Open Call for a pop-up exhibit during the LIC Arts Open:
UPSTANDERS 2.0
Art has the power to reach across divides, reach beyond words, and inspire actions that lead to enlightened solutions. As in 2017, we feel a need, once again, to give space to artists who channel their social activism into their work.
Do you have a body of work that STANDS UP to inequality, degradation (of people, planet, education…), or other pressing issues?
We are looking for high-quality, thoughtful artworks that highlight human rights, environmental concerns, and other issues facing America and the world today. The goal is to produce a large, curated exhibition featuring small bodies of work by artists making their case for a particular concern. Artists in LIC, let’s show the world our values and help point the way for an enlightened future!
Please apply using this form. We will go through all of the submissions, and plan to visit the artists’ studios (if possible) for final selection of the art.
Depending on the space available, there is also the possibility of artist-lead community projects, performance art, talks, readings, etc. Include your ideas in the form!!
About the curator:
Karen Kettering Dimit, artist and curator, co-founded the LIC Arts Open festival in Long Island City, Queens. In addition to curating many exhibitions for the festival over its 13 years, she has curated and juried large multi-media national exhibitions for galleries, colleges and organizations. Most recently, Ms. Dimit curated “Queens Seen” for Queens Rising, and co-curated (with Janet Rutkowski) Women of the Elements at The Factory (2025), Behind The Mask: The Art of Women Who Weld (2024, Culture Lab LIC and Williams College), and the Sculptors Guild group show (2023, Culture Lab LIC). In her art practice, Ms. Dimit’s artworks have been juried into many New York City, national and international exhibitions. Her sculptures have received top awards in several national and international shows.
In the last fifteen years she has focused her art practice on gender bias issues and the balance, and imbalance, of yin and yang energies in the world and in her life. She often references ancient myths and legends to explore and reframe the cultural stories that reinforce the idea that “monstrous” qualities in women’s expressions of intelligence, emotions, instinct, sadness, anger and ambition are dangerous and need to be conquered and controlled.