We’re delighted to invite artists everywhere to submit work for our next online exhibit, “Poema: Figure and Portrait Exhibit.” This exhibit will celebrate the mystery and beauty of being made in the image of God. To be considered, the human figure or human portrait must be the main focus of the piece. Whether through realism or abstraction, this exhibit honors how we are the hands, feet, and face of Jesus in the world.
Let’s look for Jesus in each other—to notice God’s presence in faces, hands, expression, and movement. Do you know someone who serves others in small, hidden ways? How does love look like listening, helping, comforting, or simply seeing? “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them.” (Genesis 1:27a) Jesus prayed that we would be one, saying, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me.” (John 17:22–23) As Saint Irenaeus said, “The glory of God is man fully alive.”
Limit: 3 art entries per artist. Accepted mediums include abstract or semi-realistic 2D and 3D artwork and poetry about people, such as painting, drawing, poems, sculpture, charcoal, photography, mixed media, metals, etc. If your artwork or photograph includes any recognizable people, such as someone’s face or a tattoo who will be easily recognized by others (“Hey, look, that’s Henry!”) please have each recognizable person complete your online image release form here: https://jessienilo.typeform.com/image-release. All recognizable people in your art MUST fill out their own image release to be accepted in our exhibit.
Q: What is your policy about nudity or implied nudity?
A: We embrace unconventional and modern art, as long as it’s kid-friendly and recovery-friendly. If in doubt, we encourage you to submit your art, and if it isn’t juried in, we will reach out in person to explain why it didn’t fit the environment. Your artwork is more important than getting it into an exhibit, so don’t change your art just to “fit into” an exhibit.
Q: What if I submit a landscape scene with a tiny person in it?
A: It probably won’t get in. We’re looking for artwork that prominently features the human figure(s) or portrait as the main focus in each piece.