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Disrupt - An action to prevent something, especially a system, process or event, from continuing as usual or as expected.
“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” ― Banksy
Powerful art reflects the issues of the time it was created, commenting on injustices, inequality, subversive forces or subconscious collective behaviors that are called out and called on to create or advocate for change.
Art made to influence change, disrupts. It can drastically alter our views and requires actions. It compels the viewer to re-evaluate norms and to truly see a way forward. Art has historically initiated change in perception and opinions, organized thoughts and birthed social movements to achieve greater collective awareness.
Art can be made as a call to action to motivate us to participate and to satisfy our desire to be heard. The drive to express the power of an idea through the act of creating art, can bring forth a sense of community, and focus the lens of social activism.
This is an open call for artwork that is grounded in the desire to create social awareness or change on any number of social issues; voting rights, environmental justice, racial injustice, immigration, identity, hunger & food insecurity, political imbalance and gun violence, just to name a few. This exhibition aims to highlight work that makes us uncomfortable, that encourages deeper reflection, and pushes for true social change.
Judge: Camille Wilson White
Camille Wilson White served on the Board of the Oak Park Area Arts Council and was Board President prior to being appointed the Executive Director. She has worked as a retail store manager for Marshall Field’s, Chas. A. Stevens, The Gap and Sears. At Field’s she was the chairman of the State Street Diversity Council representing 3,000 employees. Camille is actively involved in the Oak Park community and has served on numerous committees for both District 97 elementary and District 200 Oak Park & River Forest High Schools. She has worked with many organizations and political campaigns in the village. She is the proud recipient of the 1999 Athena award. In May 2008, she was the first recipient of Chicago a cappella’s prestigious Friend of the Year Award. She is active with LAN (Local Arts Network) and serves as co-chair of the LAN. In 2012 she was honored by the Park District of Oak Park with the Illinois Parks Leadership Award for significant contributions to the community. Camille is a board member of the Arts Alliance Illinois, the state arts advocacy organization.
Thank you to the sponsor of this exhibition, ByLine Bank.
Merit awards: 5 merit awards will be given - $50 each
Drop off work: Sept. 30th, Oct. 1st and 2nd
Exhibition dates: October 5th - October 28th
Opening reception: Friday, October 8th, 7-9pm.
Pick up work: October 29th, 30th, November 2nd
Cost per submission:
Members: $20 first piece, $15 second piece.
Non-members: $30 first piece, $20 second piece.
Submitted work must not exceed 48” in the largest dimension. Artists submitting video or film, please call us about our projection system.
Only 2D work will be accepted into this open call show.
No sculpture or free standing works for this particular exhibition.
Refer to exhibition guidelines for entry information and size restrictions.
All work must be ready to hang. No sawtooth hangers will be accepted.
All work should have been completed in the past three years and not previously exhibited at OPAL. Please bring work to the Oak Park Art League at 720 Chicago Avenue in Oak Park, IL.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MERIT WINNERS
Maria Gedroc - “God Help Us”
Gary Skoog - “Native Justice”
Gaby Pasman - “Driver is Deaf”
Charles Brown - “Desperate Measures”
Sara Peak Convery - “We Art Not Done, Vote”