Bath House Wants Your Bones: Submit Artwork for the 26th Annual Dia de los Muertos Show

I have a healthy chunk of respect for any show with a 26-year run: that’s more than a quarter century of curating around a theme. Bath House Cultural Center has done exactly that with its annual Dia de los Muertos exhibition, which is currently seeking talent. All media is welcomed, from shrines to paintings, but each piece must be fitted and rigged accordingly. Artists may submit up to two items and originals are not accepted. Bath House wants a cd of images or hard copy photographs of the work.

Here’s a few do’s and don’ts.
Don’t include shrine decor with a fleeting shelf life. While flowers and food stuffs are technically allowed, they’re frowned upon. That doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate extra pom-pomy marigolds, just that you should make them out of fabric or metal — something that won’t rot during the show’s month-long run.

Do make something new and great. All work submitted needs to have been created between 2010 and now, so even though you won an award in high school for “skeleton man,” an experimental video of a dancing bones collection, it’s time to create a new masterpiece.

Don’t lollygag — You’ve got until 5 p.m. on September 12 to submit your work. After 26 years of producing this art show, Bath House is like a seasoned teacher accepting homework. Don’t bother trying to turn it in late. They’ll have the list of included work posted by 6 p.m. on September 15.

Do feel richer — There is no fee to show in the Dia de los Muertos Art Exhibition, so everything you take home is pure profit, aside from Bath House’s cut. They’ll take a 14% donation off the sale of any work, but come on: That place is a treasure. You’d toss money at them anyway.

For the full requirement breakdown, go here. (The release is listed under “8.14.2012”) Good luck!