BATH HOUSE CULTURAL CENTER
Entries Deadline: Monday, September 19, 2022
Applications close at 11:59 PM, Central Time
All entries must be submitted online at https://dallasoac.awardsplatform.com
Read this prospectus entirely and carefully before submitting entries.
Download a PDF version of this call
The Bath House Cultural Center will present its 36th annual Day of the Dead exhibition in 2022. The show, titled Día de Muertos: Estampas de Vida (Day of the Dead: Prints of Life), will include art of multiple media, prints and altar installations by local, regional and national artists. This exhibition will be curated by Enrique Fernández Cervantes.
ELIGIBILITY
This call is open to all artists who live in the United States. Art that has been exhibited in previous Día de Muertos exhibitions at the Bath House will not be accepted. Entries that do not meet submission requirements will not be considered and will be disqualified
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
The exhibition will feature artwork in all media; however, there will be a special emphasis placed on the art of traditional printmaking, an art medium that has been closely linked to the festivity—especially because of its prominence and wide use by Day of the Dead artists like José Guadalupe Posada, Leopoldo Méndez, Alberto Beltrán, Manuel Manilla, and various members of the esteemed Taller de la Gráfica Popular (People’s Print Workshop) from Mexico.
What kind of art are we looking for?
The exhibition will display artwork that explores themes connected to the celebration of the Day of the Dead. Art in all media will be reviewed.
Artists who are interested in presenting printmaking pieces should submit hand-pulled prints created through traditional printmaking techniques. These techniques may include woodcut, linocut, etching, engraving, lithography, collagraph, aquatint, monotype, screen printing, and any other art form in which ink is moved from one surface to another by the artists.
The exhibition will also feature altars and ofrendas created by local artists to honor their departed relatives or friends.
Although we understand that some of the works of art (particularly the altars) may include solemn themes, we recommend that artists keep the idea of festivity in mind while creating their entries.
MEDIA
Art in all media will be considered. All art must be framed, wired, and suitable for hanging/displaying.
There are no restrictions on the size of the artwork but bear in mind that artists are responsible for the transportation of their works and their prompt removal after the show closes.
Altar installations must be coordinated with the curator. Because of insurance restrictions, the use of irreplaceable items in altars is discouraged. Candles can be used for display only and must not be lit. Although acceptable, the use of perishable items, such as food and flowers is also discouraged.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
An entry fee is not required. The curator will review photographs of completed artwork only and will select 40-60 pieces for the exhibition. Unfinished artwork will not be reviewed.
Except for altars (which are to be submitted via e-mail), all other entries must be submitted online at https://dallasoac.awardsplatform.com
Artists may submit a maximum of two works of art for the curator’s consideration. The Bath House Cultural Center will not accept files submitted on CDs, removable memory sticks, or by e-mail.
PROPOSING AN ALTAR
Artists who wish to build an altar must submit their proposals via e-mail and must adhere to the entries deadline. Please include a description explaining: Who is the altar for? How large is the installation? What is the purpose of the altar, and how does it relate to the exhibition theme? Attach photographs of the completed altar (if possible), or preliminary sketches of the structure and elements of the installation.
Space for altars is limited. Altars cannot exceed 50 inches in width and depth, but they can be up to 8 or 10 feet in height.
Submit altar proposals no later than September 19 to enrique.fernandez@dallas.gov
PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR ARTWORK
Make sure that your images are sharp and that the quality and size of your files is adequate. Our entries platform can accept files that are up to 5MB in size.
Submit high resolution images. Unless your cell phone has a camera that takes high resolution images, we recommend that you use a regular camera or a scanner to capture your artwork. Remove your prints from their frame before photographing them.
GALLERY AGREEMENT
The exhibition curator will make a final decision for the selection of entries for the show. The decision of the curator is final and indisputable.
Permission to photograph and reproduce accepted entries for promotional and educational purposes is considered granted unless otherwise indicated by the artist.
Submission of entries constitutes agreement to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the Gallery Policy for Exhibitions. View the policy at:
Printed copies of the policy may also be obtained from the Bath House upon request.
SALES
Cultural Center employees are not allowed to accept payments from prospective art buyers, but they may choose to collect contact information from them and supply it to artists. Transactions for the purchase of artwork shall be directly between the purchaser and the artist or his/her official agent. The Friends of the Bath House Cultural Center would gladly accept a 15% voluntary donation on all art sold during the exhibition
DELIVERY, LIABILITY, AND INSURANCE
Any accepted artwork that is delivered after the scheduled date of delivery will not be included in the exhibition. All artworks should be either shipped (at the artist’s expense) or hand-delivered to and from the Bath House. The Bath House Cultural Center will not be responsible for damage, loss, or deterioration of any work while in transit. All reasonable care will be given to each work of art once it is received.
At its discretion, the City of Dallas Office Arts and Culture will provide insurance on most works of art. At times, the City of Dallas may refuse to insure certain pieces of art. In such cases, the artist will be notified and, if the artist chooses to include her/his artwork in the show, despite of the lack of insurance coverage, the artist will be asked to sign a waiver releasing the gallery from any liability. The Bath House will not be responsible for art that is damaged while in the custody of the center because of defective hanging or installation mechanisms provided/installed by the artists. As an added precaution, artists have the option to purchase coverage separately from their own insurance providers.
CALENDAR
Entries deadline: Monday, September 19, 2022
Selection notification: Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022 (6 PM)
Posted online at 6 PM at https://bathhouse.dallasculture.org/notifications/
The notification will include the names of the selected artists (including altar artists) and will be available after 6 PM. Artists are solely responsible for reviewing this list. The curator will not send acceptance notifications to each individual artist by phone, e-mail, or otherwise.
In-person art deliveries: Tuesday, October 4, 2022 (4-7 PM). Late deliveries will not be accepted.
Art shipments: Art shipments must arrive between September 20-October 3, 2022.
Installation of altars: Altar artists can start bringing their items to the gallery on October 4, but their installations will not begin until Saturday, October 8 (12-6 PM).
Show dates: October 15-November 5, 2022
Reception: Sunday, October 16, 2022 (5-7 PM)
Artwork pickup: Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022 (3-7 PM)
Return of shipped artwork: Artwork that comes from outside of DFW will be shipped back to the artists on the second week of December.
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS TRADITION
According to an ancient Mexican tradition, every year the spirits of the dead come back to visit with their families. This occasion happens on All Saints Day (Nov 1) and on the Day of the Dead (Nov 2). During the celebration, many people clean and decorate cemeteries with flowers, and they build elaborate altars with offerings to the dead in their homes to welcome back each family’s departed souls. The altars include food, special gifts, candles, flowers, and other commemorative personal items that were enjoyed and cherished by the person who is being honored.
The Day of the Dead tradition sustains the conviction that life and death are inseparable. Those who embrace this attitude live intensely for the moment because they recognize that there is an end to life.
Questions?
Please contact the exhibition curator,
Enrique Fernández Cervantes at (214) 670-8723 or enrique.fernandez@dallas.gov
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