“I’m Not Crazy” - Call for Entries

I’m very pleased to announce that I will be serving as the juror for the upcoming SAQA exhibit “I’m Not Crazy”.  The exhibit curator is Kathy Nida.  I’ve admired Kathy’s work for many years and am excited to be working with her; her work shows great originality, and she is bold and fearless in her artistic expressions.  Her theme for the exhibit is excellent and provides the framework for a variety of interpretations:

Theme: Mental illness carries with it a stigma; many of us have experience with disorders, temporary or permanent, curable or not, that in the past and in some cultures even today would be labeled as crazy. That stigma can make it difficult to admit its effect on our loved ones or ourselves. Disorders as common as anxiety or depression, or less common, like schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder, can have a devastating effect on families and friends, and on ourselves. Negativity towards those who have these disorders often causes many people to keep the diagnosis hidden from friends and family.

• What does “crazy” look like?
• What does it feel like?
• How does the world look through the eyes of someone experiencing a panic attack or depression or other mental disorder?
• How does loving or caring for someone with a mental disorder look and feel?

We’re looking for work that covers these experiences: from the eyes of the caregiver, the friend, the family member, and, of course, those who have experienced any of these disorders themselves. Your work can reflect the disorder or the chaos it holds on our lives, it can be humorous, it can be sad, it can be crazy or incredibly calm.

Please go read more about it on Kathy’s blog, or go to the SAQA Call for Entries page.  You need to be a SAQA member to enter, but membership is very worthwhile for anyone working in the art quilt/fiber art field.  I’ve been a member for many years, and a Professional Artist Member since 2009, and value the many opportunities membership provides.  “I’m Not Crazy” will have a lot of visibility, with 7 venues already booked through the Mancuso Quilt Festivals, and others possibly to follow.

The online entry opens May 1st and closes May 31st, so you have time to produce new work or consider which of your current work would best fit the theme.  I know this is going to be a great show, and I’m really looking forward to reviewing the entries--I hope yours will be among them!

And since I always like to have an image in my posts, here’s a gratuitous photo of one of my favorite calm and peaceful places, the Susquehanna River as seen from an overlook near Lock 12: