NEW CALL FOR ARTISTS: SWARM

CALL CLOSED! Thanks to everyone that submitted! Details will be posted shortly for the final participating artist list! Check back in a day or two for the roster, and keep an eye on your email! Thank you!

SWARM
BEAUTY IN THE GROTESQUE
Opens October 27, 7-10pm
Light Grey Art Lab
118 E. 26th Street #101 - Minneapolis, MN 55404

The underside of this rock breathes the way water ripples to the shore on a windy day. Pulsating figures writhe in the dark, sliding across the surface - a mitosis of little bodies merging. Folding over one another, slipping past each-other, with a kind of sensual movement. Hidden from the light of day, they come alive to do their delicate job. 

In the dark, the soft sounds of wings conjure visions of etherial entities. Specters who drift to and fro between the naked branches. And in the moonlight, small spirits skirt against the still surface of the pond, the click-clicking of their static voices barely audible. 

This October, we are asking artists to fill the gallery with an exquisite menagerie of real-life creepy critters -- legs, claws, wings, pincers, eye-stalks, and more will proudly be displayed as we celebrate the beauty of all of the decomposers, poisoners, swarmers, transformers, night-dwellers, and much more.

We are looking for artists to glamorize the unique creatures that are overlooked because they're underfoot, lurking in the shadows, or slipping silently through the air in the still of night. 

Our cabinet of curiosities could contain a still life with silk moths. Scientific references of reticulated reptiles. Tap into the elements that trigger our phobias of the strange and unfamiliar, and help us elevate the beauty in their existence. So imagine dangling your limbs into dark water, or your skin crawling at the thought of spiny legs scurrying, and look again at the creatures that make us shiver.

If you're interested in be a part of the show, all you have to do is comment in the comments section with your name, email and a link to your work online like this by September 4th:

Lindsay Nohl
hello@lightgreyartlab.com
lindsaynohl.com

(Please do not send any emails with your info because they get lost in my in-box! We want to make sure your entry is included!)

The call for art closes September 4th, and at that time we'll be jurying, selecting the group of participating artists for the exhibition and sending a big email out to everyone involved with specifics, dates and details! We will send information about selling work / editions and file guidelines in the artist sign-in email!

Like many of our exhibitions, we print the exhibition piece for free for all digital artists so that we can make it easier for people to participate from afar! 

Dates & Details!
Call for art closes on September 4th
Participating artists emailed and public announcement posted September 6th
Artwork files & art info due to the gallery on October 6th
Opening Reception October 27th!

We're excited to announce that we'll also be hosting new work by Zoe Keller and a curated show by Teagan White, called CALAMITY: Hexes, Plagues & Prophecies during the same timeframe, and the whole month will be a celebration of nature's mysteries! We're inviting you to come out to the big party and enjoy some amazing work! Hope you can make it!

We're looking forward to this exhibition so much! Questions? Send me a note at hello@lightgreyartlab.com.

NEW CALL FOR ARTISTS: PARALLEL

EDIT: THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT ENTERED THIS CALL FOR ARTISTS!
WE ARE CURRENTLY JURYING AND WILL ANNOUNCE THE PARTICIPATING ARTISTS SHORTLY!

PARALLEL
Universes by Design • Alternate Dimensions • Futurist Concepts
Opens September 22, 7-10pm
Light Grey Art Lab
118 E. 26th Street #101 - Minneapolis, MN 55404

Michio Kaku, a theoretical physicist, describes human consciousness as "a level at which we can plan, anticipate and visualize the future," which puts us in a category all our own -- separate from reptiles, plants, and other mammals. He describes his theory of consciousness as "the number of feedback loops required to make a model of your position in space with relation to other organisms and finally, in relationship to time."  -- Futurism.com

So, our ability to consider what the future might look like is quite easy... if we put together a series of considerations and say "what if..."

Brian Greene, an American theoretical physicist, mathematician, and string theorist, talks about the Multiverse as a place where there are unlimited universes, each with their own set of parameters. Our universe abides by it's own laws, but that doesn't necessarily mean that other universes would as well, if we were to devise a way to analyze them.

Dr. Michio Kaku also asks, "Is it ever possible on any scale to perhaps flip between different universes?" and describes deja vu as a hypothetical scenario of that occurring. Things seem vaguely familiar... somewhat identifiable... but still strangely different. So, when we look beyond our current realities into scenarios of the future, or to dimensions outside our own, what do we see?

