An oasis right in the heart of downtown Radford, the Central Depot Courtyard will host an art exhibit called Pandemic Perspectives from July 20 through Oct. 11.
Mountain Trotter Arts (MTA) has issued a call to all New River Valley residents to create artwork for Pandemic Perspectives, an outdoor exhibit.
This exhibition will be free and open to the public from July 20, 2020, until October 11, 2020, at the Central Depot Courtyard located at 307 W. Main St. in Radford. The location is next to Brick House Pizza behind the white stucco wall with open windows.
The exhibition is being presented by Mountain Trotter Arts in partnership with Happy Sprouts Gardens to provide a creative outlet for NRV residents to artfully express their response to the pandemic and to provide an outdoor artful destination for NRV residents to safely view and experience art.
Mountain Trotter Arts is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization dedicated to showcasing and advocating for local artists, musicians and creators. By creating free local events, MTA not only supports the local art scene, but encourages the community to learn from the arts, enjoy what the arts have to offer, and shop local and small. MTA’s events are inclusive and open to all.
For the exhibit, MTA seeks 2-D and 3-D fine art and craft entries that speak of our current situation in relation to the pandemic and anticipations for the future. Artists are free to use their artwork to examine and provide some insight into the following questions: What is your artful response to life during the time of COVID-19? What has your journey been like? Has it been one of hope? Of upheaval? Boredom? Something else? What have you learned about yourself or the people you have been quarantined with? Do you feel “we are all in this together,” or something entirely different? Are you different now than you were before the pandemic? How has life changed for you?
Works to be exhibited will be chosen by a panel of artists and MTA board members based on artistic creativity, experimentation, imagination, originality and response to the theme.
Submissions are open to all New River Valley residents of all ages. Group projects are allowed. Work must be suitable for all outdoor elements. There is no entry fee. The deadline for entry submissions is Friday, July 17.
This will be an outdoor show so materials must be weather tolerant and sturdy. Wood, metal, mounted styrofoam, acrylic or oil paintings on wood and mounted masonite would be appropriate. No paper mache, unsealed-canvases or unprotected paper will be accepted. Framed paper is discouraged. Art that is vulnerable must be housed or mounted in a way that protects it.
The artwork guidelines are as follows: 1) All submissions must have been created during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2) Each artist may enter up to three pieces of original artwork. All entries will be chosen (juried) from a digital image. 3) No more than one piece per artist will be exhibited if chosen. 4) Group-created pieces are allowed. 5) All art needs to be made to withstand the elements as it will be exhibited in an unsecure location, exposed to the elements for up to four months. 6) The artwork should be made to be touched and interacted with by the public. 7) Artists are responsible for insuring their art pieces if they desire.
For information about submissions and for a copy of the submission form, artists should email Mountain Trotter Arts (mountaintrotterarts@gmail.com).
All information given on the original entry as to title, size and price will be accepted as final.
Art may be priced for sale. Sales will be between artist and buyer.
Mountain Trotter Arts will take no commission.
Finalists will be notified prior to Saturday, July 18, with instructions for drop-off or pick-up of the artwork.
