Surface Labor From Riverside Arts Center

Printmaking and fiber arts share a deep connection through process, repetition, and labor. Historically, both practices have existed at the intersection of art and utility—creating objects that warm the body and home, communicate information, tell stories, preserve histories, and mark cultural identities.

Whether through the rhythm of a loom, the carving of a block, the pulling of a print, or the repetition of a stitch, both disciplines rely on acts that are repeated again and again. Each iteration produces something new while retaining the care, skill, and craftsmanship of the maker. Though multiples may be created, the evidence of the artist's hand remains present in every work.

Surface Labor celebrates these traditions and the often-unseen work behind them. This exhibition honors printmakers and fiber artists whose dedication, patience, and craftsmanship transform surfaces into vessels of meaning, memory, and connection.

Key Dates:

Age: Artists of all ages are welcome to apply. Artists under 18 must provide written permission from a parent or legal guardian. A parent or legal guardian will also be required to co-sign any exhibition and/or sales agreements.

Original Work: All submitted work must be the original creation of the applicant. Work created wholly or partially with AI tools must be disclosed at submission. Such work will be evaluated under the same criteria as other submissions.

Medium: Eligible mediums include printmaking and fiber arts. 

Availability: Work must be available for the full exhibition period and cannot be withdrawn before the exhibition closes.

Condition: Work must be in display-ready condition (framed, wired, or otherwise prepared according to gallery specifications).

Location: Open to artists locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. While priority may be given to artists based in Southeastern Michigan to align with the gallery’s community-focused mission, we also welcome submissions from artists outside the region whose work can bring fresh perspectives and broaden the experience for our local community.

Copyright: Work that infringes on the copyright, trademark, publicity rights, or other intellectual property rights of others is ineligible. By submitting, the artist warrants that their work does not infringe on any third-party rights and agrees to indemnify Riverside Arts Center against any claims related to such infringement.

Safety: Works containing hazardous, toxic, or perishable materials may be disqualified at the gallery’s discretion.

Size Limits: Oversized works must comply with maximum dimensions of 36 x 48 (3ft by 4ft) unless pre-approved.

Installation: Works requiring unusual installation methods must be feasible within the gallery’s existing infrastructure. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Maggie Spencer at [email protected].

1. Exhibition Commitment

Accepted artworks must remain on display for the entire exhibition period, as outlined in the acceptance notice. Early removal is not permitted without prior written approval from the gallery.

2. Delivery, Pickup, and Shipping

Artists are responsible for delivering their artwork to the gallery by the designated delivery deadline, in display-ready condition as described in the eligibility criteria.

Artists are responsible for retrieving their artwork at the designated pickup date and time.

The gallery does not cover packaging, shipping costs, or return shipping; these costs are the sole responsibility of the artist.

3. Installation and Curation

Content Disclaimer: Riverside Arts Center respects the right of artists to make personal, social, and geo-political statements through their creative work. At the same time, RAC serves an all-ages audience and a wide public community. For works that may contain sensitive or potentially offensive material, artists will collaborate with RAC staff and board to ensure appropriate context is provided. This may include a public disclaimer about the nature of the work or, in some cases, a mutual decision about whether RAC is the best venue for presentation.

The gallery has final authority over the inclusion, placement, installation, and arrangement of all artworks. Decisions by the gallery regarding inclusion are final and not subject to appeal, damages, or compensation.

The gallery may make reasonable adjustments to installation methods for safety or presentation quality.

Works requiring special equipment or installation must be pre-approved and feasible within the gallery’s existing infrastructure.

4. Sales and Commission

The gallery handles sales of exhibited work on behalf of the artist. All sales are processed through the gallery, which will collect and remit applicable sales tax. The gallery retains a commission on the sale price as outlined in the exhibition agreement. Payment of net proceeds will be made to the artist after the close of the exhibition. Artists are responsible for reporting this income on their personal tax returns.

The gallery retains a 30% commission of the final sale price for each work sold during the exhibition or as a direct result of the exhibition.

Sale prices must be clearly stated at the time of submission and may not be changed after acceptance without written consent from the gallery.

Artists will receive payment for sold works within 30 days after the close of the exhibition, minus the gallery’s commission.

Artists are responsible for reporting any income received to the appropriate tax authorities.

5. Promotion and Image Use

By submitting work, the artist grants the gallery the right to photograph, record, or reproduce images of the artwork for promotional, publicity, educational, grant reporting, and archival purposes.

Copyright remains with the artist. The gallery will credit the artist whenever images are used publicly.

6. Insurance and Liability

The gallery will exercise reasonable care in handling and displaying all works.

The gallery provides insurance coverage for exhibited work while it is on the premises and for the duration of the exhibition only, up to the maximum insurable value allowed under the gallery’s insurance policy, with a per-piece limit of $5,000 unless otherwise agreed in writing. The gallery is not liable for damage in transit, even if gallery staff assist with loading or unloading.

The gallery is not responsible for damage or loss caused by acts of nature, terrorism, war, theft, vandalism, or other events beyond reasonable control. This includes accidental damage that may occur during installation or deinstallation, unless such events are covered under the gallery’s insurance policy.

Accepted works may not be withdrawn before the close of the exhibition without the gallery’s prior written approval. After the exhibition ends, artists must pick up their work within 30 days. Work not collected within this timeframe may incur storage fees or, at the gallery’s discretion, be disposed of.

Failure to comply with delivery deadlines, presentation standards, or reasonable communication may result in the removal of the work from the exhibition.