This exhibition seeks to provide space for an inclusive voice in the struggle for representation of BIPOC women in the art world. For 32 years Woman Made Gallery’s vision has been to “ensure the equal placement of women’s art in the world. WMG hosts conversations on issues that matter most to women, helping them make sense of the world through a feminist lens.”  

There are many schools of feminist thought; and mainstream feminism has not – intentionally or not – been inclusive of all voices. One such response to this is the “womanist” movement coined by Alice Walker in 1979, for black feminists or feminists of color, to address more specifically the needs of these groups. WMG would like to take a critical look at feminism. We want to hear the voices and view the work of those who have been systematically marginalized. 

Please submit images of up three works in all media that include a visual element and have not been previously exhibited at the Gallery. Please address the theme of this exhibition in your work and in your artist statement. The exhibition will be held from October 12 to November 9, 2024 at Woman Made Gallery, 1332 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60607. Entry fee allows submission of up to three works.

The Midwest Open is an annual exhibition at WMG that highlights the achievements of women and nonbinary artists living in the American Midwest. According to the United States Census Bureau, the 12 states in the Midwest include Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

For the Midwest Open, a showcase for the vibrancy and diverse views these artists represent, all media and subject matter will be considered. WMG is looking for work unique to the vision of each artist, work that needs the world to complete it, or work that sings a song from the heart(land).

What new series or experiment or story have you ready to share with WMG? Do you have drawings or drafts or proofs with a soul and a power all their own? Open to all media, including works that might be unfinished, but are exceptionally well-crafted, tended to, and bring together the hands and heart. The exhibition will be held from August 31 to September 29, 2024, at Woman Made Gallery, 1332 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60607. Entry fee allows submission of up to three works in any medium.

Cash prizes are awarded to three artists in the exhibition, as designated by the juror.  

This is an Open Call for an exhibition about connecting to oneself, to others and to one’s surroundings. The exhibition will comprise visual material, tactile and sound explorations, dance, poetry, moving image, and more, through the prism of how we establish and maintain our connections on multiple levels.