Visual Language - a Regional Juried Call for Art

Artists use the basic elements and principles of art to express themselves in all kinds of media. These foundational components are the key to visual communication. Features such as; line, color, shape, and texture combined with principles like balance, proportion, movement and pattern. For many, the art fundamentals lay the groundwork on which to add more layered meaning and overt messaging using our most basic form of communication: words or text – a powerful and malleable medium.

Kim Kleinhardt, All in Her Head Terri Jo Frew, Red Flags

The Visual Language exhibition at the ACWL-Nuveen – September 8 – October 24 is a unique call to artists in the Great Lake region surrounding Lake Michigan: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. Artists in these states are invited to submit artwork that somehow incorporates text, words, language and/or poetry. How the text is used in the artwork can be subtle, bold or anywhere in-between. We are looking for a broad range of approaches using any media to create 2D or 3D artwork or digital media. How are you turning words into art or art into words?

The Juror for this exhibition is Annamarie Buller, an experienced, thoughtful, and innovative curator based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

BIO: Annamarie Buller brings 24 years of experience in the nonprofit and government sectors, along with a long-standing commitment to organizing and curating in the arts. In the early 2000s, she began organizing Free Radical Gallery in Grand Rapids, a series of art shows that transformed non-traditional spaces and vacant storefronts into galleries for contemporary artists at all stages of development. Her work on Free Radical Gallery helped lead to the creation of Avenue for the Arts, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024. As an independent curator, Buller continues to work closely with 106 Gallery, part of Avenue for the Arts in Grand Rapids. Through innovative exhibitions featuring contemporary work, she cultivates artistic expression and strengthens connections across the community. Buller is especially passionate about artwork that involves political themes and intentionally seeks out the storytelling of artists from marginalized communities. Her work reflects the vital role of independent curators and community organizers in nurturing a vibrant arts culture and creating space for meaningful public dialogue.

The deadline to apply to this show is August 12. Please visit www.artswhitelake.org/call-for-artists for complete exhibition guidelines and to access the online application. Artists will be notified by August 19 and artwork will need to be delivered or shipped to the ACWL-Nuveen August 25-29. The exhibition will open to the public September 8 with a closing reception on Saturday, October 24 from 1:00 – 3:00pm. The reception will include a special gallery talk with Annamarie starting at 1:30. She will share her insights on the artwork in the exhibit and is hoping to spark a dialogue with any participating artists at the reception and community members. Thank you to the White Lake Community Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County for sponsoring this exhibition!

Any questions please contact Director Erin Peyer at nuveen@artswhitelake.org – call us at 231-893-2524 or stop by – 106 E. Colby Street, Whitehall, Michigan.