The Kenai Art Center is calling all pandemic painters and potters and photographers for its October show.
“We’re not turning anybody away," said Alex Rydlinski, executive director of the Kenai Art Center. “Because the idea is — we’re pretty sure that people have been working on art all this time during the pandemic. And we want to see what they’ve been doing.”
The center regularly accepts art from the public during its juried shows. But judges usually have to turn some artists away during those calls.
This year’s call is open to anyone 16 and older and the center will accept all work, as long as it’s no more than two years old and is ready to hang when submitted. Each artist can submit three works, tops.
Rydlinski said the center has the capacity for a lot of art, with the newly renovated back room.
"Best case scenario, we’re going to spill artwork back there," he said.
There is an entry fee of $35 for submissions. That fee is waived for members.
Rydlinski said he knows the idea of putting art on display can be daunting to some artists.
“I would just say to them, just bring it in," he said. "And everyone that says that, that’s nervous of showing in the gallery — it’s typically pretty good work.”
The center is accepting artwork between Sept. 29 and Oct. 2. Artists can drop their pieces off at the center during its open hours, between noon and 5 p.m.
Rydlinski said young artists will have their own opportunity to show off their work at the studnet showcase next April.
Next month’s exhibit will run Oct. 7-30.
