CALL FOR ART: Art as Resistance – Past, Present, Future

An Exhibition at Create @ Wellspring Gallery (Former Arlington Museum of Art)

Theme 

Throughout history, art has been a powerful force that challenges authority, confronts injustice, preserves culture, and gives voice to the voiceless. From Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Jacob Lawrence, and Goya, to Faith Ringgold, Ai Weiwei, Banksy, Keith Haring, Kara Walker, and countless others — resistance art has shaped social movements and told truths others tried to silence.

Create Gallery invites artists to join this lineage by contributing new work that reflects the struggles, injustices, identities, movements, and hopes of our current moment. Artists are encouraged to connect their contemporary perspectives with the bold history of artistic resistance.

ARTIST APPROACH

Artists may respond in any of these ways (or combine them):

1. Reinterpret the Masters of Resistance

– Create a modern response to a historic resistance artist or piece.

– Reimagine their message in today’s climate.

– Explore how their struggle connects to today’s political, social, or cultural issues.

2. Tell the Story of Current Resistance

– Address issues such as free speech, equity, climate justice, immigration, human rights, housing, policing, voting rights, LGBTQ+ safety, freedom of belief, or any current social challenge.

– Show how art today continues the work of those who came before.

3. Personal Acts of Resistance

– Share your own story: identity, survival, protest, faith, heritage, pain, joy, healing, or transformation.

– “Resistance” can be loud or quiet, public or deeply personal.

4. Imagine the Future of Resistance

– What does resistance look like in 2050?

– What voices will rise?

– What injustices may we need to confront next? 

SUBMISSION TYPES

All media accepted, including:

– Painting

– Mixed media

– Sculpture

– Photography

– Textile art

– Digital / AI-informed art

– Film/video

– Spoken word

– Installation work

– Performance/Song Writers (documented or live during exhibit openings)

EXHIBIT TONE & INTENT

This exhibit is not about political division — it’s about the human impulse to demand dignity and truth through creativity. It honors the courage of artists from every era who used their gifts to:

✔ challenge oppressive systems

✔ expose injustice

✔ uplift marginalized voices

✔ protect cultural memory

✔ inspire hope and courage

The show aims to create dialogue, not dictate ideology  

Artists exhibiting in our gallery can expect strong visibility and consistent foot traffic. In addition to a dedicated opening reception, the gallery is open during regular operating hours, and the broader Create Wellspring space welcomes approximately 2,000–3,000 visitors each month for art shows, music performances, and rental events. To ensure continued engagement even during non-gallery events, we use a QR code inquiry system that allows guests to easily view details and express interest in purchasing artwork. This combination of events, steady attendance, and accessible technology provides artists with meaningful exposure and opportunities for sales.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Submission Window: (March 22 – April 12) Submit to mark@createarlington.art

Location: Create Gallery, 201 W Main St., Arlington, TX

Submission Fee: $25 for up to 3 Pieces –Pay on website at the bottom of the Call For Art (No fee for high school or college students)

Requirements:

– Up to 3 works per artist

– Brief artist statement (150–300 words) describing how your work engages with the theme

– High-resolution images or video links

– Dimensions, medium, year created, materials, dimensions

– Price & title of works

Important Note: Work doesn't have to be political; it just needs to engage with the idea of resistance in a meaningful way.