Call for Submissions: Of Catharsis and Healing

Presented by Visual Arts of South Asia (VASA) – Arts Festival

Art Enthusiasts appreciating the exhibition. Artwork by Anupa Khemadasa at VASA Art Exhibition 2022

Call for Submissions:
VASA Art Exhibition – Of Catharsis and Healing

Deadline for Entry: August 18, 2023, 11:59 pm ET

Exhibition Dates: September 19 – October 7, 2023
Location: Gallery 35 – 35 Queen St W, Brampton, ON L6Y 1L9

‘Of Catharsis and Healing’ explores how artists are creating a new impression of normalcy and reality through their art practices to heal and leave behind the upheaval of emotions and fear that has surrounded us in the last 3 years.

VASA Arts Festival aims to bring the culturally rich and artistically diverse vibrant art and culture from South Asia to the Canadian mainstream. This year, we invite artists to share art that explores their personal catharsis and healing they have experienced while navigating through the new normal that we all face today.

A curated exhibition OF CATHARSIS AND HEALING welcomes submissions of original artworks from professional, emerging and amateur artists across Canada. Artworks can include painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, textiles and mixed media.

We would also like to offer an opportunity for select participating artists to facilitate online workshops of their art form or art practices. Artists facilitating the workshops will be paid an honorarium. Please express your interest and details of workshop here

SUBMISSION IS FREE!

IMPORTANT DATES

Deadline for Entry: August 18, 2023 (11:59 pm Eastern Time)
Notification of Selection: on or before August 25, 2023
Artwork Drop off: September 16, 2023 from 1pm – 4pm
Artwork Pick up: October 7, 2023 from 5pm – 7pm
Exhibition Dates: September 19, 2023 – October 7, 2023

Artworks by Sushma Sharma and Jaya Datta at VASA Art Exhibition 2022

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR SELECTION

• Artists can submit upto 3 images of original artworks of which upto 2 artworks may be selected to be a part of the exhibition. Artworks must be Original and have been created in the last 3 years and not appeared in prior exhibitions. Artworks should not exceed size 36×36 inches, due to space constraint limited number of large artworks will be selected.
• Send your submissions here
• Name your submission images with your first and last name, followed by title of work. Image files should have minimum resolution of 72 dpi.
• Results will be emailed no later than August 18, 2023 with further information. The curator will appraise artworks in accordance with the exhibition theme while looking for creativity that successfully represents the objective of the theme along with technical skill, form and concept.

FINAL SUBMISSION

• If you are accepted, by submitting your entry you give VASA – Arts Festival the right to publish your images for publicity purposes for the current year and within all future promotions.
• Artwork must arrive with appropriate hardware ready for display. 2-Dimensional work must be ready to hang. Photographs should be professionally mounted and framed.
• VASA reserves the right to refuse artworks that arrive in unsuitable condition for display in a gallery setting.
• Accepted entries must remain on display until the final day of the exhibition.

Artworks by Divyanshi Rastogi, Gabriel George and Makhan Saha at VASA Art Exhibition 2022

ABOUT THE CURATOR

As an art professional Aparna Rangnekar’s style has developed from her connection to her Indian heritage and her desire to create art across a variety of genres and substrates as a mode of exploring form, texture and different mediums. While her early works have been an array of abstract and expressionist experimentation, she has now returned to her original passion of creating large scale murals using vibrant colours and bold textures to create striking compositions over the last few years.

A compassionate art educator, Aparna is also engaged with various art groups and not-for-profit organizations promoting Arts and Culture in the community. She has conceptualized and facilitated several community art projects in the Greater Toronto Area, at the Vibrant Brampton South Asian Cultural Festival as well as for Ontario Culture Days in Milton. Her recent projects include creating murals for Arts Milton’s Public Art project Exclusively Inclusive and Gerrard India Bazaar BIA’s project Adivasi Akruti Art Jam.

ABOUT US

Now in its seventh year Visual Arts of South Asia (VASA) – Arts Festival is an initiative by Arts & Culture Initiative of South Asia (ACISA), the organizers of the very successful Vibrant Brampton Festival to create awareness and appreciation for South Asian Art and foster inter-cultural understanding that is integral to Canada and its diversity.

Visual Arts of South Asia (VASA) – Arts Festival and exhibition aims to introduce the unique flavour of South Asian art to mainstream art aficionados by showcasing South Asian influenced art created by Canadian artists from different cultures. The event showcases South Asian culture as it evolves in this country and integrates with Canadian values.

Aparna Rangnekar
Festival Director & Curator

Website: www.vasaartsfestival.ca
Facebook: @V.A.S.A.ARTSFESTIVAL
Instagram: @VASAARTS
Email: vasaartsfestival@gmail.com