Selected works will engage the historical promise and power of the material to reveal and to bring clarity, while challenging viewers to acknowledge an inherent interconnectedness between enhancement and distortion. 

We are looking for new and recent works containing glass and glass-like materials and processes, created by artists of all experience levels. We are interested in work ranging in scale and format from discreet objects to large installations, that challenges conventional notions of what glass is and can do, and creative interpretation of the exhibition's theme. 

Timeline

• September 1, 2021: Open Call
• November 1, 2021: Application Deadline
• January 15, 2022: Artist Notification
• August 1 - August 15, 2022: Work Delivery to The Delaware Contemporary
• September 1, 2022 - January 1, 2023: Work on display

Guest Curators

Kristin Deady is the Assistant Dean of Glass at Salem Community College. She received her AFA in Glass from Salem Community College, her BFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology, and her MFA from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University. Kristin's work investigates the constructed nature of human perception. Kristin's work freely crosses mediums and is more tightly bound to her investigations than to a specific material, though her ideas are often provoked, and informed, by her relationship with glass. See her website here. 

Jenna Lucente is an Associate Professor of Art at Salem Community College and a practicing studio artist at The Delaware Contemporary. She received her BFA from Syracuse University with a focus in drawing and painting, and her MFA from CUNY Queens College in the same discipline. In addition to exhibiting her drawings and paintings locally, Jenna is a public artist who has been commissioned by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (Arthur Kill Station, Staten Island, New York), as well as New Jersey Transit (upcoming, Elizabeth Station, New Jersey). See her website here. 

Alexander Rosenberg is an artist, educator, and writer based in Philadelphia. He received a Master of Science in Visual Studies from MIT and a BFA in Glass from Rhode Island School of Design. His artistic practice is rooted in the study of glass as a material, in conjunction with broad interdisciplinary investigation crossing over into many other media and research areas. He was cast on the Netflix series Blown Away in 2018 and currently has an exhibition on view at Eastern State Penitentiary. He teaches in the Glass Education Center at Salem Community College. See his website here. 

Application Requirements

Application Requirements

• Must provide a minimum of five images and a maximum of ten images. Artists may submit existing work or may include proposals for new work tied to the theme.
• Must provide a brief written statement on the work and may reference how the work ties into the theme and specific requirements for this exhibition.
• Must provide a one to two page resume indicating training and exhibition history.
• Should provide any specific needs for the work in terms of lighting, installation, and/or sound, etc.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility

• Artists living in NJ, DE, MD, PA, NY, VA, DC are highly encouraged to apply.
• Artists throughout the continental United States are also welcome to apply.
• Work must be available for the duration of the exhibition.
• Work must have been created within the last three years.
• Artwork must not have been included in any major exhibition within 60 miles of The Delaware Contemporary within the last three years.