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This September, we are asking artists to visualize another universe, where things are a little... different.

We are looking for artists to build worlds beyond our own in this incredible landscape show!

Show us what would happen if we were to tap into these dimensions and be able to view the landscapes, cityscapes, atmospheres and ecosystems so different than our own. Would they be familiar, and call to mind a skewed take on our daily life and surroundings? Would they be completely alien, difficult to even comprehend? Do they resemble our concepts of the future? Or veer off into unforeseen tangents?

If you're interested in be a part of the show, all you have to do is comment in the comments section with your name, email and a link to your work online like this by August 5th:

Lindsay Nohl
hello@lightgreyartlab.com
lindsaynohl.com

(Please do not send any emails with your info because they get lost in my in-box! We want to make sure your entry is included!)

The call for art closes AUGUST 5th, and at that time we'll be jurying, selecting the group of participating artists for the exhibition and sending a big email out to everyone involved with specifics, dates and details! This show is a print-show only, and we will send information about selling work / editions and file guidelines in the artist sign-in email!

Like many of our exhibitions, we print the exhibition piece for free so that we can make it easier for people to participate from afar! 

Dates & Details!
Call for art closes on August 5th
Participating artists emailed and public announcement posted August 7th
Artwork files & art info due to the gallery on September 8th
Opening Reception September 22nd!

We're excited to announce that we'll also be hosting new work by Matt Rockefeller and Trungles during the same timeframe, and the whole month will be a celebration of story, narrative, and world-building! We're inviting you to come out to the big party and enjoy some amazing work! Hope you can make it!

We're looking forward to this exhibition so much! Questions? Send Chris a note at chris@lightgreyartlab.com.

P.S. note from Lindsay -- (I'll be off in Iceland for our 4th Annual Light Grey Art Lab Iceland Residency Program! If you haven't checked it out, definitely take a look at the applications for next year's program HERE. We are currently looking for fun creative people to join us on an adventure of a lifetime to Iceland next year!)

Thanks again and talk with you soon!
--Lindsay

CALL FOR ARTISTS: CAMOUFLAGE

EDIT: THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT ENTERED THIS CALL FOR ARTISTS!
WE ARE CURRENTLY JURYING AND WILL ANNOUNCE THE PARTICIPATING ARTISTS SHORTLY!

CALL FOR ARTISTS ENDS APRIL 11th!
CAMOUFLAGE

CAMOUFLAGE
Hiding in Plain Sight
a group exhibition about blending in
••••••••••••••••
Opens May 26th 7-10pm
Light Grey Art Lab
118 E. 26th Street #101
Minneapolis Minnesota 55406
612.239.2047
 

I sent her a text yesterday, "I miss you."

Then, ...nothing.

I held the phone in my hand for a moment, looking for the little text bubble to flicker on screen. My nerves are hot wires. Please. Write back, please. I stare at the left side of my screen and try to will a message -- it never comes. There's a heavy feeling in my chest where a fuzzy haze used to be. I begin to loathe myself. I've left this little blue bubble in perpetual loneliness next to the other string of emotional ghosts from a few days ago, a few weeks ago.

I've been holding on for too long. I wish I could erase this evidence of my weakness. I know she saw it. She has to have seen it. I can't tell what's worse, delete it? Leave it? I feel like I'm going to throw up. Why can't she see me...?

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Let's hide under these sheets and imagine the world outside won't ever come calling. Let me wrap my arms around you and we'll close our eyes. No one will find us here. I'll call in sick. It's your day off. We belong here. A thin stream of mid-day light breaks free through the crack in the blinds and scans the room like a laser yet we remain elusive. "Let's stay here together until everyone forgets us." 
We breathe in unison and sink into one another-- We transform, evolve, transcend, and disappear. 

---

What does it mean to be invisible? For the month of May, we're looking for artists to explore the concepts of blending in, assimilating, and adopting. Whatever the reason, we're constantly in hiding in one way or another. Do you cover up or modify pieces of yourself to fit your surroundings? What is a true covert operation? From diverting attention to acts of deception -- the art of camouflage spans the political, aesthetic, scientific, magical, psychological and social realms. So what about our invisibility cloaks, the masks we wear, the movie-theatre carpet, the fake-it-til-you-make-it mentality? 

