"Joy is the antidote to hate, and love is the most important energy that we humans have." –unknown "I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains." – Anne Frank

The exhibition ‘Joy’, hosted at Arc Gallery and Studios in San Francisco and curated by Priscilla Otani and Karen M. Gutfreund seeks art that reflects joy from a source that sparks pure delight. We are interested in seeing the ways in which you experience and capture the idea of joy through things you see and do every day. The works can range from realism to conceptual to abstract. This exhibition intends to share a diversity of euphoric experiences and the effects of positive emotion on the body. Joy can bring catharsis, build resilience and bring people together. This deliberate turning to joy is not a shying away from the reality of sadness, pain and distress—instead, it is about drawing on a deep sense of joy at the known and unknown, linking thankfulness and hope. Reclaim the joy of artmaking by tapping into one’s inner child. Display moments of contentment you’ve experienced or witnessed. We ask artists to answer the question—what does happiness means to you in the here and now, and provide a window into a personal source of peace and pleasure. We intend to create an exhibition of contemporary works produced by artists who aim to engage the viewer emotionally. As in life, sorrow and happiness are intertwined in art. Please submit works related to the theme of JOY as you experience it.

JURORS: Priscilla Otani, Arc Gallery Principal Partner and Karen M. Gutfreund, Karen M. Gutfreund Art

Priscilla Otani is founding partner of Arc Studios & Gallery in San Francisco, Board President of the Northern California Women’s Caucus for Art (NCWCA), and art curator. As partner of Arc Studios & Gallery, Otani has focused on showcasing and promoting emerging and established artists in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 2010, Arc has exhibited more than 500 mostly local artists, provides studio spaces for 14 local artists, and houses two micro-businesses. Founded in 1973, NCWCA has an activist mission in support of women in the arts and its membership includes artists, art historians, curators, gallerists, art educators and students. As Board President, Otani prioritizes the continuation of NCWCA’s successful programs such as the mentorship program, curatorial tours, activist exhibitions, and professional development as well as building collaborative opportunities with Bay Area businesses. As curator, Otani has produced local, national and international exhibitions through Arc Gallery, NCWCA, National Women’s Caucus for Art, and the Pacific Center for the Book Arts. Otani received her BA in Psychology and Asian Studies from Mills College in 1974 and MA in Japanese Literature from Columbia University in 1976.

Karen M. Gutfreund is an independent curator, consultant and artist with a focus on feminist and social justice art. She has worked in the Painting & Sculpture Department at MoMA, Andre Emmerick Gallery, The Knoll Group, John Berggruen Gallery and the Pacific Art League. She served on the board of the Women’s Caucus for Art, the Pacific Art League and the Petaluma Arts Council. She was the National Exhibitions Director for the Women’s Caucus for Art, curator for UniteWomen.org, is a member of ArtTable, and the Northern California Representative for The Feminist Art Project (TFAP). She is a partner in Gutfreund Cornett Art, with the motto “changing the world through art”. To date she has created over forty national exhibitions. Gutfreund has juried and advised on numerous exhibitions and is a mentor/advisor to emerging artists. She creates exhibition catalogs for artists, art groups and galleries around the country. She has a BFA in Photographic Design and a BA in Art History, and a MA (pending) from New York University. Lastly, Gutfreund is a practicing artist and has exhibited extensively around the country. Gutfreund has lived in all four corners of the United States and is currently at her ranch outside of Yosemite in the Sierra Foothills.

CATEGORIES ACCEPTED: Sculpture, painting, drawing, photo, printmaking, ceramics, assemblage, collage, mixed media, fiber art, glass art, artist book

VENUE: Arc Gallery, 1246 Folsom St, San Francisco 94103

JUROR’S AWARD: A Juror’s Award ribbon, certificate, catalog and $250 will be presented to each of the three works that express the most imaginative interpretation of the theme.

EXHIBITION DATES: November 16th, 2024 - January 11, 2025