Dear Artist,

The Diocesan Fine Arts Council (DFAC) is now soliciting religious art of the Judeo-Christian tradition for its sixteenth exhibit in the Religious Art Gallery at the Pastoral Center for the Catholic Diocese of Austin.  Our current exhibit, which opened in March 2016, has been another overwhelming success.  It has transformed the halls of an “office” building into a more prayerful space reminding both staff and visitors of the presence of the Divine in their daily lives.  Several works of art have sold; and as word continues to spread about the gallery, we hope for more exposure and sales for you, the artist.

To submit religious art for consideration, please email your images to me at craig.kanewske@gmail.com and include the title, dimensions and value.  To assist the selection committee in their process, please include an artist’s statement briefly describing the intended religious context for each piece submitted.  All two-dimensional work must be professionally framed.  The images must be received by July 22, 2016.  You will be notified either way by July 27, 2016.  Artwork accepted for the sixteenth exhibit needs to be dropped off at the Pastoral Center on Friday, August 19, 2016.  The exhibit will last until February, 2017.   Please feel free to pass this call to artists on to anyone you feel might be interested.  You can send them to our webpage at www.austindfac.org so they can better understand our mission.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Religious Art Gallery, I am including a brief description.  The Religious Art Gallery is located in the Pastoral Center at 6225 E. Hwy 290 and is free and open to the public during regular business hours (8-5 M-F).  The Religious Art Gallery has several hundred lineal feet of wall space.  We use a cable system and picture rail to hang the art, so you must be willing to have screw holes added to the back of your frame.   We have space for sculptures, but it is limited.  Signage for the artwork will include the title of the artwork, artist name, a short description (i.e. oil on board) and an indication of “available” (if for sale) or “private collection” (if not for sale).  A handout with artist contact information and pricing (if for sale) will be available in the lobby.  The Diocese will not be involved in actual sales – that will be between the artist and the patron – nor will the Diocese receive a commission.  We do ask that the art remain hanging until the end of the exhibit even if it sells.

The DFAC has begun a modest permanent collection and any art donated by an artist and accepted for the permanent collection is automatically considered for the next exhibit.

The mission of the Diocesan Fine Arts Council is to act as a catalyst and lead a renaissance in visual religious fine art with an emphasis on the Judeo-Christian traditions.  Through the many shows we have held, the new Religious Art Gallery and the wonderful work of the artists in Central Texas, I believe we are giving a visible presence to the mystery of the invisible God.

Thank you for considering participating in this next exhibit and for sharing your artistic talents.

Sincerely,
Craig Kanewske

Chair, Diocesan Fine Arts Council