Life Force Arts Center gallery produces curated art exhibits based on themes. An exhibit usually runs from 2 - 4 months. To be in an exhibit, artists submit their work when a Call for Artists goes out, which is usually 2 - 6 months before the start of the show.

To sign up to be on our Call for Artists list, please click here.

Make sure to check the box "Call for Artists" under the listing "Which publications would you like to receive?"

 

Performing Artists: for information about, or to propose a presentation for, the LFAC Performance Series (Folk & Beyond, Sound & Spirit, Performance of the Spirit) please click here.

 

 
Art Submission Fee $25

 

 

 

Celebrate Nature as the greatest artist, view artistic collaboration between humans and the plant world at Bridge to Eden: The Green World as Artist, an art exhibit running April 21 - June 19, 2012 at Life Force Arts Center gallery, 1609 W Belmont, Chicago IL 60657. Opening Reception is Earth Day weekend, Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM. Closing Reception is Tuesday, June 19,  2012 from 6 - 10 PM. Gallery hours are Mondays and Thursdays 1:30 - 6:30 PM, and by appointment. Admission to the exhibit and Opening and Closing receptions is free. For more information, please contact Joan Forest Mage, Executive Director, (773) 327-7224, joan@LifeForceArts.org.

For centuries, the Green World of plants has been the model of beauty and aesthetic form that humans in cultures worldwide have imitated in countless drawings, paintings, sculptures and photographs. In addition, there are arts such as landscaping and flower arranging that utilize plants themselves as the artistic medium.

"An actual rose is the most perfect artwork," says Joan Forest Mage, Life Force Arts Center's Executive Director, who along with Artists Steven Blaine Adams and Judy Demchuk created the concept of the exhibit. "In Bridge to Eden, we honor the Green World as a conscious, artistic creator and colleague. This raises thought-provoking issues about what is art, what is creation and who is Creator. We asked participating human artists to work from a consciousness of co-creating art together with the Green World by incorporating live plants into their artwork in safe and respectful ways. The exhibit also highlights artwork made from natural plant material: wood carving, oil on canvas, sumi ink on rice paper."

Many of the pieces remind us of the human interaction with the world of vegetation, including the gifts of food, medicine, clothing, furniture and housing that plants give us. We explore how a conscious and reciprocal relationship between humans and the Green World can help us create a new Eden, an ideal place where life flourishes harmoniously.

Bridge to Eden: The Green World as Artist is the second of three art exhibits Life Force Arts Center (LFAC) is presenting that explore the theme of "animal-vegetable-mineral": humans' relationship with their fellow dwellers on Earth. In addition to the art exhibit, LFAC will present other events related to the Green World, including performances, lectures and workshops on aromatherapy, herbal healing and vegetarian cooking.

Life Force Arts Foundation (LFAF) presents artistically excellent, spiritually based visual, literary, and performing art. We define spiritual art as art that flows from spiritual practice, art that strives to connect the audience with Spirit, and art that creates spiritual awakening, healing, or evolution. We focus on the arts as a common ground of human expression, where artists and audiences of diverse spiritual traditions can honor each other, and share their personal and collective experiences of the spiritual aspect of life. LFAF's goals are to develop spiritual artists, the spiritual arts audience, and the spiritual arts community. LFAF advances the field of spiritual art through events and publications that promote awareness of the art-spirituality connection.  Life Force Arts Foundation operates Life Force Arts Center (LFAC), Chicago's spiritual art gallery and performance space, which presents visual art exhibits, dance, theater and music performances, author book signings and workshops with artists who are experts in spiritual artmaking.


We are looking for artwork that shows how humans relate in positive ways to the Green World (plants, vegetation), created by artists who have feel a deep connection to the Green World.

We ask artists to work from a consciousness of co-creating art together with the Green World. We are especially looking for artwork that incorporates live plants, with the artists working with these living beings in a safe and respectful manner.

All artwork should have some connection to plants, such as incorporating live plants or plant based media, such as wood carving, oil on canvas, sumi ink on rice paper, etc., and/or having the Green World as subject matter, including one or more of the following:

• herbs
• food
• medicines
• colors of plants; including colors that derive from plants, such as vegetable dyes & tea
  
• how plants change with the seasons
• plants from various ecosystems
• connection of mineral/earth to plant
• other ideas regarding plants

Deadline for submissions: We will be adding artwork to this exhibit throughout the run of the show. You may send a submission anytime between April 15 - May 15, 2012.  Last day for submissions: May 15. The earlier you send in your submission, the longer time your artwork may be in the show.

Artists will be notified about acceptance of their submissions within one week after the submission is received. If accepted, artwork should be delivered to LFAC to be installed within one week after acceptance.

To submit artwork, please email photos of the pieces that you would like considered for the exhibit. See submission requirements below. The submission fee is $25 and may be paid via paypal 

 

Art Submission fee $25

 

or contacting us at 773-327-7224.

Important Dates:

• Deadline for submissions: between April 15- May 15, 2012
• Artists will be notified about acceptance of their submissions within one week after the submission is received. If accepted, artwork should be delivered to LFAC to be installed within one week after acceptance.
• Opening Reception is Saturday April 21, 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM. We may have other receptions throughout the run of the show as new artists are added to the show.
• The show will run from April 21 - June 19, 2012
• Closing Reception is Tuesday June 19, 2012
• Art that is not sold may be picked up between June 19 - June 23

Submission requirements:

• Art may include 2- or 3-dimensional: prints, paintings, photography, digital, sculpture, mixed media. We are especially looking for artwork that incorporates live plants, with the artists working with these living beings in a safe and respectful manner. All artwork should have some connection to plants, such as incorporating live plants or plant based media, such as wood carving, oil on canvas, sumi ink on rice paper, etc., and/or having the Green World as subject matter, such as one or more of the following:
• IMPORTANT: if your art is accepted, you are responsible for delivering it ready-to-display, such as having it framed, and/or having a wire or hook in the back of the artwork. 
• Submit up to 5 works of art that fit the theme for the show.
• Submissions may be sent as jpg images (max 500 x 500 pixels per image). Please put images in one file if possible.
• Send to: artsubmissions@lifeforcearts.org.
• Submission fee is $25 and may be paid via paypal to " This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " or contacting us at 773-327-7224.

Please include all of the following information with your submission:

• Artist’s name and contact information
• Artist website
• Title of artwork and date created
• Size of the art or size of art framed (if framed)
• Type of media
• Retail Price you suggest, based on a 50-50% split between LFAC and artist (LFAC gets 50%, artist gets 50%)
• Artist biography or resume

Additional information:

The artist or his/her representative should be present for installing his/her art.  Artist is responsible for shipping the art or delivery, properly wrapped and protected. The artist agrees to pick up art at the end of the show or make arrangements and pay for for shipping.

There will be a 50-50% split of any sales of art; the artist will receive 50% and Life Force Arts Center 50%.

We look forward to your submission. If you have any questions, please contact: Joan Forest Mage, Executive Director, (773) 327-7224,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it org