“Blue songs are songs of hope. You sing them because you’re hard up, but not because you’re beaten.” -Langston Hughes 

 

“The deeper the blue becomes, the more strongly it calls man towards the infinite, awakening in him a desire for the pure and, finally, for the supernatural… The brighter it becomes, the more it loses its sound, until it turns into silent stillness and becomes white.” – Wassily Kandinsky 

 

The blues can be color, emotion, memory, a landscape, a melody, or metaphor. The Art Center invites artists to submit work exploring the many interpretations of the blues. Inspired by Elton John’s song title, I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues, this exhibition explores the richness and complexity of blue and blues in all its forms. It may be that your color palette leans toward indigo skies, cobalt, and cerulean. Maybe your work reflects grief, longing, loneliness, healing, resilience, or quiet contemplation. Maybe it celebrates the musical tradition of the Blues or explores personal stories of perseverance and joy found on the other side of hardship. We want to see artwork that embraces blue as color or idea. Whether abstract or representational, subtle or bold, humorous or heartbreaking, we invite you to show us your blues.  You might explore: the color blue, blues as music or cultural history, melancholy and longing, solitude and reflection, water, sky, atmosphere, and nature, memory and nostalgia.

These ideas are offered simply as inspiration. Creative interpretations are encouraged.

 

IMPORTANT DATES
Submission Deadline: October 9, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: October 16, 2026
Drop Off Dates: October 19 & 20, 2026 10a-4p
Exhibition Dates: October 26 - November 20, 2026
Awards & Reception: November 13, 2026 6p-7p (Awards presented at 6:30p)

Artwork Pickup: November 29 & 30, 2026 10a-4p

 

ELIGIBILITY AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
- Open to all current members and students who have taken a class at TAC within the last 12 months.

- If you are taking a class enter in the STUDENT category. Students and members will be judges separately.

- All artwork must be an original creation of the submitting artist, AI work will not be considered.
- Eligible media includes mixed media, ceramics, drawings, fiber art, printmaking, painting, collage, digital art, photography, and sculpture. Contact the curator with questions about the eligibility of a particular medium at: afoster@itstheartcenter.org

- Each artist may submit two works for consideration. If you are a student, you may submit two works from each class in which you are currently enrolled. All artists will be guaranteed acceptance of one work.
- 2D Work: Maximum framed size is not to exceed 48 inches x 48 inches outside dimensions and weigh no more than 20 lbs.
- For the safety of our staff and guests, works on paper should be framed with either acrylic or plexiglass.
- Works must arrive dry and ready to hang with wire appropriate to size, weight, frame type and structure.
- Sawtooth hangers are not recommended for works larger than 16x20 inches.
- Unframed canvases are acceptable if they are back-stapled, edges painted and include hanging wire.
- 3D Work: Entries may not exceed 50 lbs. in weight and a maximum of 24" in width. Please call the curator regarding freestanding 3D entries: 770-623-8448 or email to afoster@itstheartcenter.org
- We reserve the right to refuse any work we do not feel we can hang safely.
- Work submitted must include an identification label on the back which includes artist name, title, and price or NFS.
- All works submitted by mail must be submitted with a prepaid return label.

​​

AWARDS, RECOGNITION, AND SALES

- There are monetary awards, ribbons, and other recognitions associated with this exhibition.

- Artists will receive 75% of proceeds on all works sold. TAC retains a 25% commission.

 

ENTER YOUR SUBMISSION​​
-Click this link to fill out our Google Form and enter your submissions. IMPORTANT NOTE:  Do fill out the form exactly how you wish your information to appear on the wall label (ie. Capitalize the first letter of your first and last name, if your title has spaces between words, please use spaces, etc.).

-Then email images of your submissions to Afoster@itstheartcenter.org (images do not need to be of exceptionally high quality) please include the following in your email:

-Subject line: SMS and Artist's Name

-Please include the titles of your submissions pieces in the body of email and/or as the file name of your image.

-Hit send! Thank you for joining us for the Fall Student and Member Showcase!

​

Not a student and membership expired? Click here to view our (new!) Membership offerings and join The Art Center, you'll be glad you did!