News Photo by Darby Hinkley Art in the Loft Executive Director Justin Christensen-Cooper stands next to a metal wall in the gallery. “SummerView” is still up through Sept. 9, but the gallery is now accepting entries for its upcoming “METALS” juried art show.

ALPENA — Art in the Loft is now accepting entries for it upcoming “METALS” juried art show. Entries will be accepted through Sept. 8.

Artists can submit entries in any medium they choose, and interpret the theme however they think is appropriate.

“This is our eighth year doing it,” Art in the Loft Executive Director Justin Christensen-Cooper said of the juried art show. “We wanted to lead into our annual fundraiser with a cool art show.”

The Loft started the themed art shows as part of its 15th anniversary celebration in 2015.

“We did a Black and White themed show based on Susan Lane Photography — the late Susan Lane, now,” Christensen-Cooper said. “She was an integral part to bringing Art in the Loft around. She was part of that core committee that did that. So, when we kicked off our juried show, we thought, ‘Why not honor her legacy?'”

So, ever since then, the juried show has had a new theme each year.

“We’ve gone through colors, we’ve had ‘Water,’ we’ve had ‘Forgotten Spaces,’ we’ve had ‘Light,’ ‘Emerald’ was one of them,” he added. “So, we are back, with ‘METALS.'”

He said artists can be creative with the theme.

“That doesn’t mean that it has to be made of metal,” Christensen-Cooper said. “It’s however the artist interprets that. So, as an example, since submissions have already opened, we’ve actually had a colored pencil artist submit, a pastel artist submit, and then we have had some sculpture artists submit. So it’s however the artist sees it … however the artist wants to bring attention to metals.”

He added that another example could be photography of metal objects or industrial buildings.

“METALS” will open with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5 and the exhibit will be on display through Nov. 9.

The juror has not been announced yet.

At the opening reception, the artist whose work is juried as “Best of Show” by the juror will receive a full year of exhibition space at the gallery, as well as a $300 cash prize.

Also at the opening reception, the second place artist will receive a $200 cash prize, and the third place artist will receive a $100 cash prize.

There will also be a People’s Choice component to the show. While the exhibit is up, a ballot box will be in the gallery for visitors to place their votes in for their favorite artists, and the artist whose works is voted best by attendees will receive a $50 gift certificate.

Submissions are being accepted online at artintheloft.org.

“We do all online submissions,” Christensen-Cooper said. “We do look for high-res images.”

If your work is selected for the show, you will receive an email explaining the next steps. Bring your artwork to the gallery between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sept. 19 to 30.

This juried exhibition is for all artists working in all media including: oil, acrylic, watercolor, photography, pastel, drawing, print, mixed media, sculpture, assemblage, installation, fabric, and film. All artwork must be original in concept, design, and execution, and created within the last three years.

The entry fee is $35 for the first entry, and $10 for each additional entry, with a maximum of three entries per artist. All entries must be registered/received by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 8. Entry fees are non-refundable.

Full submission guidelines are available at artintheloft.org.

If you have questions, contact director@artintheloft.org or call 989-356-4877.

Art in the Loft is located on the third floor of the Center Building at 109 N. 2nd Ave. in downtown Alpena.