CALL FOR ENTRIES: Episcopal Church & Visual Arts invites entries of two-dimensional works of original art for the Advent 2016 theme “The O Antiphons - Praising The Names Of Jesus”. A selection of the submitted works will be viewable in online exhibitions and features at ecva.org beginning in December 2016. Additional details follow below.

THE O ANTIPHONS were selected for this exhibition as a meditation text for contemplation and illumination. This project may be used by ECVA Chapters and parishes to gather artists in small groups that meet daily or weekly. Finished work may be a group collaboration created over a period of time on a single sheet of paper, or individual works by a single artist. This Advent Exhibition is designed and created by Dr. Paula Artac. A Certified Art Therapist, Dr. Artac is a member of the 2016-2017 ECVA Board of Directors and will serve as Exhibition Curator for “The O Antiphons - Praising The Names Of Jesus”.

Entries are to be created on 18” x 24” fine art paper (paper for watercolor or calligraphy). Entries may be done in watercolor, gouache, inks, metallic, drawing, mixed media, and collage. Teams may decide to create an O Antiphon in a traditional illuminated manner, or use a modern, non-representational design. Choice of one O Antiphon text must appear within the design of the artwork.

THE O ANTIPHONS TEXTS:

O WISDOM, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: Come, and teach us the way of prudence.
— Sirach 24:2; Wisdom 8:1
Symbols: oil lamp, open book.

O LORD AND RULER of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come, and redeem us with outstretched arm.
— Exodus 3:2, 20:1
Symbols: burning bush, stone tablets.

O ROOT OF JESSE, who stands for an ensign of the people, before whom kings shall keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: Come to deliver us, and tarry not.
— Isaiah 11:1-3.
Symbol: vine or plant with flower (especially a rose).

O KEY OF DAVID, and Scepter of the House of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: Come, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.
— Isaiah 22:22.
Symbols: key; broken chains.

O DAWN OF THE EAST, brightness of the light eternal, and Sun of Justice: Come, and enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
— Psalm 19:6-7.
Symbol: rising sun.

O KING OF THE GENTILES and their desired One, the Cornerstone that makes both one: Come, and deliver man, whom You formed out of the dust of the earth.
— Psalm 2:7-8, Ephesians 2:14-20.
Symbols, Crown, scepter.

O EMMANUEL, God with us, our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: Come to save us, O Lord our God.
— Isaiah 7:14; 33:22.
Symbols: tablets of stone, Chalice and Host.

ELIGIBILITY: Artists who are members of THE ARTISTS REGISTRY may submit from one to seven images. These images must be in either PNG or JPEG format and sized so that they are at least 600 pixels on the longest side at a resolution of 72 ppi. ECVA encourages participation from new and existing members of THE ARTISTS REGISTRY. Join today or renew your membership online!

SUBMISSIONS DATES: November 5 - December 10, 2016

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY: Send each entry in a separate email, with the image included as an attachment, to ecvaexhibitions@ecva.org. In each email include "a brief artist's statement" for the attached image. Also include your name as you wish it to appear in the exhibition and the title of the image as you wish it to appear. The subject line of the e-mail should contain your name and the exhibition title, along with an image number designation depending on the number of entries you will submit (for example: JillAdams_O_Antiphons_1 of 3).

INSPIRATION: