Bitters: A Call for Submissions

"Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species." ~W. Somerset Maugham

Saint Valentine's Day is just a month away. Evidently Valentine’s Day is not what it’s cracked up to be for at least one segment of the population for whom Cupid's arrows have been blunted. This year the American Greetings Corporation added 10 anti-Valentine’s Day cards to its holiday collection.

For a lot of folks Valentine’s Day is a time for expressing romantic emotions and affirming attachments. Others will just go about their lives as is. Then there’s a third group that will feel a totally different set of emotions. Valentine’s Day is something painful, even bitter. The pervasive commercialization only aids in the backlash against the whole red roses and hearts extravaganza, just as the commercialization of Black Friday leads many people to a backlash against everything Christmas.

Now frankly, I’m not one of these, but if you’re an artist who shares this sentiment or has represented it at some point, the PROVE Gallery is inviting submissions for their upcoming show called Bitters.

The show description goes like this:
Each year in early February, homes and businesses are stuffed full of gaudy, gilded cardboard and horribly oversized stuffed animals; flower petals abound. It is Saint Valentine’s Day. In an effort to counteract the phony treacle of this wretched holiday, Prøve Gallery will be hosting ‘Bitters’, a celebration of the misery and loneliness that we all share. We are seeking art that disturbs, disgusts, or brings dark thoughts into the viewer’s mind in any way.

Work Guidelines:
• Any form and style of art is acceptable.
• Work cannot exceed 10' x 8' x 8' (h x l x d).
• All hung work must not exceed 50lbs, and must be READY TO HANG.
• All freestanding works must support their weight and may not be attached to the floor.

All submission materials must be written in English. PRØVE Gallery will provide publicity, exhibition invitations, mailings, and an opening reception. We will not provide insurance for any works exhibited at PRØVE Gallery. PRØVE Gallery claims a 40% commission on all works sold while on display at PRØVE Gallery. All work is shown at the artist's own risk. All work shipped to PRØVE Gallery must be sent with return shipping or be picked up by the artist or an artist's representative.

Submission Guidelines:
Please email submissions to kathleen@provegallery.com or send via mail with enclosed return postage to:

PRØVE Gallery
21 N Lake Avenue
Duluth, MN 55802

As with all PRØVE shows the gallery requests the following:
• Artist Statement as a PDF, including a brief statement on each piece if needed.
• Up to ten images or video of work for consideration in pdf, jpg, mov, or avi format.

Deadlines:
• Submissions are due by 28 January. This is not a postmark date, but an “arrive by” date.
• Selected artists will be notified the end of the day on 29 January.
• Drop off dates are 31 January through 2 February, from 3-7pm. All work shipped to the gallery must arrive no later than 6 February and MUST INCLUDE RETURN POSTAGE.
• The opening reception for ‘Bitters’ will be 8 February from 7-11pm.
• The show will run for two weeks and conclude on 23 February.
• Pick up will be 28 February through 2 March from 3-7pm.

Please direct any questions to Kathleen Roberts, kathleen@provegallery.com.