Do you come from a family of artists? Does your child share in your artistic interests? Did your talent inspire another family member to create?

swell gallery in West Dundee is seeking artistic families for an exhibition in June 2013.

DEADLINE:   May 19, 2013

SUBMISSION CRITERIA:   Submissions must include a minimum of two related artists from multiple generations, i.e. parent(s)/child(ren), grandparent(s)/grandchild(ren), etc. Families must submit jointly, including 3 to 5 images per artist. At least one submitting family member should be a practicing professional artist, others may be hobbyists, if the work is of sufficient quality. Wall-mounted visual art is preferred, however submissions including other artistic disciplines are welcome.

HOW TO APPLY:   Email high-quality medium to high resolution images to: curator@swellgallery.com. Include 3 to 5 images per artist. Please title your email “Artistic Family” followed by your family name(s). Include an explanation of the relationship between the artists, as well as a brief biography of each artist describing their artistic ventures and background.

For each image, include the following:

• Artist’s Name
• Title of Artwork
• Size of Artwork (height x width)
• Medium
• Year Created
• Price

NOTIFICATION:   Notification of accepted submissions will be provided by June 1, 2013. Accepted artists are expected to attend the opening reception and promote the exhibition to family, friends and fans. Gallery commission on artwork sales is 25%.

Thank you to everyone who visited and shopped our 4th annual Holiday Market this past December. Another success!

Coming up next, we will be bringing you an exhibition of deliciously colorful abstract paintings, prints and collages. Mark your calendar for the opening reception on Saturday, March 2 from 5-9 pm, and stay tuned for details.

Thank you to all who came out for to Friday’s preview event for the 2012 Holiday Market.  It was such a success, we will be replenishing our stock and adding new items before the opening!

Please join us Saturday, December 8 from 5-9 pm for the opening reception. Many of our artists will be in attendance.

Regular shop hours will continue on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1-4 pm, or by appointment, through the end of the year.

A wide variety of handmade items are available from over 20 artists, including jewelry, gift tags, ornaments, traditional artwork, clothing/aprons, fairy houses, teacup plants and bags, not to mention the best soy candles ever made, fantastic mid-century vintage items and much more.

For your very own sneak preview, click below.

We are currently accepting submissions for the 4th Annual swell Holiday Arts & Crafts & Vintage Market.

A broad range of work is sought, from traditional artwork, prints, jewelry, accessories for the home, edibles, clothing, toys, cards, you name it. Items with modest, gift-friendly price tags are desired.

Please email images or links to curator@swellgallery.com by Saturday, November 3, 2012 for consideration. Images should convey how the item is displayed or packaged.

Selected artists will be responsible for delivery and return of their artwork. Gallery commission is 25% of all sales. Accepted items must have price tags securely attached and be ready for display and sale.

Artists should plan to attend the opening on Saturday, December 8 from 5-9 pm and/or visit and browse the gallery some time during the duration of the show.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions. Thank you for looking & submitting.

Our circus and carnival exhibit, Step Right Up! has been postponed until 2013.

Unfortunately, we did not receive enough submissions to put together the show that we are envisioning for this theme. We want to bring you a grandiose and colorful show to match the energy of the spectacle itself! Stay tuned for the new date.

Artists – We are continuing to accept submissions. Please feel free to email us with your submission and share this opportunity with other artists that you feel may be interested. See below for the call for artists.

If you missed the opening on August 4th, no worries, we’re open this and every Saturday through September 15 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. Stop by to see this exciting exhibition of abstract artworks.

The four artists spotlighted in this show hail from across the central plains of Illinois and Iowa. Benjamin Gardner, Tim Kowalczyk, Jeff Robinson and Jared Wittenmyer each have received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Illinois State University and has followed his degree into a career as both a professional artist and educator.

The commonalities between these artists reach beyond their degrees. Repetition of form, harsh angles, distortion of the physical world, a deep engagement with materials and process and a delicate balance of visual relationships only begins to scratch the surface. The work of Gardner, Kowalczyk, Robinson and Wittenmyer each sings out strongly in its own voice, yet combined make up an impressive four-part harmony.

For the sake of clarity, these four men are a painter, ceramicist, assemblage artist and printmaker/sculptor. However, to pigeon-hole them would be unfair. Each reaches across mediums to fully explore his interpretation of reality, and strives to engage the viewer in thoughtful consideration of the influences and decisions that led to the finished piece before them.

Regular hours for this exhibition will continue every Saturday from 2:00 – 5:00 pm from August 11 through September 15, 2012. Additional information is available at swellgallery.com or facebook.com/swellgallery.IL.