Craft in the Valley
Open Call for Sonoma Valley Artists
Sonoma, California. Exhibition curators Simon Blattner and Barbara Wells invite artists, craftspeople, and makers to submit work for inclusion in Craft in the Valley, an upcoming exhibition in Gallery 212 at Sonoma Community Center. The exhibit will run Friday, January 9th, through Thursday, February 19th. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, September 30th.
The exhibit celebrates the creativity, mastery, and meaning of handmade craft in all its forms. Craft in the Valley honors the role of craft as both functional art and a vessel for personal, cultural, and community expression.
“It is with the deepest intentionality that we present Craft in the Valley, an exhibition honoring the enduring value of handmade craft and the artists who keep these traditions alive,” Blattner and Wells said in a curatorial statement. “In a world increasingly shaped by mass production and digital speed, this exhibition invites us to slow down and consider the meaning, beauty, and depth that come from work made by hand.”
To be eligible for inclusion in the show, makers must live or work in Sonoma Valley or the surrounding regions. All work must be original and handcrafted by the artist. Traditional and contemporary approaches to craft are welcome to apply.
“Craft in the Valley is not just a showcase of finely made objects,” the curators continued, “it is a celebration of human presence, imagination, and the tactile intelligence that links past, present, and future through the act of making.”
To apply, visit SonomaCommunityCenter.org. Artists may submit up to five works for consideration. After applying to the show, there is the option to sign up for an open call on either Saturday, August 23rd, or Sunday, September 21st. While not mandatory, coming to an open call date gives the craftsman a chance to meet the curators and describe their work in person.
The exhibit, Craft in the Valley, will run from Friday, January 9th, to Thursday, February 19th, in Gallery 212 at Sonoma Community Center. Artist submissions will be accepted through Tuesday, September 9th. The curators will begin notifications of acceptance on Friday, October 31st. Sonoma Community Center is located at 276 East Napa Street. For more information, visit SonomaCommunityCenter.org.
About Sonoma Community Center
The Sonoma Community Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1953 to serve the communities of Sonoma Valley. We envision the Center as a place where people of all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, disabilities, cultures, artistic talents, income levels, and interests feel welcomed and valued. The Center aims to be a place where everyone can find a creative pursuit, engage with others in a shared purpose, and participate in a new experience- a place where everyone can find something to suit their needs and find a sense of community and belonging. Originally built as the Sonoma Grammar School, which opened in 1916, the Center is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
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Media Contact:
Vanessa Rognlien
Executive Director, Sonoma Community Center
[email protected]
(707) 931-4166
