Contrast!, Issue 4 is an exhibition and a publication surrounding the theme and concept of contrast- what it means in art and how it is portrayed. We encourage you to take the idea as conceptually or literally as possible, as it is a form of creative research on how contrast as an concept appears in art.

  

25 For up to 2 artworks. 6.50 for each artwork afterwards.

You are published in the fourth issue of our 'Contrast' publication, A4, perfect-bound with 200gsm inside and 350gsm cover paper. It will also appear in our Contrast Online and Virtual Exhibition, which will run from the 12th of April to the 26th of April 2025

Contrast Issue 4

Application Fee: £25 (non-refundable) – all the money goes for developing the project. The £25 application fee helps cover the selection and administrative process. This initiative offers a fantastic opportunity to connect with a global art community, increase visibility, and share your creative vision with a wider audience.  Exhibition Fee: There will be no exhibition fee. For selected artists, all exhibition costs will be fully covered by SPIRA9.

**SPIRA9 ART invites you to participate in XENOVOID — Mapping Distributed Identities, a forward-thinking exhibition that examines how individuals construct, deconstruct, and reimagine their sense of self in today’s decentralized world.**

**About the Exhibition**

In an era where technological innovation, social interaction, and creative expression continuously reshape who we are, this exhibition serves as a dynamic forum for exploring the evolving tapestry of identity. Drawing inspiration from transformative texts such as A Cyborg Manifesto, critical frameworks like Decolonial Feminism, and pioneering artistic experiments by figures like Stelarc and initiatives such as the Third Ear Project, XENOVOID probes the interplay between the digital, the embodied, and the political.

**Key Themes**

* **Technological and Biological Convergence**: Investigate how digital interfaces and bodily interventions redefine traditional notions of self.
* **Fluidity of Identity**: Explore the continuous processes of deconstruction and reconstruction influenced by cultural, social, and political forces.
* **Decolonial Perspectives**: Reimagine identity outside of established power hierarchies, drawing on feminist critiques and decolonial practices.
* **Interdisciplinary Experimentation**: Embrace diverse methodologies that challenge conventional narratives of a fixed, singular self.

**Exhibition Details**

* **Dates: April 18–25, 2025**
* **Venue: Indra Gallery, London**
* **Application Deadline: April 10, 2025**
* **Application Fee: £25** (non-refundable) – all the money goes for developing the project. The £25 application fee helps cover the selection and administrative process. This initiative offers a fantastic opportunity to connect with a global art community, increase visibility, and share your creative vision with a wider audience.
* **Exhibition Fee: There will be no exhibition fee. For selected artists, all exhibition costs will be fully covered by SPIRA9.**

  
**Application Form: https://forms.gle/EpdGsVagV6h4siJv5**

  
**About Us**

SPIRAL9 is a London- based arts organisation that supports under-represented voices and emerging artists.

Established in 2024, our programs enable makers, community groups, professionals, and the public to unite around unique art and cultural experiences and curated events.

With over 1,000+ subscribers and collaborations with 90 talented artists, our gallery is a vibrant space celebrating creativity and artistic expression. We showcase a diverse range of styles and mediums, bringing together emerging and established artists from around the world. Whether you're an art lover, collector, or creator, our gallery offers a dynamic experience filled with inspiring works and exclusive collaborations.

For selected artists, all exhibition costs will be fully covered by SPIRA9.

**Exhibition Details**

* **Dates: April 18–25, 2025**
* **Venue: Indra Gallery, London**
* **Application Deadline: April 10, 2025**
* **All exhibition costs will be fully covered by SPIRA9.**

Exhibition Open Call: XENOVOID (Artists of All Mediums)

The future moves whether we’re ready or looking the other way. For the fifth year, ESC invites artists to step into what’s next — with the right kind of questions. ESC is more than escape. It’s breaking loose from the usual, bending reality, seeing what stays. Since 2020, it has been a space for artists who push the edges of technology, nature, and human experience.

  
ESC always exists a decade ahead. It isn’t a theme — it’s the space we step into, ten years in the future, looking back at the present. What happens when wild animals become pets? When bots talk only to each other, do we still matter? If AI creates for us, do we finally have space to look inward? As life drifts further into virtual space, what keeps it real?

  
ESC 2035 is open for submissions. Bring your questions, your visions, your ways of seeing what’s ahead. Let’s map the unknown — together.