So, let's delve into the psychology of it all and create works that help explain why we strive to blend in.

During the same timeframe as the CAMOUFLAGE exhibition, Light Grey Art Lab will be hosting additional collections by naturalist, Matt Moss and photographer Tanner Johnson, the wonderful field-guide illustrations of Kelsey Oseid, a wonderful collection of travelogue moments from Carrie Liao, and a retrospective exhibition by the 2016 LGAL Iceland Residency Program artists-in-residence. We'll have a huge meet & greet on opening night, where you can meet a bunch of these wonderful people that will be coming to town to celebrate the big reception with us! So, if you've been looking for an excuse to fly out and see what Minneapolis is all about, this would be an awesome weekend to do it.

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We are looking for artists to create works in any medium (narrative, illustrative, sculptural, patterns, embroidery, prints, paintings, comics, fashion, fabrics and anything else you can think of --- ) to help us explain this phenomenon. We will be asking each participating artist to submit one piece of work alongside their own thoughts of what camouflage means to them. Details on how to submit work, shipping to the gallery, deadlines and dates, and any other information about the show will be provided to the participating artists at the close of the call and a formal blog post will accompany the announcement!

If you are interested in exploring this topic with us -- put your name and links in the COMMENTS SECTION (please don't email your submission because it gets lost in my crazy inbox! Sorry!) like this by APRIL 11th:

Lindsay Nohl
hello@lightgreyartlab.com
lindsaynohl.com

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HELPFUL DATES & DEADLINES:
APRIL 11 - call closes
APRIL 28th - paperwork due to the gallery
MAY 4 - optional promotional images due
MAY 12 - final artwork due to the gallery
MAY 26 - opening reception!

This show is open to all creatives from anywhere in the world! If you have any questions at all regarding the exhibition, or how to be involved, feel free to send me an email at hello@lightgreyartlab.com! Thanks so much!
 

CALL FOR ARTISTS: Color Anthropology Exhibition

CALL FOR ARTISTS: COLOR ANTHROPOLOGY
An exhibition about how color shaped the world
CALL ENDS MARCH 4th!

EDIT MARCH 19: Thanks for your patience, everyone! We will be emailing all participating artists tonight! :) Hang tight and thanks for putting your name in for this show!

A vein of brilliant blue streaks through the chalky cliffside. For thousands of years, cultures around the world harvested this otherworldly color from the earth and celebrated it with reverence. Lapis Lazuli - it is the color of communication, of healing and protection, and represents the throat Chakra. The brilliant blue derived from Lapis graces the eyes, beards, and cowls of ancient Egyptian funeral masks, a symbol of royalty and eternity. Its presence can be found in Ancient Babylonian, Sumerian, and Mesopotamian artwork from over 5,000 years in the past. It's the prized pigment of our ultramarine paints that grace the frescoes of Michelangelo in the sistine chapel. An ancient Persian legend says the earth lays on a large slab of Lapis, which makes up the color of the heavens. The lapis mines in northeastern Afghanistan have been operating for over 7,000 years and currently are under scrutiny, considered a source for conflict material.  Lapis can be found in Andes mountains of Chile and has become the national mineral and it's beauty has become an integral part of the national heritage. 

The color derived from Lapis Lazuli is more than just a hue, its importance has played a role in religion, culture, ritual, and politics for thousands of years. So what happens when we really analyze the impact color has played in the way we see the world?

COLOR ANTHROPOLOGY
an exhibition about how color shaped the world
opens April 21, 2017 • 7-10pm
118. E. 26th Street #101, Minneapolis MN 55404

We are looking for artists to pick a color, any color, and educate us about it. For the month of April, we'll transform the gallery into a rainbow of stories. Each artist will have the opportunity to create a work using, and about a color of their choice. We'll ask each artist to choose a web color / hex triplet (ex. 000000) and create a work of art using and about that color. The example above is wide-reaching, but artists are welcome to be specific and choose a color like Barbie® pink, Blaze orange, Celadon, or any other color you'd like to get to know and create a work of art about what you've discovered. Neons, opalescents, gilded, or reflective colors are welcome as well, but we'll ask artists to consider how best to represent the color, and choose a medium that will help show the true colors! The color you pick doesn't have to be the only color you use, but it should be the predominant color of the work.

