Open Call

"Wiping the Dirt" is a curatorial project where the act of removing grime serves as a stand in for expression. Hosted as an alternative exhibition space taking the form of a "welcome rug", this initiative transforms the mundane act of cleaning into a profound exploration of labor and transformation. This project seeks to challenge perceptions of value/upstanding, inviting submissions from artists who interpret wiping dirt through various lenses—whether personal, political, ecological, and cultural.

This space centers on the rug as a site of transition—a threshold where outside and inside converge. Each artwork within this exhibition will address this duality, offering viewers an opportunity to reflect on their own relationship with the mess they encounter, avoid, or carry.

The exhibition format will operate on a rotating basis, with a new rug displayed every two months at a residential doorstep located in Tampa, Florida. Each participating artist will have a rug custom-printed with their submitted artwork. These rugs will serve as both functional objects and conceptual pieces, blurring the line between art and utility. 

Artists are invited to submit art to this call that explore their interpretation of the theme "Wiping the Dirt" Submissions must include:

1. A finished 2D artwork (painting, drawing, photograph, print, video still, flat textile, etc)

2. A detailed description of the work (title, date, medium, dimensions, and/or duration)

3. A high-resolution image of the work, at 300 DPI and 2500 pixels on each side or larger

4. A short artist biography plus a short statement reflecting on theme "Wiping the Dirt"

Upon selection, Calico Mojado will work with each artist to custom-print their designs.

Each rug will remain on display for a 2-month period. During this time, the piece will engage visitors physically, fostering an evolving dialogue about its themes.