**We Offer**

_– A physical exhibition: Your work will be part of our curated group show in 2025-2026._

_– Feature spots: Your project will be highlighted on our website and social media channels._

_– Opportunities to connect: Reach an international audience of collectors, curators, artists, and like-minded people._

ESC 2035: 0→1

The Alexey von Schlippe Gallery at the University of Connecticut Avery Point (AVS Gallery) seeks proposals for sculpture/installations, video works/projections, or light-based works for _Open Air 2025_. The works will be exhibited on the grounds of the University of Connecticut Avery Point campus from June 5 -October 6, 2025, with an opening reception for the public on June 5\. Our goal is to assemble a dynamic set of artworks—some visible by day, some after nightfall. Themes for proposals may include, but need not be limited to, marine life, maritime history and culture, the ecology and environment of Long Island Sound, and responses to our campus architecture and dramatic shoreline. 

  
**Parameters:**

* Artists must install and deinstall their artwork, using their own tools or materials. A modest budget for installation will be provided by AVS Gallery.
* Works must be designed to withstand (or respond to) the windy conditions of the shoreline campus.
* The campus is open to the public and the University of Connecticut is not responsible for the alteration, loss, or damage of installed artworks.
* After deinstallation artists are expected to leave their site in the condition in which it was found.

Exhibition at The Alexey von Schlippe Gallery at the University of Connecticut Avery Point.

A modest budget for installation will be provided by AVS Gallery.

Open Air 2025

Arts Gowanus is partnering with Gowanus Wharf to design their forthcoming rooftop mini golf course! 

There will be 9 holes in total, and we're looking for a different artist to design an obstacle or a feature for each one of them. Designs should be fun, quirky, and Gowanus-centric! This will be a permanent installation at the mini golf course.

Artwork displayed on Gowanus Wharf.

  
If selected for a hole the artist will receive $5000 for fabrication and installation.
  
  

Open Call - Help design a mini golf course

**Frack, Crack, Boom, Bang: A call for artists to uplift voices of those touched by fracking and extraction from our landscapes.**

  
DVAA is pleased to announce a call for artists to uplift the voices of those touched by fracking through artistic exploration that will create visibility and increase public awareness, knowledge, and care for the impacts fracking and extraction have on communities.

Proposals in any artistic form are welcome, including but not limited to visual art, installation, music, film, live performance, immersive theatre, and beyond. Projects should be public-facing to allow for in-person community engagement.

  
**PROJECT DESCRIPTION**

We have partnered with Damascus Citizens for Sustainability (DCS) and the Ohio Valley Allies to collect oral histories and narratives from people living on the front lines of “frack country”.

Living in “frack country” has been described as living in a war zone. Big oil’s insatiable hunt for fuel has fractured lives, divided communities, and threatens delicate ecosystems we inhabit and rely on. Our land. The air we breathe. The water we drink. Everything that becomes part of us builds our bodies and landscapes or poisons them.

Everyone is affected by fracking in some way. Yet there are no solutions until we as a culture, feel a need for them.

As artists, we are called to bridge the gaps between science and emotion, culture and communities — what can you create from frontline narratives that sheds light not only on fracking’s impact on people and the planet but the traumas and lived experiences faced every day by those on the front lines?

We invite artists to choose one or more narratives to act as a spark, a springboard, for a creative work. If selected, there will be further opportunities to collaborate with narrators, community members, and the Ohio Valley Allies.

  
**NARRATIVES**

* **Richard Cummins** — The story of a brine truck driver. Highlights health scares and concerns, lack of equitable pay, and negative economic impacts.
* **Jill Hunkler** — Fracking came to her homeplace and has completely usurped her life. She talks about losing connection to the landscapes she loves, how changes were rapid and uncertain, disturbances to daily life, and negative health impacts. “\[Fracking\] is destroying everyone’s children’s future and right to a happy, healthy life…”
* **Jesse Lombardi** — Jesse was an oil and gas dispatch coordinator and provides a perspective as an industry worker. Discusses experiencing and witnessing negative health impacts and concerns about his workers and the community he’s always lived in. He educated his fellow workers on radioactivity and health and toxicity of the chemicals they are exposed to.
* **Felecia Mettler** — Felicia describes herself as an “Accidental Activist”. Discusses frack waste threatening future generations, water contamination, and her experience being an activist on the front lines. Tension and contradictions arise with the community; community members are often hesitant to participate in protests against oil and gas companies due to fear, even though they agree with her work. Struggles with regret and what will happen if she acts or doesn’t act for her children.
* **Sean O’Leary** — Senior researcher at Ohio River Valley Institute (ORVI); research on failed economic promises of oil and gas.
* **Bob and Darlene Williamson** — The Fracking industry has taken away their attachment to their home, community, and land. The couple faces constant anxiety from fracking activities, noise, stress about health and contamination, and concern for their animals. They discuss health impacts and air quality and the fight to obtain and present data on contaminants.

