Call for Art
A Dreadful Beauty:
History & Art from Gothic Pride Seattle
This call closed at midnight, April 7, 2024. Submitting artists will be notified by April 21, 2024.
Gothic Pride Seattle began in 2001 when Lancer Forney brought the Gay community and the Gothic community together. Established as an independent non-profit in 2015, Gothic Pride Seattle today celebrates LGBTQ+ identity through its programming, highlighted by an annual pageant. As a celebration of its history as well as its diverse forms of contemporary art, Gothic Pride Seattle (GPS) and Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA) will present a group exhibition exploring the evolving aesthetic of Gothic identity in a wide variety of media. The Call is open to emerging and established artists working in any media in the Pacific Northwest.
Following the Gothic art exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston in 1997 (curated by Christopher Grunenberg), and Francesca Gavin’s Hell Bound: New Gothic Art (2008) which summarized the movement as “the art of fear,” our curators are interested in how the movement’s visual iconography (neo-punk, hardcore, metal, popular culture, eroticism, body horror, etc.) has changed in the wake of the pandemic and the recent attack on trans rights by conservative politics. Please keep in mind a general audience and viewership when applying, indicating any controversial work that the curators might include behind pipe and drape in the gallery. The gallery itself is 650 sq. ft with approximately 110 feet of linear wall space and ceiling of 15 feet.
ICON
Xavier Lopez Jr.
Acrylic on canvas
Call for Guest Curators
In addition to curating its own exhibitions internally, CoCA occasionally contracts with guest curators. Guidelines for submitting proposals follows below. We welcome inquires and questions at info@cocaseattle.org
With an emphasis on emerging artists and a mission to serve as a forum and catalyst for the study of contemporary art, CoCA typically curates group exhibitions rather than focusing on solo exhibitions by mid-career artists. (Nevertheless, we welcome exceptions to any rule.) Please also note that proposals should avoid asking artists for de-facto commissions and should ideally seek existing work.
Proposals should include:
1-page description of proposed exhibition, including title, names of possible artists, or selection criteria if proposing an Open Call. The description should answer the question of how the proposed exhibition helps us understand contemporary art in new ways, advances our understanding of artists, artworks, practice, materials and media, audiences, markets, etc.
1-3 pages of proposed artists and sample artworks (thumbnails, websites, short bios and statements)
curatorial resume and written bio of 250 words max.
proposals ideally include plan for volunteer staffing of exhibition, gallery hours (currently Thursday-Saturday)
budget and funding mechanism, split into two main headings: INCOME and EXPENSES. In a perfect world, the totals for these columns match up perfectly.
needs from CoCA
CoCA Gallery Considerations
The gallery is approximately 650 s.f, arranged perpendicular to the storefront on Third Avenue. It is about 14 feet wide and 48 feet deep, with a ceiling height of approximately 15 feet.
The South wall is uninterrupted wall space, whereas the North wall is divided into three bays, divided by 18” wide columns. The bay closest to the window is generally reserved for CoCA signage and sales area, although in special cases, artwork may be integrated into this space by prior arrangement.
Lighting is from a central spine that runs down the center of the gallery.
Call for Art: CoCA ShowWalls
CoCA ShowWalls is an opportunity for CoCA Member Artists to present their work in a solo show at one of our partner venues. Visit CoCA ShowWalls for more information about the program.
We encourage submitting members to visit the spaces and consider the mission and objectives of each space before submitting. We will be working with the venue owners and managers to find a good fit for their space.
We will work with you to prepare your show, creating a bio/statement board to mount in the venue, provide title cards for your artwork, and handle any sales that might occur during the course of the show.
Poco Bar & Lounge, 1408 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122
The exhibition opportunity starts in the stairway, where two or three larger pieces may do well, and proceeds upstairs to the wall of the lounge contiguous with the stairway wall for about 16 feet, then around a corner to the blue wall which provides another sixteen feet behind the seating area. Most shows here have involved 12-15 pieces. There is calming vibe here, in keeping with management’s desire to create a community space which “nourishes the body and soul”.
Gary Manuel Salon, 528 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
The exhibition area is primarily at the back of the salon, at the portal leading to the sinks and hair washing stations, and within those spaces, as well as in the corridors connecting them and those outside the bathrooms. There are a few other locations nearby, including the potential of hanging at the rear of the open stair. One large wall under the monitor in the store front, visible from the street, is also included. It takes around 25-30 pieces to mount a show here, depending on size, of course. The ambiance is upscale, cheerful, and well lit!
Collins Pub, 528 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
Art is displayed throughout the venue, above the wainscoting next to the banquettes. As with GMS, somewhere around 25-30 pieces will be needed to mount a complete show here. The ambiance is artsy, as Collins is well know for catering to the artist and patron crowd that frequents Pioneer Square. It’s a pub, of course, so it’s a bit dark and moody, but don’t let that stop you. Management has expressed excitement about the cutting edge that CoCA brings to its curatorial approach, so give us your most creative and experimental work. Embrace the space, don’t fight it.
ShowWalls Submissions:
Send your questions and submissions to showwalls@cocaseattle.org. Include your name, email, phone, website or instagram, the venue you prefer, your availability, some examples of your work, and a brief bio and/or statement. We hope to hear from you soon!