Spark Gallery, Denver’s original cooperative art gallery, was established in 1979 as an alternative to traditional commercial galleries. True to its original mission, Spark fosters a spirit of artistic risk-taking and exploration. Located in the vibrant Art District on Santa Fe Drive, Spark is home to member artists who work in a wide range of mediums and show both nationally and internationally. 

Spark Gallery proudly presents Reverse Image, a juried exhibition, with an open call to Colorado artists who work in print. Printmaking is taking on new life and forging new frontiers as artists adopt innovative digital printmaking techniques, revive old traditional printmaking techniques, and play with new materials and methods. Now more than ever, these myriad forms of printmaking are providing printmakers the tools they need to take risks and push the boundaries of their practices. Send us your pieces that stretch the limits of your art and the medium of print!

Our juror is Catherine Chauvin, an associate professor of printmaking at the University of Denver where she has taught for sixteen years. Chauvin trained at the Tamarind Institute, earning a Master Printer Certification, after receiving an MFA in printmaking at Syracuse University. Chauvin has collaborated with many artists including Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, William Wiley, Enrique Chagoya and Gladys Nilsson in New Mexico, Texas and at Anderson Ranch Arts Center (ARAC) in Snowmass Village, Colorado, where she was the master printer in residence 1998-2000.

Awards: Best of Show awarded $200, Second Place awarded $100, and Third Place awarded $50. All awards will be determined by the juror.

Application Requirements

Entry Fee: $35 for up to 3 pieces (1 to 3 images, one image per piece)

Entry Specifications:

• All 2D work not to exceed 36x36”  (not including the frame).
• No 3D sculptural work will be accepted.
• All work must be wired and ready to hang. (No sawtooth hangers.)

While non-traditional or digital output is accepted as a print element, submissions must utilize traditional print media as their primary technique. These include lithography, relief, intaglio, silkscreen, photo polymer plate (i.e. SolarPlates), and monotype.

Solely digital and photographic prints are not eligible.

Application questions, contact: info@sparkgallery.com

Accepted work may be delivered in one of two ways:

First, accepted work may be hand delivered to Spark Gallery (900 Santa Fe Drive, Denver CO 80204) on either Saturday February 26, 12 - 5pm or Sunday February 27, 1 - 4pm 

Second, accepted work may be shipped. All shipped work must be sent by UPS or FedEx and must arrive by February 25, 2022. All shipped work must be sent to the below address (note: do not ship work to Spark Gallery)

Reverse Image

℅ Michaele Keyes 

5730 West 39th Place

Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80212

Artists are responsible for all shipping costs of accepted work. Spark Gallery will not be responsible for any return shipping costs. 

Prepaid return packaging must be included with the accepted work if the artist is not going to pick up their work in-person. (Prepaid packages must be UPS or FedEx.) 

Artists are solely responsible for the delivery and pick up of their work(s).

Shipping questions, contact: info@sparkgallery.com

Pickup or return shipping: The closing day of the show is Sunday March 20, 2022. Artists may pick up their artwork this day from 3-6pm or Monday March 21, 2022 12-3pm. Unsold, pre-paid postage returned work will be returned over the following week. 
 

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must live in Colorado.