Shift

Shift is an international juried exhibition for artists with disabilities. The exhibition investigates moments of change that alter the direction of a person's path and create a new reality. Artists are invited to share a moment in time when a shift in their landscape occurred—it may be personal or professional, mental or physical, internal or external. Artists may submit a single work or a pair or series of works that illustrate this before-and-after transformation. All artists are asked to consider the theme shift as it relates to their submission, although a relationship to the theme does not have to be explicit or obvious in the work itself. The moment of change and its connection to the submitted work should be described in the application materials.

The call is open to artists ages 18 and older who have a physical, cognitive, or mental disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Work entered must be completed after the onset of disability. Although disability is a requirement for eligibility, it will not be disclosed during the jury process. Submissions must be original work completed in the last five years and after the onset of disability. Eligible media include two- and three-dimensional art, craft, digital art, installation, and time-based media. Fragile or precious materials that cannot withstand handling, storage, and transportation will not be accepted. VSA reserves the right not to adjudicate work deemed inappropriate for its mission and audience, including work containing religious or political themes, inappropriate language, or excessive nudity.

There is no entry fee. Each artist must submit four separate JPEG images of their work through the CaFE online submission system. Supplemental materials such as videos or DVDs may be submitted by mail and must be postmarked by March 11, 2011. Selected work will be presented at the Terrace Gallery of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., June 3–30, 2011. All artists will be notified by Friday, April 29, 2011. VSA will cover shipping costs and obtain appropriate insurance for accepted work. If artwork is available for sale, VSA will determine the retail price and pay the artist the wholesale price listed in the submission material.