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  • Blog For All!
    Call For Artists

    Call for Socially Engaged Art

    Posted Tuesday November 06 2018 at 11:34 pm

    Call for socially engaged art

    The Open Door Gallery centers narratives and works by artists that identify as part of the disability community, inviting conversations on inclusion, equity and intersectional justice through the arts.  Operated by VSA Massachusetts, the State Organization on Art and Disability, the Open Door Gallery is centrally located near South Station, in the NonProfit Center.

    We are thrilled to announce that in 2019 we will open up the gallery for community and artist collaboration.  To that end, we welcome applications from individual artists, artist collectives, or organizations to share their work at the gallery.

    Applications will be accepted November 5 - December 12, 2018 and will be reviewed by a gallery advisory committee.  Selected shows will be notified January 5, 2019.

    Please help us spread the word to your networks!

    Questions or concerns can be directed to VSA MA's Communications and Gallery Associate, Ali Blake, via: ali@vsamass.org

    APPLY TODAY -
    ONLINE or
    DOWNLOADABLE WORD DOCUMENT



    Meet the Intern: Alessandra Ruhoy

    Posted Wednesday February 07 2018 at 11:00 pm

    Alessandra Ruhoy

    Hey!  My name is Alessandra Ruhoy!  I go to school at Learning Prep School in West Newton and I would love to be an actress when I grow up.

    What are your favorite pastimes?
          "I love to laugh, play the drums, work on my original comics, have movie nights, sing karaoke, and dance."

    If you could be a cartoon character, who would you be?
          "I have been working on an original comic and there is a character who is based on me."

    You are trapped on an island.  What three items do you want to have with you?
          "I would like to have a blanket, a heat source, and some sort of boat so I could get off the island."

    Do you have any uncommon talents or quirks?
          "Once I start laughing, it takes a while until I stop!  I also have a lot of energy and ability to talk a lot so my friends wonder when I'll ever grow tired!"

    What brings you to VSA?
          "I am here at VSA because I think it's a great experience to have.  It's my first real job and it's an opportunity to further develop my computer and office skills while working with a great organization."

    What are you doing during your internship?
          "During my internship I'll be working in the office on projects related to COOL Schools."



    Call for Art - "Breaking Barriers" hosted by Mass. Office on Disability

    Posted Wednesday July 05 2017 at 5:13 pm

    MOD Call for Art Flier

    The Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD) is now accepting submissions for its 2017 Call for Art and juried art exhibition.  We are calling on talented Massachusetts residents of all abilities to submit their original artwork.

    Selected entries will be displayed at a public exhibition at the Massachusetts State House in late 2017 and in an online gallery.

    A central purpose in this exhibition is to showcase the talent of Commonwealth residents and to present works to the public that will raise awareness of and challenge the barriers and stigma that persons with disabilities may encounter.  Artists who enter the Call for Art will have an opportunity to gain statewide exposure and recognition in addition to experiencing the process of entering their work for consideration for display in a juried art show.

    Part of the inspiration for this exhibition relates to a piece of artwork currently displayed in MOD created by Maurice "Pops" Peterson, Artist in Residence of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD).  His work, "Freedom from Shame", shown above, artistically captures the theme of "Breaking Barriers" through its depiction of an athlete with a disability in a moment of victory and celebration.

    SUBMISSION DEADLINE: August 1, 2017

    Jury: Five individuals including our very own Charles J. Washburn and our good friend Marian Brown of Arts Connect International.

    For complete information, visit the mass.gov webpage.