THE CALL

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Ecocide comes from the Greek word for “house” (oikos)  and the Latin word “to kill” (caedere) – killing our home, the Earth. A team of legal scholars recently came up with a more formal definition: "Unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts.” Ecocide can take place in peacetime, as with the mass burning of fossil fuels, or in war, where it is often used as a weapon. 

 

For our April show, we are calling on artists residing in the United States for visual artwork of any medium that addresses the theme of ecocide, particularly in the context of armed conflict. We want to bring attention not only to the destruction but also to efforts to resist ecocide, restore the land, and begin to heal some of ecocide’s wounds. All works will be exhibited at the art gallery in the Crow’s Nest, in downtown Baltimore. 

 

Through this show, we want to engage the public on the issue of ecocide– including but not limited to the tragedies unfolding in Ukraine and Gaza. While the immediate human tragedy in these places is well documented, the war against the environment is less well understood and takes many forms: deliberate destruction of dams, poisoning of arable land and water, destruction of ancient trees and forests, the mining of farms and fields. These crimes will have deep and long-lasting consequences on the livability and future of a place. We are hoping for work that is honest and steadfast, but that does not sensationalize brutality, particularly against children. Though this issue is stark and painful, artists should not be dissuaded from addressing ecocide through metaphor or more abstract responses.

 

While we are interested in work that touches on the suffering of people under these inhuman conditions, we are most interested in work that ties that suffering to the health of the planet, local biomes, and ecologies. We are extremely interested in work that centers a connection to nature as a form of resistance in places affected by ecocide. 

 

PRACTICAL DETAILS

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• There is no limit on medium. 2D (All 2D work should be delivered ready to hang), 3D, and installation work are all welcome.

  • For 3D Work, please note if a pedestal is desired. The Crow’s Nest also has original turn of the century fireplaces from which very small or shallow (6 in depth) 3D work can be potentially displayed.

  • For video work, please provide a sample no longer than 5 minutes, and note if the work is longer than that.

  • For installation work, please use interior photography provided to map out where your work would fit in our gallery. Installation artists should be prepared to install their own work during our install window April 1-5, 2025, to be scheduled with the Crow’s Nest if selected.

• “All Media,” for us includes traditional (painting, sculpture, fiber, drawing, illustration, book arts) and new media (sound, photography, animation, film & video, interactive art) as well as installation work. 

  • We are not interested in Generative AI-Assisted work and have serious concerns about the environmental impact of this technology at this time among other ethical concerns.

• All work should be able to fit through a standard residential doorframe, or be able to break down into components that fit through a doorframe.

• Performance works that also have a strong visual component that can live in the gallery without the performance are welcome.

• DMV area Accepted Artists who are able to propose performance works or programming (Including but not limited to poetry, music, experimental performance, workshops) are eligible for a small honorarium of up to $250, depending on the proposal. 

• If work is to be listed for sale on the Crow’s Nest website, we will take a 20% gallery fee. Work is not required to be listed for sale.

• For artwork that needs to be shipped, the artist is responsible for the cost of sending their work to the Crow's Nest, and providing secure reusable packaging (tape is acceptable as a disposable necessity). As part of our sustainability goals, we will reuse the same packaging to return artworks to artists. The Crow's Nest will cover the cost of return shipping to any location within the United States. 

• Artists/curators should provide their own insurance for their artworks. The Crow’s Nest does not claim liability for the artwork. All artists should be over the age of 18.

 

A $10 application fee supports the administrative costs of this exhibit & providing honorariums. Application fees may be sent via venmo to @crowsnestbaltimore. One application may include up to 3 pieces of artwork and 15 attached images. Marginalized artists from affected backgrounds, or facing other prohibitive circumstances– please email alexi@crowsnestbaltimore.com to acquire a fee waiver. Applications will not be considered complete until the application fee or fee waiver have been confirmed. ​​​

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APPLY HERE

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