We'll also ask everyone involved to supply us with a blurb about their work so we can hang a didactic next to the piece that viewers can gain some context. Participating artists will be able to send originals and prints for this exhibition. We are happy to be printing the gallery piece for free for all participating artists for this exhibition to make it easier to participate from afar! More information about how to send work, deadlines and dates, and other resources will be sent to all participating artists upon the close of the call for artists. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out: hello@lightgreyartlab.com

IMPORTANT DATES:
Participating Artists Announced by March 7th
Artwork due to the gallery: April 8th
Opening reception April 21st

If you're interested in participating in our April group exhibition, please put your name, email and links in the comments section (please do not send your info via email as these often get buried in my inbox!) 

Example:
Lindsay Nohl
hello@lightgreyartlab.com
lindsaynohl.com

Thanks so much, everyone! We're really looking forward to all sorts of insights into the nature of color and how much it's played a role in our world.


---Lindsay

CALL FOR ARTISTS: TOBEYOU

January 17 - Call closed, announcement coming shortly! Participating artists will receive information about the show as soon as possible, thanks to everyone who applied! 

CALL FOR ARTISTS! AN EXHIBITION ABOUT PERSONAL NARRATIVE, TALES, STORYTELLING and MEMORY. CALL ENDS JANUARY 16th!

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I believe in synchronicity. I notice patterns. I am comforted by cycles and I find power in familiarity. Every time something new appears, I silently relate it to something I've seen before and remember everything that's come before it. 

One, Two, Three, Four... I count the times I inhale while I walk and make my breath coincide with my steps. This morning I woke up and the words "terra firma" were in my head. These words will not go away and I find myself whispering them as I work. What does it mean? Maybe it's residue from a dream I had. Maybe it's something I'll find out later today. I'm not sure. I'll keep my eyes open.

The numbers four and seven seem important. I should remember that when I pick out dates for traveling. My phone number has them both, as does my address. The plane ticket I just bought is flight number 047. The only seat left is B21. I do not like that number.

Everyone is wearing brown shoes except for Jenny. Hers are red. This whole coffee shop is filled with people with brown shoes. Why are hers red...? I make a mental note. 

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TOBEYOU
An Exhibition About Story
(5th Anniversary Exhibition & Expansion Celebration)
•••
Opening March 3 • 7-10pm
at Light Grey Art Lab
118. E. 26th Street #101
Minneapolis Minnesota 55406
612.239.2047

We have amazing news! This March, we're expanding our space and our programming! We're turning 5 years old and decided it was time to do it up, make some decisions and add some things we've been dreaming about to the programs at Light Grey! Since 2012, we've been HUGE advocates for trying to create fun, unique projects that are easy to be a part of, with the mission to unite people, showcase the cool things creatives are doing, and to build real relationships across distant locations, different backgrounds and practices. It's been a crazy 5 years and this new exhibition celebrates the community we've built together and stories of growth, individuality, and memory. 

For the month of March, Tobeyou celebrates YOUR STORY.

We are looking for artists interested in making work about themes important to you and art about personal narratives, themes, dreams, memories and the journey. Who are you? What is important to you right now or always? What is a theme that can not be shaken from your practice. What is a story you've been dying to tell. How do we get to know how you think, what you feel, or who you are by what you make. Tell us a story. Your story.

This exhibition will feature works by creators in the medium of their choice. We welcome narrative formats, comics, books, zines. We welcome sculptural art-objects, embroideries, jewelry, and other unique formats. As always, drawings, paintings, posters, and other 2d works are always a pleasure. As long as the work is "passionately yours" we welcome it.

The purpose of this exhibition is to get to know the community behind the works. And to share the humanity behind all of the creative energy we've had the pleasure of working alongside for the past 5 years. We will be asking each artist to write a small statement about their work to accompany the piece inside the gallery with the hopes that visitors will hear your voice, learn about you and the themes in your work, and get to know a piece of you, too.

