CALL TO ARTIST – Horror Vacui: Fear of the Empty

CALL TO ARTIST – Horror Vacui: Fear of the Empty
JUROR: Erica Berkowitz
ENTRY DEADLINE: June 3, ‘19

In visual art, horror vacui (from Latin “fear of empty space”), also
kenophobia (from Greek “fear of the empty”), is the filling of the entire surface of a space or an artwork with detail. In physics, ”horror vacui” reflects Aristotle’s idea that “nature abhors an empty space.” Horror vacui uses high levels of detail to contrast with the sublime unknown. The Huntington Arts Council invites artists to reflect and submit work in line with this subject.

Art history is filled with examples of horror vacui from arabesque decoration of early Islamic art and the engravings of Renaissance printmaker Jean Duvet to contemporary works of Kehinde Wiley. What is the visual representation of fear of the empty?

ENTRIES
• Entries must be original to entrant. Framed
entries require hanging wire. Submission
materials cannot be returned.
• Selected works are chosen by the juror. No
more than two works per artist are selected.

ENTRY DEADLINE: June 3, ‘19

ELIGIBILITY
• All artists and media.

SIZE
• No work should exceed 48 inches in any
direction.
• Standing work cannot be higher than 72
inches.
• Video maximum: 50 MB.

ENTRY FEE
• First three entries:
JOURNEY* school students $15
Full-time students $25
Artist members $30
Non-members $40
Additional entries $5 each
Please note: Entry fees are nonrefundable.

To enter online click here.

To download prospectus click here.

About the Juror: Erica Berkowitz, Director at Haven Gallery, has her bachelor’s degree in art history from Stony Brook University and her master’s degree in contemporary art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art. She has worked locally on Long Island at the Nassau County Museum of Art and the Islip Art Museum. Most recently, she left her position as director of Last Rites Gallery in NYC for nearly three years to open up her own gallery space. Prior to directing at Last Rites, she was the Director of Press and Publications at Forum Gallery. She has been working in the art world for more than eight years.