My First Juried Show!!

I cannot begin to tell you how PSYCHED I am for my VERY FIRST juried exhibit!  In December, I believe, I came across a "call for art".  If you're not familiar with this, it's when an organization posts an invitation to artists to submit their artwork for a proposed exhibition.  Think of it as a job posting, asking people to submit their resume for a job.  So anyway, I saw this call for art for an exhibit tentatively entitled "Mindful: Exploring Mental Health through Art" hosted by Society for Contemporary Craft...and took a chance by submitting my "War Within" sculpture.  At first, disappointment because my sculpture was not accepted...BUT, joy and bliss because it WAS accepted for their companion exhibit, "Community Voices".  OH HAPPY DAYS!
Here's is a little bit about the Mindful exhibit from their website:

"One in four adults lives with a mental health condition, yet this common illness often remains hidden behind a wall of secrecy and isolation. Mindful: Exploring Mental Health through Art  – Contemporary Craft’s latest socially engaged art experience – breaks down societal stigmas and offers an opportunity to encounter and understand mental health through the lens of contemporary craft. Featuring a series of exhibitions, innovative community engagement and education opportunities, and a diverse series of programs and events, Mindful reaches beyond the gallery walls to examine creativity’s role in mental health, resiliency, and compassion."

 Since February, I have been exchanging several emails with the interns at Society for Contemporary Craft ensuring that everything is squared away.  Filling out a bio, recording an audio portion, sending images of my hands in clay, etc.  The show will be on display September 18 through December 7, 2015, at the studio for Society for Contemporary Craft, 2100 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.  Here is the blurb from the SoCC website about the upcoming exhibit:

"Community Voices is an exhibition of stories and artwork by ten artists whose lives are affected by mental illness.  For some, mental health challenges impact them directly while others have loved ones living with mental illness. Each piece in the exhibition depicts a personal journey of tension, resiliency and hope. Community Voices is a testament to how making art can heal and transform the mind.

Featuring audio and video components to further enhance the powerful narratives of the participating artists, Community Voices will be on view in the SCC Studio display cases September 18 through December 7, 2015."

This opportunity is HUGE for me!  It really validates my sculpting.  Not to mention it being a HUGE honor.  This is my 2nd year that I've really been focusing on my sculpting.  I submitted my application for this show on a whim and wasn't really expecting to be accepted but hoping above all hope that I was because of the topic, mental health.  This piece, "The War Within" really exemplifies the struggles people with mental health issues face regardless of if they are a Veteran, active duty Soldier, or someone with no military affiliation.  

All that said and done...if you're in the Pittsburgh area... I encourage you to go to this amazing show, and then report back to me on what you thought!      
 TTFN