CALL FOR ARTISTS and Instructions for the 5th Annual Climate Crisis Art Exhibit

Overview:

The Waco Friends of the Climate is a local non-profit organization dedicated to direct action and education to combat anthropogenic climate change.  The goal of the art show is to raise awareness of the climate crisis, emphasize that climate change is a global emergency, portray the ongoing effects, and suggest hopeful solutions.

We believe that art, through its emotional/spiritual/mystical impact, enhances the scientific understanding of the subject.  All submitted art should address some aspect of the climate crisis.  To encourage all artists, professional and amateur, to consider submitting their work, this 5th annual show will again take place online, requires no entry fee, and offers cash prizes.

At the moment of this writing, rapid spread of the delta variant of COVID-19 is being observed; thus a virtual exhibit will offer greater safety for artists and exhibit visitors. 

The following are aspects of the manmade climate crisis that could serve as topics for submitted art.  The list is not comprehensive, as the climate system is extremely complex.  Any topic related to mitigation of or adaptation to anthropogenic climate change is welcome:

• Temperature increase of air, water, land
• Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, death
• Melting polar sea ice with loss of habitats (polar bears)
• Melting glaciers
• Sea level rise
• Flooding, submerged island nations
• Increased heavy rainfall with freshwater flooding
• More severe hurricanes (superstorms)
• Increased tornado clusters and more Eastern US tornados
• Flooded cities around the globe
• Worsening wildfires with longer wildfire seasons
• Coral bleaching and death, worldwide
• Ocean acidification with damage to shelled creatures
• Ocean dead zones
• Altered ocean and atmospheric currents
• Deforestation
• Forest damage due to increased temperatures
• Drought
• Crop failure
• Air pollution secondary to burning fossil fuels
• Famine
• Emigration and internation conflict
• Water shortage
• Loss of species, the 6th mass extinction, biodiversity collapse
• Spreading diseases, especially spread by mosquitos, ticks, other insect vectors
• Melting permafrost with methane release
• Fossil fuel company funding of misinformation to delay regulation of greenhouse gases.
• Impact on the military, with flooded bases, threat “multiplication”
• Renewable energy, including photovoltaic (solar panels), solar thermal (concentrated solar), hydropower, wave, tidal, geothermal, biomass and biofuels, waste-to-energy
• Geoengineering, including atmospheric aerosols (sulphates), carbon capture and storage, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS)
• Electric cars, electric busses, electric trucks, hybrid cars, hydrogen fuel cell cars
• Solar and electric aircraft.
• Batteries
• Plant-rich diet
• Soil and forest restoration including regenerative agriculture
• Green buildings, including green roofs, LED lighting, smart thermostats
• Household recycling and composting
• Alternative cement
• Refrigerant management
• Floating cities Extinction rebellion symbol (climate change symbol): a circle containing an hourglass, as a metaphor for the limited time remaining to take action

The following are some of the most important points to keep in mind:

• Art is judged based on relevance to the climate crisis, artistic excellence, and originality.
• Please begin right away to think about your piece.
• Remember that multiple entries are allowed, up to 3 per artist.
• Our fully online exhibit is safest for artists and exhibit visitors, and provides global exposure of artists' work.
• This exhibit provides an opportunity to address the climate crisis, which has exploded this summer.
• Generous cash prizes are included.
• Art should be delivered to be photographed November 16 through November 30. Hence the deadline is Nov. 30

 Please address any questions or comments to: anorthc@aol.com.

Instructions:

Show Timeline

Delivery of Art for Entry:  Art should be delivered November 16 through November 30, 2021 to the home of Alan Northcutt, 619 Stone Manor Dr., McGregor 76657.  The home is located in the Stone Creek Ranch subdivision.  Driving on Hwy 84 from Waco to McGregor, look for the “Stone Creek Ranch” sign, take a left across Hwy 84 and drive straight through on the curvy Stone Creek Ranch Road until it dead ends on Stone Manor Dr.  Take a left, and our house is the 4^th on the left side of the street.  Look for “619” on the mailbox and the Black flag on the mailbox, reading “There is No Planet B.”  Please park on the street and carry your art up the driveway in the back to the garage.  Art is left on a table in the garage.

Art Entry Deadline:  All art should be delivered to the Stone Manor Dr. address by November 30, 2021.

Official Show Opening: opening date is to be announced.  We anticipate early in December.

Voting for People’s Choice Award:  once the show officially opens,  voting for the Peoples’ Choice Award will begin and will be open for one month.

Closing Date of Show:  since the show is all virtual, we will keep the display open as long as we feel visitor numbers indicate continued interest.

Pick-up of Art:  after art is dropped off, we will photograph it as soon as possible, and then call the artist for pickup.  Pickup is greatly appreciated as there is not space for storage at Alan’s home.

Prizes

Judging will be performed by members of Waco Friends of the Climate and a professional artist, and results are final.  Art will be judged on relevance to the topic of the climate crisis, artistic merit, and originality.  

Because of numerous worthy entries in 2020, the number of awards was increased, and we anticipate a similar situation in 2021.  The following awards will be given, but we reserve the right to add awards as needed.  Note that Honorable Mention awards may be multiple.

People’s Choice ($400)

Adult 1st ($1000)

Adult 2nd ($600)

Adult 3rd ($400)

Adult 4th ($200)

Adult Hon. Mention ($50)

College 1st ($500) 

College 2nd ($250)

College 3rd ($100)

College Hon. Mention ($50)

High School 1st ($350)

High School 2nd ($175)

High School 3rd ($100)

High School Hon. Mention ($50)

Jr. High 1st ($250)

Jr. High 2nd ($150)

Jr. High 3rd ($100)

Jr. High Hon. Mention ($50)

Rules

Age:  There are no age restrictions in entering this art exhibit.

Geography:  Entries are limited to those with residence within the state of Texas.

Number of entries:  Three (3) entries are allowed per artist.

Media:  The show is focused on visual media that would usually be displayed on the wall of an art gallery. Thus, entries range from paintings to digital art to photography to fabric creations. Since the show is entirely online, there are no size restrictions. Sculpture is also allowed, recognizing that photographs of sculptures may not carry an impact equivalent to viewing the piece in person.

Each piece should be delivered with an index card or paper of index card size attached, with the following information, preferably in the following format: 

Artist Name

Title of Piece (year created)

Medium

Dimensions in cm

Price to Purchase or NFS (contact info for purchase)

An artist statement is also allowed and must be typed. Please email the artist statement to ensure the greatest accuracy of transmission to: anorthc@aol.com. Be sure to identify the artist name and the title of the piece the statement accompanies.

Shipping:  If the artist needs to ship her/his piece to the venue, the cost will be paid by the artist.

Insurance:   The Waco Friends of the Climate is not responsible for any damage to the art. Upon entering this exhibit, the artist recognizes this and accepts financial responsibility for the piece. The artist may consider purchasing insurance. However, in the 4 years the show has been held, only one small area of possible damage was noted to one piece of art.

Sales:   Sales are strictly between the artist and the buyer. No commission is received by the host of the show or the venue.

Public Relations:  The host of the show reserves the right to use images of any submitted art for PR purposes.

The Waco Friends of the Climate encourages all artists to consider entering this exhibit.  There are many art shows in Waco.  However, this climate art exhibit allows artists to utilize their artistic skill to play a role in combating mankind’s greatest challenge of the anthropogenic climate crisis. Artists may help preserve a livable biosphere for their descendants and for all the children of this world, recognizing that climate education and inspiration are precursors to action.

For any questions or concerns, please email the Director of our organization, Alan Northcutt, MD, at anorthc@aol.com.