  
**DETAILS**

* Two projects will be selected.
* We invite proposals from any artistic medium that will culminate in a physical presentation.
* We welcome collaborations or multi-artist proposals
* Projects will be presented by DVAA in Narrowsburg, NY over the weekend of July 18th — 20th, 2025 during Upstate Art Weekend.

  
**TIMELINE**

* Marketing/Promotional materials due by June 13, 2025
* Installation week – July 14 – July 18, 2025
* Presentation weekend – July 18 – 20, 2025

  

* Project presented in Narrowsburg, NY
* Stipend of $2,500
* We will provide housing and transportation, technical support, and expertise

  

Frack, Crack, Boom, Bang

**The Wildflower Sculpture Park at South Mountain Conservancy, in partnership with the Essex County Parks Department, invites artists to submit proposals for its 2025 outdoor exhibition. This unique opportunity allows artists to create and display large-scale, nature-inspired sculptures within South Mountain Reservation, a 2,110-acre public preserve in Essex County, NJ, visited by thousands each year.**

  
**2025 Theme & Artwork Guidelines**

The theme for 2025 is “Walk With Me.” Artists are encouraged to explore themes of renewal and environmental harmony while emphasizing the visitor’s journey into and through the Wildflower & Forest Preserve, as well as the larger Reservation.

Proposals should align with the following guidelines:

* Works must be site-responsive and integrate with the natural landscape.
* Materials should be durable and weather-resistant, suitable for outdoor display year-round.
* Artworks should be safe for public interaction, avoiding hazardous elements.
* Both completed works and proposals for new projects will be considered.

  

  
* **Selected installations will remain on display for approximately one year.**
* **South Mountain Conservancy provides support for installation, marketing, and promotion.**
* **Artists will receive an honorarium of $3,000 to help offset material, transportation, and installation costs.**
* **Selected artists will be invited to lead walking tours, artist talks, and workshops at community events such as the South Mountain Reservation Family Campout.**

  

Call for Artists:  2025 Sculpture Exhibition

The Art-in-Architecture Program of the Capital Development Board is pleased to announce a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to Illinois professional artists to create permanent original public art for The Phillip J. Rock Center and School in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

  
**CONSTRUCTION PROJECT**

A new 24,665 square foot building is being constructed to replace the existing facility built in the 1960s. Once complete, the existing building will be demolished to make way for a playground and site improvements.

The Philip J. Rock Center and School is more than a facility; it is an extended family to parents and their children who live with both hearing and vision disabilities. Our devoted staff accompany the kids throughout the day, constantly working toward the goal of helping each student live as independently as possible according to their personal abilities. The shared vision of "Together for Independence" makes this a reality.

The Philip J. Rock Center and School serves students who are deafblind, blind or visually impaired, or deaf or hard-of-hearing. Also, many students have mental and/or physical impairments. These students have multiple needs and require a functional academic curriculum with a focus on daily living skills. It is a publicly funded residential school serving students from the age of three through their twenty-second birthday/school year. Visit The Philip J. Rock Center and School website to learn more.

  
**ARTWORK SITE**

The Committee is seeking an exterior sculpture which serves to greet visitors, students, and staff at the entrance of the building. This sculpture is to be multisensory and appropriate for all ages. It would benefit from visual components, tactile components, and maybe even auditory or olfactory components as well. Reference pages 7-9 for renderings of the building and artwork site.

  
**ARTISTIC OBJECTIVES**

The Committee’s goal is for the sculpture to be sensory, interactive, joyful, and welcoming. It must be accessible to the visually impaired and deaf. This artwork must be created with love to echo the staff’s passion.

While not playground equipment, the artwork should be an artful playscape that meets all aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the Illinois Accessibility Code. It must be durable, safe, and cost-effective to maintain with limited annual maintenance.

Artwork exhibted in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

The budget for the artwork is $83,000\. This budget covers all expenses associated with, but not limited to the project design, labor, fabrication, project

management, materials, tools, contracted services, operations and meetings, and travel required to complete the artwork plus installation, related permits, licenses, insurance, and transportation and delivery of the work to the site, as well as documentation of the completed project. Any expense that exceeds the contracted amount will be the artist’s responsibility.

Art-in-Architecture Program: Request for Qualifications

The traditional reliance on local materials for crafting is gradually diminishing under the influence of global migration. Artists now have the opportunity to explore the crafting technologies of other cultures through traveling, while also sourcing materials from the farthest corners of the globe via international trade. As a result, creativity is grounded in a much wider range of information, with the concept of "anchoring" becoming a thing of the past. Today, compared to a fixed space-time, the context of crafting begins turning towards a random journey.
  
  
At the same time, objects move across regions at an unprecedented speed. This causes unfamiliar cultures to scatter in fragmented forms throughout modern life, where they are then deconstructed, reassembled, and rapidly iterated. Creolisation has replaced multiculturalism as the new universalism, with translation, digital imagery, and imagination becoming common approaches of communication and understanding.

  
Can craft calm the restlessness and uncertainty of the post-truth society?

  
How can materials and techniques once tied to different cultures be integrated, and what contradictions arise from this?

  
What do these combinations reveal about power structures and identity politics?

  
In the upcoming exhibition Unanchored Crafting, artists rooted in different countries will showcase their works from 2023-2025\. In the space provided by Alsolike Gallery, bamboo weaving coexists with minimalist metal structures, rough cowhide wraps around delicate silverware... These unfamiliar images will reveal how artists are exploring personal exploration within the new culture landscape.

At Alsolike our goal is to provide artists with meaningful opportunities to showcase their work in a professional setting while gaining valuable exposure and industry connections. Please note that a participation fee is required for this exhibition. This fee is **not for profit** but reflects the direct costs of the services we provide. We have carefully structured two participation packages to offer flexibility based on your needs. Each package provides tailored promotional benefits, helping you **maximize the impact of your exhibition experience**.

  
**1\. Primary Package** **includes:**

* **Showcase 1–5 pieces of artwork or an artwork series:** ensuring flexibility based on the scale and scope of the works.
* **Professional photography:** High-quality, close-up photography of your artwork at the exhibition to capture its essence and detail, suitable for portfolio and promotional use.
* **Social Media Promotion:** Featured posts about your artwork on the gallery's website and social media platforms, maximising exposure to a broader audience.
* **Permanent Website Page:** A permanent website page about you and your exhibits, documenting your experience at Unanchored Crafting. (See example)
* **Exhibition Press Features**
* **Certificate of participation**
* **5% commission** for works sold during the exhibition
* **Networking Opportunities:** Meet with other artists and curators in the industry at the opening ceremony to share creative ideas.
* **Future Collaboration Opportunities:** Exclusive access to potential collaborations with the gallery and its network for future projects, exhibitions, or joint ventures.

  
**2\. Editorial Package includes:**

* **Showcase 1–5 pieces of artwork or 2 artwork series:** ensuring flexibility based on the scale and scope of the works.
* **Professional photography:** High-quality, close-up photography of your artwork at the exhibition to capture its essence and detail, suitable for portfolio and promotional use.
* **Social Media Promotion:** Featured posts about your artwork on the gallery's website and social media platforms, maximising exposure to a broader audience.
* **Permanent Website Page:** A permanent website page about you and your exhibits, documenting your experience at Unanchored Crafting. (See example)
* **Permanent Artist Showcase Page:** A dedicated permanent page on the gallery’s official website, featuring any content you wish to display, including your artwork, creative concepts, personal journey, and related media coverage, providing a comprehensive platform to enhance your online presence and visibility. (See examples)
* **Exhibition Press Features**
* **London Craft Week Official Maker Page**
* **Artist Press Features:** At least one exclusive feature introducing your artistic journey and works will be published in a renowned art and culture media outlet. Examples include _Art Voice_, _Our Culture_, _1883_, _Art Insider_, _Made in Shoreditch_, _World Art News_, and others.
* **Certificate of participation**
* **5% commission** for works sold during the exhibition
* **Networking Opportunities:** We will meet with other artists and curators in the industry at the opening ceremony to share creative ideas.
* **Future Collaboration Opportunities:** Exclusive access to potential collaborations with the gallery and its network for future projects, exhibitions, or joint ventures.

Unanchored Crafting at London Craft Week 2025

We are pleased to announce that applications are now open for our flagship residency Peers!

  
We welcome submissions from young and emerging creative practitioners, final-year MFA students (as well as those who graduated within the past two years), and self-taught artists with a minimum of two years of experience in the field.

  
The Peers residency offers selected artists a unique platform for dialogue, experimentation, and meaningful exchange to 5 Artists-in-Residence and 1 Critic-in-Residence.

This year, the Peers residency will be 6-weeks long and will provide emerging artists a platform for dialogue, experimentation and exchange.

Open Call: Peers 2025

Find your next art opportunity. Explore and apply to current open calls by leading art organizations around the world, published daily on ArtConnect. 

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Find your next art opportunity. Explore and apply to current open calls by leading art organizations around the world, published daily on ArtConnect.

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