Shadow & Light

The Key West Art & Historical Society announces a call for entries for its new juried exhibition which is slated to open in February 2024 at the Key West Museum of Art & History. “Shadow & Light” is open to all artists living and creating in the Florida Keys. The new exhibition beckons artists to immerse themselves in the outdoors, capturing natural light and its interaction with everyday objects into visual expressions that evoke contemplation and introspection. 

Juried by Dr. Cori Convertito of the Key West Art & Historical Society, Martha Resk from the Florida Keys Council of the Arts, Emma Starr of The Armory Studios, and Elena Devers of The Studios of Key West, the submission platform opens on December 1, 2023, and closes on January 22, 2024.

The innovative exhibition concept challenges conventional boundaries, inviting artists to create artwork that expresses ideas about the natural world. The Society’s goal with this exhibition is to venture into the intricate interplay between the elemental forces of nature and the profound depths of human mindfulness. We are seeking submission of original artwork that captures the essence of “Shadow & Light” that can include a range of mediums such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, encaustic, pencil, sculpture, and mixed media.

Best of Show and People’s Choice (no monetary awards are given)

Join us at the Key West Art & Historical Society, February 26, 2024, 5-8 PM for a reception to honor the participating artists. All participating artists, friends, family, and community members are invited to attend.

Cori Convertito, PhD – A graduate of the University of Exeter, Cori has worked as the curator of the Key West Art & Historical Society since 2012. Before working for the Society, she worked for museums and non-profit arts organizations in the United Kingdom. Currently, Cori sits on the Anne McKee Artists Fund board and on the City of Key West’s Art in Public Places advisory board.

Martha Resk – Business Manager for the Florida Keys Council of the Arts. As the Business Manager at Florida Keys Council of the Arts, Martha oversees the financial and administrative aspects of a local arts agency that supports and promotes the cultural and artistic diversity of the Keys. Prior to joining the Council, Martha held leadership positions in various non- profits, art galleries and centers, where she gained valuable experience in curating, outreach, and board relations. She also has a unique background in ecology and evolutionary biology, which informs her passion for art and nature.

Emma Starr – Australian-born artist at The Armory Studios. The analogue photographer, web designer, yoga instructor and owner of Luna brings her creative thinking to the table as well as her skillset with constructive group discussions that work toward a greater goal, especially ones that serve the community and bring growth. She is also an active Key West Art & Historical Society board member who is committed to assisting the organization bring culturally rich exhibitions to their museums.

Elena Devers – Deputy Director at The Studios of Key West. As Deputy Director for TSKW, Elena is responsible for the approximately 40 resident artists who make their home in Key West for a month at a time. Each year, she and a panel of community members comb through hundreds of applications to select the writers/performers/artists who are interested in Key West’s cultural identity.

Artwork can be hand delivered (with appointment) between Tuesday, February 13 and Thursday, February 15 to:

Key West Museum of Art & History
281 Front Street, 
Key West, Florida 33040

All participating artists agree to allow the Key West Art & Historical Society to use their artwork in advertising, in press releases, on its website, and in any other promotional activities. Care will be taken to give each artist proper credit.

The Key West Art & Historical Society is precluded by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from selling artwork in its institution.

For questions about this prospectus or KWAHS, please contact [email protected].

For questions regarding the entry process or this website, please see the Support section below. 

Additional Notification Information

Notifications will be emailed and posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on February 9, 2024.

You may view the notification in your ShowSubmit account by logging in and clicking tapping the Notifications at the top right of the screen, or in your Entry History.

If you do not receive your email, login and view the notification in your account. We cannot respond to inquiries regarding the status of notifications.

Note: Entries made prior to 2023 may not display the View Notification link.

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 (January 22, 2024.)
• 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

For questions about KWAHS or this Prospectus, please contact ([email protected]).

For technical support or entry questions, first check our Help Center or Entry Guide. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We’ll respond between 9am and 6pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.