Location: TAG The Art Gallery, 460C Harrison Ave, unit 2C, Boston at SOWA
Exhibition Dates: April 4 - 27
TAG is pleased to announce an open call for fiber artists to submit work for our upcoming exhibition, "Interwoven Narratives." This exhibition will explore the profound ways in which fiber art weaves together personal, cultural, and historical stories, forming a tapestry of interconnected experiences.
This open call is part of the Gather Symposium, a city-wide event taking place in April across Greater Boston, bringing together artists, scholars, and the community to explore themes of connection, storytelling, and creative expression.
ORGANIZER: Claudia Fiks
JUROR: Kate Irvin, Department Head and Curator of Costume and Textiles at the RISD Museum, where she has worked for over 20 years. She oversees a collection of 35,000 fashion and textile pieces spanning from 1500 BCE to the present, representing global traditions and innovations. In addition to curatorial work, she teaches object-based classes for university students.
Her current project is Liz Collins: Motherlode, a mid-career retrospective of the Queer feminist artist known for bold patterns and fiber experiments. Recent exhibitions include Sensory Silhouettes: Experiencing South Asian Garments (2024) and Sensing Fashion (2023), both exploring immersive global fashion displays.
We welcome submissions that engage with themes of:
🔹 Identity and memory – How does fiber hold personal or collective history?
🔹 Cultural storytelling – How do textiles carry traditions and symbolism?
🔹 Abstract beauty and meaning – How does fiber art invite reflection beyond its form?
🔹 Materiality and transformation – How does the act of weaving, stitching, or layering fabric mirror larger societal or philosophical ideas?
We welcome submissions from artists working in all fiber-related techniques, including but not limited to weaving, quilting, embroidery, felting, and mixed-media textile art. Works should engage with the theme of Interwoven Narratives by exploring themes of identity, memory, tradition, or contemporary discourse through fiber as a medium.
We look forward to your participation and the important conversations your work will inspire.
ELIGIBILITY:
All are welcome. Visual artists and artisans from all regions are invited to apply for this call. *Artists must be 18 and older.
TIMELINE:
Exhibition Dates:Â April 4 - 27
Submission Deadline: March 13
Notification of acceptance:Â March 20
Work Drop off: Saturday and Sunday, March 29 and 30
Work Pick Up: Sunday and Monday April 26 and 27
EVENTS:
Exhibition Opening: SOWA First Friday, April 4
Exhibition Closing: Sunday, April 26
Opeing Reception and Artist Talk: TBDÂ
The submission fee:
TAG members $10Â for one or two pieces
General entry fee: $35 for one or two pieces
GUIDELINES:
Submission of artwork is considered an acceptance of all guidelines. Artists may submit up to two (2) pieces. Any / all artwork can be accompanied by explanatory text as needed to be properly comprehended by the layperson.
Hanging works must be ready to hang with the appropriate hanging hardware. Frame is NOT required. Artwork must remain in the exhibition throughout the duration of the show. No substitutions are allowed prior to the exhibition's close.
Each artist may submit digital samples of 2D or 3D artworks. The images must represent the art being submitted. Only one image per artwork is required, we will contact you in case we need more documentation.
- All images must be uploaded as jpeg files, no smaller than 600 pixels. Your image must be less than 10MB in size.
- Files should be titled as follows: LastName_FirstName_Image Number (example: Smith_Joan_01.jpg)
No other artwork can substitute for the piece submitted and accepted.
Artwork image may be used for marketing purposes.
Juror may decide to accept any number from zero to all 2 submitted pieces for the show.
Selling Work, and Consignment:
Artists in the exhibition may set their own prices for their work. If a piece is not for sale, it must be labeled NFS (Not For Sale). Sales will be processed with the applicable commission: 30% for general artists and 20% for TAG members, as required by the New England Art Center. The artist will receive payment once the buyer's payment has been processed. All sold works must remain on display for the duration of the exhibition, and no substitutions will be permitted.
About the organizer:
Claudia Fiks is an experienced art administrator with over two decades of dedication to the arts and culture sector. She is the founder and director of the New England Art Center, a newly established membership organization featuring The Art Gallery (TAG), a retail store, and a variety of educational art-related activities. Additionally, Claudia serves as the Director of Galatea Fine Art in Boston's vibrant SoWA Arts and Design District, overseeing the gallery's operations and curatorial direction. Claudia is deeply involved in the arts community, wearing many hats. She directs Newton Open Studios, contributes as a writer and correspondent for Artscope Magazine, and leads guided tours at prestigious art fairs such as Art Basel and Art Miami Basel. As an independent consultant, she provides expertise to various art organizations and artists, helping to shape their programs and initiatives. Her extensive career includes notable positions such as Program Director and Development Director at esteemed institutions like the Eliot School for Fine and Applied Arts, Fuller Craft Museum, and the Society of Arts and Crafts. Beyond her administrative duties, Claudia serves as a grant panelist for the Mass Cultural Council, curates exhibitions and open calls in the Boston area, and actively fosters inclusion and champions creative expression. Her work is a testament to her unwavering dedication to creating opportunities for widespread artistic engagement.