International Call for Art Made of, Using, or About Softness
Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Deadline: 28.01.2024

Soft is a comfortable word. Soft like a blanket. Soft like broken-in clothing, soft like carpet, like moss. Soft invites touch, and importantly it gives way beneath touch. Soft does not resist.

A soft image both reveals and it hides; a soft light on a surface exposes intricacies of form, yet soft focus blurs that form into ambiguous shapes of light and dark. In both cases, softness is about impressions and sensitivity, a gentle read of information. Soft is vulnerable. Soft allows for you to be soft. 

SOFT is a call for works exploring visual, tactile, emotional, or material softness. Feel free to email us here if you have any questions about submitting work to this exhibit.

ELIGIBILITY
SOFT is open to everyone. The only limitation is that entries must represent original works which address the broad theme described above.

MEDIA
Open to all traditional and non-traditional genre and media. Manifest's carefully assembled juries change from project to project, and have no collective predisposition towards any particular kind or style of art.

SIZE LIMIT
Unless specified otherwise by the exhibit theme (for example, our Small Works exhibit) Manifest has no size restrictions on submissions other than what can fit in our spaces, on our walls, and through  our door. Artists considering submitting who have work which may exceed these limits are welcome to contact us to inquire about specific limits (info@manifestgallery.org)

DATE RESTRICTIONS
Unless specified otherwise by the exhibit or project parameters Manifest has no requirements on timeframe when submitted works must have been made. At Manifest we do not believe great art has an expiration date. Furthermore we believe that older work gains new meaning when contextualized in a new space alongside different works by different artists. Why should an exceptional work of art cease being experienced by the public once it is just a few years old? In fact, why should it ever stop being experienced? While most work submitted to our exhibits has been made within the past five years or so, sometimes works are submitted (and accepted) that are older. Our jury process does not consider this information when scoring or selecting works for exhibit.

More information: https://www.manifestgallery.org/season20/soft/