Blue is a primary color, crucial to the creation of other hues. As a pigment, blue was historically rare and expensive, reserved for those of high status, a symbol of their purity, prosperity, and wealth, but modern chemical dyes now make blue the most commonly used color in fashion, products and packaging.
In our solar system both Neptune and Earth are blue planets. The sky, oceans, and rivers are so ubiquitous that blue has symbolic meaning to most, if not all cultures and creatures. Blue is all around us.
This exhibition invites you to explore the color blue and what it represents to you.
EXHIBITION SCHEDULE
European Patchwork Meeting, Alsace, France - September 2025 (exact dates TBD)
**Additional venues will be scheduled through December 2028
ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS
Wall-hung (2D and 3D) and freestanding artwork are eligible. Ceiling-suspended artwork is not eligible.
- Pieces may not exceed 96” (8 ft / 244cm) in height, width, or depth. There is NO minimum size.
- All artwork must fit through a standard 34” (86cm) 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
- Full-view images MUST show all the edges along with a small amount of background.
- Detail images should 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 (no maximum).
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 November 15, 2024. 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.
** The submission deadline has passed
Ian Berry is a British born artist based in Poplar, East London, who creates artwork solely from denim. Berry's distinctive technique involves meticulously layering and manipulating recycled denim to produce hyper-realistic urban scenes and portraits.
Renowned for his innovative use of this everyday material, Berry has garnered international acclaim, with exhibitions spanning the globe. His unique approach to storytelling pushes the boundaries of contemporary art, bridging the gap between craft and contemporary art.
Read more in this SAQA Journal interview.
- November 1, 2024 - Online Entry Opens
- November 30, 2024 - Online Entry Deadline at 7pm Eastern Daylight Time (GMT/UTC-4)
- January 31, 2025 - Notification of Acceptance via email
- May 31, 2025 - Artwork to be RECEIVED by SAQA (details provided upon acceptance)
- September, 2025 - Exhibition Opens at European Patchwork Meeting (final dates TBD)
- December 31, 2028 - End of Exhibition (work will be returned by February 28, 2029)
For information on eligibility and policies, please refer to SAQA's Exhibition Guidelines and FAQs.
Jurying of the exhibition is by digital image. Information and resources for submitting digital images can be found on SAQA’s website, Digital Image Submission Guidelines.
For specific information on shipping for exhibitions, please refer to SAQA’s Shipping Guidelines. For non-U.S. members, please refer to Shipping Reimbursement (non-US members).
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
You will be asked to agree with these terms and conditions. “I agree to loan my artwork to Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc. I understand the costs of insuring and shipping my artwork to the shipping center in Ohio are my responsibility. I further agree to permit the images or detail images and/or all or part of my artist statement to be used in the exhibition catalog, articles, ads, promotions, books, websites, blogs, CDs, current event news coverage, television productions, and/or multi-media productions for and about the exhibition or for and about the shows at which the exhibition may be seen. I confirm, to the best of my knowledge, the artwork entered is original and does not violate any copyright or trademark laws."
