June 12 – September 13, 2024
The CAA @ Canal Gallery is by appointment only. Please sign up for a time using Calendly.
Opening Reception | Thursday, June 13 from 6-8pm
Presented at the CAA @ Canal Gallery • 650 E. Kendall St., Cambridge MA
Juried by Jamal Thorne, Boston-based artist and an Associate Teaching Professor at Northeastern
EMERGING ARTISTS EXHIBIT PROGRAMS
Opening Reception | Thursday, June 13 from 6:00-8:00pm at CAA @ Canal Gallery
ABOUT THE JUROR
Jamal Thorne is an Associate Teaching Professor at Northeastern and a Boston-based artist who is known for his use of the drawing medium to investigate and visualize the nature of performed identity. With massive drawings, Jamal blends references from popular culture, religious iconography, and symbolism in an attempt to create a possible image of what our multilayered identities could look like as a result of over consumption.
The nature of performed identity becomes increasingly important when the work is used to question the the line that divides the African American male experience and the universal experience. The most important questions that emerge are pertinent to which identity needs to be performed and for whom should it be performed.Constant movement between performed identities also prompts the inevitable question of “Which identity is authentic?” Because making the work generates questions and not answers, the discussion is open and ongoing.
Jamal Thorne received his B.A. in Photographic Media from Morgan State University in 2008. Thorne relocated to Boston where he became the pioneering student in a newly formed cooperative M.F.A. Program between Northeastern University and The School of the Museum of Fine Art. He has exhibited his work at venues that include the James E. Lewis Museum of Art in Baltimore, and the Huret and Specter Gallery in Boston. Jamal Thorne received the Joan Mitchell MFA Grant in 2012. Jamal Thorne currently lives in Boston and serves as a faculty member at Northeastern University while continuing his work as a visual artist.
Photo by Jake Belcher
Juror’s Statement
Curiosity is at the heart of any creative project I start. That being the case, I always take time to remember where my interest in creative expression started. My first meaningful encounter with visual expression began when I was about 15 years old, though I never set out with the intention of becoming an artist. As a graffiti artist, creative work seemed like a frivolous pursuit, which gave me the freedom to experiment and play without any pressure. The freedom to experiment sparked a curiosity in me about the visual possibilities I could achieve as a “maker.” More importantly, I became deeply interested in the community of artists I found myself a part of, and the unique visual language we all shared. As graffiti became my primary mode of visual expression, I realized my creative voice was not just personal but also a representation of an otherwise invisible community. Everyone could see the work we were doing, but the community felt beautifully anonymous. We had our own values, code of conduct, and visual language. It took time, but I saw my work was a representation of that collective identity.
Visiting museums and galleries, I was inspired by the loud creative voices and the attention they garnered. However, my sense of contrast and empathy led me to focus on the voices that felt absent. Identifying with a relatively anonymous community of artists, I recognized that beneath these absent voices lay a vast universe and a rich culture that deserves attention. Personally, this realization highlighted the importance of creative voices, not just as individual expressions but as powerful representations of entire communities. Imagining these hidden worlds has become the most engaging aspect of creative work that I have been fortunate enough to see.
As a juror for this exhibition, my selection process revolved around the unseen worlds that each artist was representing. When reviewing the work, I asked questions about these hidden dimensions, seeking new perspectives on phenomena that might initially seem familiar. I looked for pieces that offered a glimpse into worlds that felt out of reach, with the artwork serving as a small window into these secret realms. Whether it was through the act of imagining these invisible worlds or decoding the intricate languages embedded within the artwork, I found myself becoming an active participant in the inquiry. This approach allowed me to choose works that not only demonstrated artistic skill but also invited viewers to explore and engage with the often invisible narratives each piece embodied.
EXHIBITING ARTISTS
| First Name | Last Name | City | State | Website | Title | Media | Dimensions | Price | |
| Gabo | Azurdia | Randolph | MA | https://www.instagram.com/gabo___11/ | https://www.lupitastudios.com/ | Untitled, 2023. | Archival inkjet print | 16″ x 20″ | $600 |
| Artem | Babinov | Cambridge | MA | artembfineart | artembfineart.com | Boys Do cry | Soft pastel on paper | 26″ x 19.5″ | $300 |
| Chelsea | Goodrich | Marlborough | MA | https://www.instagram.com/chelseacorinneart/ | https://chelseacorinneart.bigcartel.com/ | Autumn in the Gully | Acrylic | 12″ x 16″ | $675 |
| Eddie | Hall | Berlin | CT | instagram.com/eddiehallart/ | www.eddiehallart.com | Arrangement | Acrylic on recycled window | 26″ x 28″ x 2″ | $1,650 |
| Ryan | Horton | Boston | MA | https://www.instagram.com/iconic.dsgns/ | www.hortoniconicdesigns.com/ | In My Head | Digital collage | 18″ x 24″ | $1,800 |
| Ryan | Horton | Boston | MA | https://www.instagram.com/iconic.dsgns/ | www.hortoniconicdesigns.com/ | I am Green. | Digital illustration | 18″ x 24″ | $1,800 |
| Benjamin | Henson | Roxbury | MA | @benhensonart | Red Stairs | Oil on canvas | 20″ x 36″ | $250 | |
| Hannah | Latham | Jamaica Plain | MA | https://www.instagram.com/hlatham6/ | www.hannah-latham.com/ | Hugging Birches (You Missed A Spot) | Archival inkjet print | 19″ x 13″ (each) | $850 |
| Hannah | Latham | Jamaica Plain | MA | https://www.instagram.com/hlatham6/ | www.hannah-latham.com/ | After the Rain | Archival inkjet print | 38″ x 26″ x 4″ | $850 |
| Kalin | Marshall | Weymouth | MA | https://www.instagram.com/theperfectpourart?igsh=bzRnanA0a2c2NHZj&utm_source=qr | Eyes Of Bloom | Mixed media sculpture | 6″ x 1.5″ x 1.5″ | $485 | |
| Kalin | Marshall | Weymouth | MA | https://www.instagram.com/theperfectpourart?igsh=bzRnanA0a2c2NHZj&utm_source=qr | It Hurts When I Swallow | Mixed media sculpture | 6.5” x 6” x 6.5” | $475 | |
| Natalia | Miller | Warwick | RI | @natalia.m.arts | 70° | Maple wood and paint | $2,000 | ||
| Harshini | Murugesan | Cambridge | MA | https://www.instagram.com/harshinimurugesan.24/ | Wrinkles and Memories | Watercolor on cotton paper | 14″ x 9.8″ | $2,000 | |
| Elizabeth | Noble | Wakefield | MA | @elizabethnoble.studio | https://elizabethnoble.studio/ | Peppermint Tea | Watercolor with a touch of gouache on paper | 14″ x 11″ | $550 |
| Carlos | Paronis | Cambridge | MA | @carlitos_port | carlosparonis.com | Benji at Montrose Spa, 2024 | Photography inkjet print | 30″ x 24″ | $400 |
| Carlos | Paronis | Cambridge | MA | @carlitos_port | carlosparonis.com | Melissa outside her childhood school (now apartments), 2024 | Photography inkjet print | 30″ x 24″ | $400 |
| Amanda | Pickler | Jamaica Plain | MA | @pickler_art | amandapickler.com | It’s Not A Phase | Oil on gesso board | 18″ x 14″ | $2,000 |
| Rochelle | Seltzer | Brookline | MA | https://www.instagram.com/seltzerrochelle/ | https://www.rochelleseltzerartist.com | Toward the Light | Acrylic on canvas | 20″ x 20″ | $2,000 |
| Emily | Shedlock | Boston | MA | @ecshed / @emily_shedlock | www.emilyshedlock.com | Guardians (Nielle) | Acrylic on canvas | 18” x 24” | $3,600 |
| Emily | Shedlock | Boston | MA | @ecshed / @emily_shedlock | www.emilyshedlock.com | Strange Days Are Here (Alex) | Acrylic on canvas | 18” x 24” | $4,600 |
| Mac | Sloan Anderson | Petersham | MA | macsloanandersonart | Construction (Burn Pile) | Oil, wax, and sand on canvas | 48″ x 38.5″ | $1,600 | |
| Quincey | Spagnoletti | Boston | MA | @QuinceySpagsPhoto | www.QuinceySpagnoletti.com | Paper Dolls | Archival inkjet print | 32″ x 40″ | $1,200 |
| Ava | Xu | Boston | MA | uxavaxu | avayikunxu.com | 妳的 | Oil on canvas | 60″ x 84″ | $22,000 |
AWARDS
Emerging Artist Award | Each award includes a $100 prize and a one-year membership to CAA.
- Artem Babinov, Boys Do Cry
- Elizabeth Noble, Peppermint Tea
- Amanda Pickler, It’s Not A Phase
Philip Young Painting Prize | One individual will be awarded $250. This award honors the legacy of painter and CAA Lifetime Member Philip Young. The award recognizes Phil’s dedication to painting and supporting new generations of visual artists.
- Emily Shedlock
IMPORTANT DATES
- Entry Deadline | April 19 at 5pm
- Artist Notification | May 1 after 5pm
- Exhibit dates | June 12 – September 13, 2024
- Artwork Drop off | Friday, May 31, 2024 from 12-4pm; Saturday, June 1, 2024 from 10am-1pm at the CAA @ Canal Gallery*
* Late deliveries will not be accepted. - Artwork Pick up | Thursday, September 19 from 12-4pm; Friday, September 20 from 12-4pm at the CAA @ Canal Gallery*
* Late picks-up will incur a $15 per-week fee. CAA does not have storage, and artworks that need to be transported from CAA @ Canal will incur an additional $15 transport fee. All fees must be paid before or at pick-up.
ELIGIBILITY
CAA welcomes emerging artists of all ages to submit work for consideration for our 2024 Emerging Artists Exhibition. All artists must be living and working in New England (MA, ME, NH, VT, CT, RI). Exhibitors featured in past Emerging Artists Exhibits hosted by the CAA are not eligible.
Applicants must meet at least two (2) of the criteria points to be eligible for this exhibition:
- Working artist for 10-years or less
- Graduated from an art/arts-related institution within the past 10-years
- Has not been represented by a commercial gallery (this excludes co-op galleries)
Previous Emerging Artists exhibitors are not eligible.
Image in header courtesy of 2023 Emerging Artist Ellen Nanni-Vargas
Have questions? If you have questions after reviewing the above information, please email Associate Director, Candice Driver at cdriver@cambridgeart.org, or call us at 617.876.0246
Cambridge Art Association does not issue refunds for exhibition applications. Once submitted, changes cannot be made to any application. All applications must be entered via Submittable.
All decisions/selections are made by the juror. All decisions are final.