Expanding Voices
perspectives on birding
A Call to Artists from the Birds of Vermont Museum
The year 2020 asked a lot of us—and taught us even more. As our habitual systems hit rock bottom under the weight of the pandemic, economic hardship, and social injustice, voices rose, and long-time institutions were loudly questioned. New ways of experiencing and perceiving our world opened our minds to new comprehension. How could our art, our creativity, our practices remain unaffected? Our perspectives inevitably changed.
We are a museum about and for birds and conservation. We are part of a community of birders, artists, conservationists, and learners. Your experience and perspective may be unseen or unknown to someone else, even in the same community. For 2021, we’d like to hear and share your artistic voice.
What perspectives exist for birds, birding, and conservation, and the possibilities these offer? We seek works that explore many viewpoints for our 2021 art exhibit, Expanding Voices: perspectives on birding.
Submission guidelines
Art in any media, by new or returning artists, of any age, may be submitted. Visual, written, and multi-media works may be considered. The art show runs from June 1 to October 31 at the Birds of Vermont Museum, although the ongoing pandemic may cause some changes in dates. We have both indoor and outdoor (unprotected) spaces. In addition to walls, we have shelves for smaller three-dimensional pieces, room outdoors for weather-impervious works, and some ceiling area. You are welcome to visit to consider the potential.
Submit up to 3 pieces by using our online form or by sending no more than three (3) files to museum@birdsofvermont.org. Please put “Submission for Expanding Voices art show from Your Name” as the email subject. File types accepted are .jpg (visual art); .mp3, .mp4 (music/video); .pdf (e.g., stories, poems). If you do not have email, you may send up to three prints to the Museum, attention: Expanding Voices art show. We require contact information and a description of work(media, artwork size, when made, etc.). Please include a brief statement (1-5 sentences) describing how 2020 affected your art, your birding, and your perspective. If accepted in to the show, this can be your artist statement, or included in a longer one.
Entries are due by Monday, April 5, 2021.
Selected pieces
In choosing works for a show, we strive to weave diverse works into a cohesive exhibit that illustrates the year’s theme. Museum staff will select pieces by April 20 and will let artists know soon after by email. Accepted pieces should arrive at the Museum between April 21 and May 4 and be ready to display. Artists are wholly responsible for shipping or drop-off/pick-up. Pick-up should occur by December 30, 2021.
The Museum asks for permission to reproduce images of the selected works in print and online as part of publicity for the exhibit. If you prefer that we use partial or cropped images, or have preferred images, please tell us or supply them.
Artists who show their work here are invited to sell originals, prints, and/or cards through us on consignment. Details are available on request. We are always thrilled to arrange artist workshops at the Museum with our exhibitors. Please tell us if you are interested in this.
Please call or email Kir Talmage or Allison Gergely with any questions. We can be reached at +1 (802) 434-2167 or museum@birdsofvermont.org.
We look forward to seeing your works.