Bearing Witness (SAQA Global) - Call for Entry

EXHIBITION THEME  
Our shared human history includes a violent and shameful component -- that of deliberate attempts to eradicate specific populations due to differences of culture, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression and race. Often motivated by those in power, collective trauma and tragedy are part of our past and present.  

This exhibition asks artists to consider the Holocaust and other Global Genocides as inspiration for their work. Presented in collaboration with the Raritan Valley Community College Institute of Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, the exhibition will educate viewers about the perils of antisemitism, racism, homophobia, sexism and inequity. Our challenge is to remember and learn from the history of The Holocaust and other Global Genocides and to amplify our shared humanity. Preserving our humanity is at the center of all diversity, equity, and inclusion work, invoking the core of our experiences.  

EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

Raritan Valley Community College, Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies: August - December 2024

**Additional venues will be scheduled through December 2027 

ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS

Wall-hung (2D and 3D) and freestanding artwork are eligible. No ceiling suspended pieces.

• Pieces may not exceed 96” (8 ft) in height, width, or depth. There is NO minimum size.
• All artwork must fit through a standard 34” doorway. 
• Wall-hung pieces (2D and 3D) must hang without distortion. Traditional quilt sleeves, stretcher bars, framed or mounted work, and other hanging mechanisms are acceptable. 
• Artwork must meet SAQA’s definition of an art quilt: "a creative visual work that is layered and stitched or that references this form of stitched layered structure." 

IMAGE REQUIREMENTS

It is critical that submitted images be of the best possible quality: in focus, with clear details, and following SAQA's digital image requirements. Read Tips for Successful Art Quilt Photography and  Submitting Digital Images first!  

• For each wall-hung 2D entry (depth is less than 2 inches), submit one full view front digital image and one detail digital image. 
• For each 3D artwork (wall-hung or freestanding), submit one overall front image and two detail images (one should showcase the depth)
• Full-view images MUST show all the edges along with a small amount of background.  
• Detail images should be preferably be in portrait orientation. Do not simply crop your full-view image.
• Digital images must be saved as a high-quality JPEG or JPG file (No TIFF files). Do not use your name or initials in the filename (title is fine). 
• Finished images should be at least 2100 pixels on the longest side and not more than 4200 pixels.
• Files should NOT exceed more than 12 MB per file for 2D submissions (form max is 25 MB) 
• Files should NOT exceed more than 8 MB per file for 3D submissions (form max is 25MB)

Common errors include:

• Images that are out of focus or too small
• Cropping images too closely on the full-view image. All edges of the artwork  must be visible along with a small amount of contrasting background. Do NOT crop your photo into any part of the artwork as this may disqualify your entry.
• Your background should be neutral and not include distracting elements such as hands, floors, studio, pets, pins, etc.

ELIGIBILITY / FEE
Artists must be a current SAQA member to enter this call. $50 USD for up to 3 entries. $40 ($10 Early Bird Discount) if all entries submitted by October 15, 2023. Entry fee must be paid online before the entry deadline via a credit card or PayPal at www.saqa.com/fees.

QUESTIONS?
If you have questions about this exhibition, please refer to SAQA’s Exhibition Guidelines and FAQs where many exhibition related questions are answered. If you have any further questions, please contact us at calls@saqa.art.

Artist notifications will be sent via email by January 15, 2024 (see Important Dates below for more details).

Submission Form