CAMP FIBER CALL 2026

THE CAMP GALLERY (791–793 NE 125 St., Miami, FL 33161) is pleased to announce the open call for participation in its annual exhibition “Women Pulling at the Threads of Social Discourse.”

The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2026, and the exhibition will take place from October 17 to December 31, 2026. Titled Women Pulling at The Threads of Social Discourse: The Epistle, this edition will unfold across two distinct yet dialoguing sections: one dedicated to letters and the other to large-scale fiber portraits.

In its eighth iteration, the project looks back 250 years to the epistolary exchanges between women during the American Revolution. These correspondences embodied a complex interweaving of desires, fears, and actions, through which women shared not only reflections on patriotism and the tensions of their historical moment, but also intimate emotions and concerns related to family life, as the war approached, unfolded, and ultimately came to an end.

Within a social context that often relegated women to marginal roles, these figures demonstrated a decisive and impactful presence at critical moments of the revolution. Among them are Abigail Adams, Deborah Sampson, Sybil Ludington, Phillis Wheatley, Elizabeth Freeman, and Esther Reed, along with many others – both known and unnamed – who made significant contributions to this historical turning point.

EXHIBITION THEME

The focus of this edition lies in words – and their weight. Drawing on the tradition of the epistolary novel, the exhibition invites artists to translate messages into textile form: “letters” that give voice to desires, reflections on daily life, historical resonances connected to the American Revolution, or other dimensions of human experience.

LETTERS

For this section, artists are required to produce works measuring 8 x 14 inches (dimensions must be exact). Accepted approaches include stitched text, weaving, collage, or other visual and symbolic practices. The installation will feature works suspended on wires – evoking domestic clotheslines – and attached with wooden clothespins along the walls of one of the gallery spaces. Limiting the number of works is intended to encourage a slower, more attentive viewing experience, allowing audiences to engage deeply with each piece and reflect on its message. This section seeks to reaffirm a fundamental principle: beyond our differences, there exists a shared human condition that unites us in our vulnerabilities and concerns. A maximum of 50 works will be selected. In addition to the textile piece, each artist will be asked to handwrite a letter addressed to another participating artist, echoing the epistolary practices of women during the American Revolution. These letters, conceived as gestures of connection and mutual attentiveness, will be digitized and published on a Substack platform, becoming an integral component of the exhibition.

PORTRAITS

For the portrait section, artists are required to submit a project proposal accompanied by a sketch or rendering. Final works must measure 36 x 72 inches (dimensions must be exact). Artists are not required to depict specific historical figures; idealized interpretations, imaginative representations, or self-portraits are encouraged. This section also emphasizes collaborative practices – works may be created by multiple artists, collectives and fiber art groups are strongly encouraged to participate. A maximum of 13 works will be selected.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Artists are required to conduct research on letters written by women during the American Revolution, including, where available, writings by the figures mentioned above. The intention is not to directly reference these sources, but to absorb their essence and translate it into works that respond to the theme without explicit citation.

The aim of the exhibition is to foreground a reflection on shared humanity, moving beyond divisive frameworks.

REQUIREMENTS

• Submission of a detailed project proposal outlining how the work relates to the theme
• Inclusion of a sketch or rendering
• Applicants are strongly advised not to produce the final work prior to acceptance notification

ACCEPTED TECHNIQUES

Works must be developed through practices related to fiber art and textile-based media, including:

• weaving
• tapestry
• embroidery
• tufting
• stitching
• related techniques

A wide range of visual languages is welcome: textual, abstract, figurative, or geometric.

Please note that, as this is a fiber art call, artists whose primary practice does not typically involve this medium are nevertheless expected to integrate it into their proposal.

SUBMISSION

Proposals must be submitted via email to: xoxo@thecampgallery.com

Subject line: Artist Name + “The Epistle”

For information: Melanie Prapopulos & Amy Arechavaleta | xoxo@thecampgallery.com

SUGGESTED READINGS (not necessarily academic sources)

• https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/women-american-revolution
• https://www.dar.org/library/research-guides/forgotten-patriots
• https://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/wrw-collection
• https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/discover/18th-century-people/stories-of-women/women-of-the-american-revolution/
• https://www.readinggroupguides.com/reviews/womens-letters-america-from-the-revolutionary-war-to-the-present/excerpt

https://www.masshist.org/features/warren-winthrop