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TO BE INVOLVED, PLEASE COMMENT BELOW WITH YOUR NAME, EMAIL AND LINKS LIKE THIS by JANUARY 16th:
<Please do not send any email entries to us because they may get buried! Please use the comments section of this blog post! :) >

example:
Lindsay Nohl
hello@lightgreyartlab.com
lindsaynohl.com
 

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IMPORTANT DATES / INFO TO CONSIDER:
• We are looking forward to any medium! For this exhibition, we will be showcasing ORIGINALS AND PRINTS! We are looking forward to artists wishing to send framed originals, books / comics / zines or any sculptural items because we've got a brand-spankin-new space that we are just dying to use for your beautiful items! 

• Artists are welcome to send an edition of works (up to 6 copies / versions of their work!) The additional copies will be available during the opening for visitors to buy on the spot and take home with them! More information on multiples will be sent to the artists as soon as the show has been juried!

• WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO BE HERE FOR THE OPENING! This is a HUGE party and we are hosting a meet and greet for any artists that can be present! If you will be joining us for the show, we would love to help coordinate a visit! More info on this will also be sent to all participating artists! Let us introduce you to the other creatives that will be here!

• THE WORK SHOULD ARRIVE TO THE GALLERY by FEBRUARY 17th. We'll be assisting everyone with getting things here and setting them up for the show! 

• Artists will have the opportunity to send digital works to be printed / framed in-house if you are unable to ship works from afar within the deadline above. We will help you figure out the best way to showcase your work.

• The final list of participating artists will be contacted / posted on January 18th and all artists will be sent an email with everything they'll need to know about participating including pricing work, sending work to the gallery, and anything else! Thanks so much! 

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT WITH ANY QUESTIONS!
Thanks again and here's to a new year of exciting possibilities!
Sincerely,
The Light Grey Team

BIG NEWS : NEW THINGS in 2017!

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BRING ON THE SOLO SHOWS, GUEST CURATORS, CREATIVE WORKSHOPS & MORE --- MARCH 3rd, 2017!

There are a lot of things we're looking forward to in 2017, but our new plans might take the cake. This year we're turning FIVE! Since opening in 2012, we've worked with over a thousand incredible people from around the world to bring collaborative exhibition projects to life like COSMOS, Skate or Die, ROLEMODELS: The Battle for Vyk'Tornaahl, Botanica, and Fortune. We've had the pleasure of hosting amazing workshops with creative geniuses like Sam Bosma and Kali Ciesemier, Meg Hunt, Colin Foran and Claire Hummel, Teagan White and Victoria Ying and Mike Yamada, and we've taken trips around the world with creative folks that want to explore, learn, and meet other creative people. We're very proud to be a part of a thriving creative community and always try to find fun ways of promoting new ideas, showcasing incredible people, and supporting the amazing things that are happening in the art world.

So this year we're knocking down walls with a tsunami of ideas (and a sledgehammer) and spilling through into our next-door space -- where we'll have the opportunity to add

• a calendar of SOLO EXHIBITIONS
• opportunities for GUEST CURATED EXHIBITIONS on our SALON WALL
• a dedicated PAGE GALLERY for NARRATIVE WORKS (comics, books, animation and more)
• A BEAUTIFUL NEW ART SHOP for creators of ART OBJECTS, ZINES, JEWELRY & TEXTILE ART
• and a dedicated WORKSHOP SPACE for CLASSES, MEET-UPS & LECTURES

to our list of fun ways to be involved-- in addition to the things we already love to do like our group shows, travel programs, and creative projects.
 

We'll be looking for artists interested in reaching out, pitching ideas for exhibitions, doing book signings for their new comics, people interested in consigning items in the new shop, and artists looking to teach the things they're passionate about in the space! If you have a proposal for a show, idea, or creative get-together, we're all ears. A new form for proposals will be added to our site in FEBRUARY and we encourage you reach out! Watch for it as we get closer to the grand opening of our expansion on MARCH 3rd!

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WHATS NEXT?

We'll be blogging the renovations via our instagram (@lightgreyartlab) so you can see it in the works and watch us don our weird space suits and face masks, and see it all take shape! 

We're forever grateful to all of the support from everyone that's been a part of the journey, including all of the people involved in the projects and the individuals that come to appreciate the work! Thank you all for being involved in the creative community!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR OUR 5TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY / REVEAL on MARCH 3rd where you can peruse the new space and see what it's all about! We'll invite you to see a brand new series of exhibitions, peruse the space and see what we have in store for the new year!

Questions? Please send us a note! hello@lightgreyartlab.com