About the Exhibition
The 7th Annual Unspoken: Survivor Stories exhibition provides a platform for individuals impacted by suicide to share their experiences through art. Presented during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, the exhibition seeks to foster connection, understanding, hope, and awareness while reducing the stigma surrounding conversations about suicide and mental health.
Since its inception, Unspoken: Survivor Stories has provided a safe and compassionate space for artists to share experiences of loss, resilience, remembrance, and hope. Through visual storytelling, participants help create opportunities for dialogue, understanding, and support within their communities.
This year's exhibition will be presented as a virtual gallery, allowing participants from around the world to share their stories and perspectives.
Venue
Online Exhibition
A virtual exhibition presented by Arizona Art Alliance, Arizona Artists Guild, and Your Art Your Story, and promoted through partner websites and social media platforms. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see and share the posts.
In-Person Exhibition
Paradise Valley Community College Gallery at the Center for the Performing Arts
18401 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, AZ 85032
A virtual exhibition presented by Arizona Art Alliance, Arizona Artists Guild, and Your Art Your Story, and promoted through partner websites and social media platforms. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see and share the posts.
In-Person Exhibition
Paradise Valley Community College Gallery at the Center for the Performing Arts
18401 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, AZ 85032
Eligibility
Open to anyone impacted by suicide, including:
- Survivors of suicide loss
- Survivors of suicide attempts
- Individuals whose lives or work have been affected by suicide
- Mental health professionals, first responders, and others working in the field This is an international call for art.
Artwork Guidelines
This is a trauma-informed exhibit for all ages. We cannot accept artwork that depicts or glorifies violence, death, or harm.
In-Person Specifications:
- 3D Art: Must fit on a 24 x 24 inch pedestal; larger works installed by artist. 50 pound maximum.
- 2D Art: Max 48″ on the longest side.
- No giclée prints
- Framing: all work must be framed or gallery wrapped canvases
- No saw-tooth hangers
- Sturdy wire required, no more than ¼ down from the top
- Clean mats/glass
- Gallery-wrap canvases must be 1.25″+ deep, painted sides, no staples. Shallower canvases must be framed.
- Shipping Info: Out-of-state artists must arrange and pay for shipping both ways. Prior approval required for in-person inclusion.
Entry Fee
$10 per artist for up to three entries.
To help offset exhibition administration and online platform costs, a modest entry fee has been introduced for the 2026 exhibition.
If the entry fee creates a barrier for anyone wishing to participate, they can contact: [email protected]
Artists are encouraged to submit a brief artist statement (150 words maximum) to accompany their work.
Acceptance
This is a non-juried exhibition. Acceptance notifications will not be sent. However, an email with the exhibition link will be sent to each artist.
Curators reserve the right to decline artwork that does not meet exhibition guidelines. If a submitted work is deemed inappropriate for inclusion, the artist will be contacted and invited to provide a substitute piece.
Artwork Delivery
If you are showing in person artwork delivery date: Thursday September 17, 10AM to 11 AM to the Gallery.
If you need to make other arrangements to drop off your work, contact Tess at [email protected].
If you need to make other arrangements to drop off your work, contact Tess at [email protected].
Deinstallation
Deinstallation of exhibition and pick up artwork on October 13, 10 AM to 12 pm
If you need to make other arrangements to drop off your work, contact Tess at [email protected].
If you need to make other arrangements to drop off your work, contact Tess at [email protected].
Exhibition Catalog
A digital catalog will accompany the exhibition. Participating artists will be listed by name along with artwork title(s) and sale information, where applicable.
Submission of artwork signifies agreement to these terms.
Sales
Artwork may be offered for sale; NFS (Not For Sale) works are welcome.
Arizona Art Alliance does not take a commission on sales. All sales inquiries and transactions will be handled directly between the artist and buyer.
Copyright & Image Use
Artists retain full copyright to their artwork.
By entering the exhibition, artists grant Arizona Art Alliance permission to use submitted images for promotional and educational purposes related to this exhibition and future Unspoken: Survivor Stories exhibitions.
Curators
David L. Bradley
Tess Mosko Scherer
Arizona Art Alliance
Kristel Nielsen
Your Art Your Story
Special Events
As part of Unspoken: Survivor Stories, we invite participants to join us for two trauma-informed creative workshops. These workshops provide opportunities for reflection, creative expression, and connection for those impacted by suicide.
Whimsy & Witness – Spirit Doll Making
September 1, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 pm
Location: Arizona Artists Guild
Across cultures, dolls have served as vessels for stories, prayers, protection, and remembrance. Using fabric, wire, fibers, and found objects, participants will create a personal spirit doll through an intuitive process of exploration and meaning-making. Each doll becomes a unique expression of memory, resilience, hope, or personal meaning.
No prior art experience is required. All materials are provided.
Kintsugi: The Art of Repair
September 20, 2026 | 1:00–4:00 pm
Location: Arizona Artists Guild
18411 N 7th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85023
Inspired by the Japanese practice of kintsugi, this workshop explores the beauty that can emerge through repair. Participants will break and reconstruct a ceramic bowl while incorporating imagery and words that reflect personal experiences, resilience, and transformation. Through this process, participants are invited to consider how life's fractures can become part of a renewed sense of wholeness.
No prior art experience is required. A $20 materials fee is payable to the instructors on the day of the workshop.
Questions
Image and Filename Specifications
- File Format: Submit original, high-quality JPEG image files. Other formats (e.g., PNG, TIFF) are not accepted.
- Crop Your Image: Ensure only the artwork itself is visible in the image. Do not show any visible matting, frames, or background distractions.
- Orientation: Make sure your image is oriented correctly (right side up) so that the artwork appears in its intended viewing direction.
- Image Size: You do not need to resize your image files before uploading. The system will automatically resize them. Smaller images cannot be enlarged to meet the requirements, so ensure your images are high resolution before uploading.
- File Names: You do not need to rename your files before uploading them. The system will handle any file naming requirements.
- File Size: There is a 30MB maximum file size limit. Larger image files will take longer to upload and process.
Additional Entry Information
- You will pay for your entry by credit or debit card using our secure checkout system.
- After your entry is submitted and paid for, you may log back in to review your entry, edit artist and image information, and add or substitute images up until the entry deadline (August 28, 2026.)
- Entry fees are not refundable and must be submitted and paid by the entry deadline.
- Entries cannot be accepted or changed after the deadline. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.
Support
Questions about this exhibition?
Contact Tess Mosko Scherer ([email protected]) for questions about the prospectus, AzAA, eligibility, artwork requirements, drop-off, pick-up, sales, etc.
Need help with ShowSubmit?
Visit our Help Center or Entry Guide for guidance on image uploads, payments, and managing your entry. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We respond Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm Eastern.