Call for Art

A Dreadful Beauty: History & Art from Gothic Pride Seattle

CoCA and GPS are working in association with each other on this Call For Art on this artistic, historical and LGBTQIA+ event!

Gothic Pride Seattle began in 2001 when Lancer Forney brought the Gay community and the Gothic community together. Established as an independent non-profit in 2015, Gothic Pride Seattle today celebrates LGBTQIA+ identity through its programming, highlighted by an annual pageant. As a celebration of its history as well as its diverse forms of contemporary art, Gothic Pride Seattle (GPS) and Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA) will present a group exhibition exploring the evolving aesthetic of Gothic identity in a wide variety of media. The Call is open to emerging and established artists working in any media in the Pacific Northwest.

Following the Gothic art exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston in 1997 (curated by Christopher Grunenberg), and Francesca Gavin’s Hell Bound: New Gothic Art (2008) which summarized the movement as “the art of fear,” our curators are interested in how the movement’s visual iconography (neo-punk, hardcore, metal, popular culture, eroticism, body horror, etc.) has changed in the wake of the pandemic and the recent attack on trans rights by conservative politics. Please keep in mind a general audience and viewership when applying, indicating any controversial work that the curators might include behind pipe and drape in the gallery. The gallery itself is 650 sq. ft with approximately 110 feet of linear wall space and ceiling of 15 feet.

A Dreadful Beauty: History & Art from Gothic Pride Seattleis open to emerging and established artists in the Northwest (shipping to be paid by artist). There is no fee to apply. To be considered, submit the following by the deadline of Sunday, April 7 at midnight to submissions@cocaseattle.org with A Dreadful Beauty in the subject line.

• Up to six images, max. 3 MB each (Your choice of number of pre-existing works, not to exceed six in total with one shot of each). Please attach individually and not in a zip file which we must then painstakingly open to transfer files. Label with last name, underscore, and number, e.g., Smithson_01, etc.
• Artist statement with specific reference to Gothic theme, 150 words or less
• Artist Bio, 150 words or less

Submissions will be juried by GPS and CoCA with the following selection criteria:

• Strength of submitted work (mastery of material; originality; composition; irony;)
• Connection to theme of Gothic aesthetic, identity, politics, etc. (see above)
• Feasibility for exhibition in small gallery space with up to 20+ other artists, lighting requirements, audio visual requirements,
• List of Works: Titles, dimensions, year of fabrication, media, price if for sale (will be used for wall tags).

Additional details:

CoCA Address: 114 Third Ave S. Seattle, WA 98104

Call announced, promoted: March 4 – April 6, 2024

Submission period: March 4 – April 6, 2024

Deadline to apply: Sunday, April 7 (midnight)

Replies to all applicants: Sunday, April 21

Drop off / delivery by (114 Third Ave S. Seattle, WA 98104): Sunday April 28 Saturday, 12 – 4p

Opening: Thursday, May 2

Pick Up: Saturday June 1 (12p – 4p)

Drop-off delivery of artwork is preferred.

Shipping both directions to be paid by artist.

Artists will be asked to sign a loan agreement, to be included with shipment or submitted at drop off.

Work is insured while on display at CoCA.

Sales are split 60/40, Artist / Galleries, inclusive of sales tax. The Gallery 40% will be split between GPS and CoCA at 50/50.

Questions? Contact xavier@cocaseattle.org