Are you fascinated by space? We have arranged a collaboration with Johns Hopkins University Press to present Fierce Planets, an exhibition of art quilts inspired by the research of Johns Hopkins University Professor Dr. Sabine Stanley. The JHU Press is publishing a book about Dr. Stanley’s research in 2023 (What's Hidden Inside Planets).
Dr. Stanley was raised in a town built on a nickel-lined crater formed by a speeding meteor’s crash and was a pink-haired space fiction fan at a young age. She’s now one of the leading global researchers who unearth the facts about materials and forces in and around planets, exoplanets, and asteroids to better understand how they impact our lives and our Earth’s future. In her forthcoming Johns Hopkins Wavelengths book, she’ll share the science and the wonder of these worlds.
Dr. Stanley presented her research at an online presentation, followed by a Q&A session. This was a fantastic opportunity to learn about planetary magnetic fields, dynamo theory, and planetary interior evolution and to ask questions of the expert. Watch the video
If you have questions, you can email us at fierceplanets@saqa.art.
EXHIBITION THEME:
Earth, from space, looks like a shimmering gem suspended in an inky, infinite expanse. But this serene image masks the magnificent and volatile interior forces that make life possible for an estimated 8.7 billion animal and plant species on the surface. The placid appearances of our neighboring planets similarly belie their powers—and science fiction-worthy features, including diamond rain and ice-spewing volcanoes.
Consider all the materials available to you for 2D and 3D works—fibers, metals, papers, scales, hides—and allow your imagination to drill down 4,000 miles through our built environments onto soil, sand, water, rock, and minerals to the outer (mainly liquid iron with nickel) and inner (solid iron and nickel) cores. The closer to the core, the higher the pressure, and heat—up to 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit—along with the intense convection, roiling metals, and shifting tectonic plates that come with it. Consider, too, the effects of gravity, magnetism, rotation, and seismic activity sensed by us in the forms of the Northern Lights, hurricanes, volcanoes, and earthquakes, among many other manifestations.
And that’s just on Earth. If you look up into the Milky Way, our neighboring planets have their own active forces, along with moons with frozen oceans, and rogue asteroids filled with precious gems flying around them.
Extreme heat. Extreme Cold. Extreme pressure. Ferocious winds. Toxic gasses. Wild seas. Frozen seas. Rare gems. Creatures known, and as yet unknown. And, the wonder of it all, the beauty, the anticipation of what we’ll learn next. The equipment used to discover more. What will fire your imagination?
EXHIBITION SCHEDULE
This exhibition will travel until end of 2026
Louisiana State University Museum of Art, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: April 18 - July 28, 2024
Submission Form
ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS
Wall-hung (2D and 3D), freestanding, and ceiling suspended artwork are eligible.
- Pieces may not exceed 96” (8 ft / 243cm) in height, width, or depth. There is NO minimum size.
- All artwork must fit through a standard 34” doorway. Ceiling suspended pieces cannot exceed 20 lbs.
- 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."
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 July 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 September 30, 2023 (see Important Dates below for more details).
