Image Credit: Michael Talbot
DEADLINE:
February 15, 2026
EXHIBITION DATES:
March 21-April 18, 2026
LOCATION:
Nave Gallery, 155 Powder House Boulevard, Somerville, MA
CURATED BY:
Michael Talbot
ABOUT:
Pressure creates diamonds…
Threats to democracy are rising. Free speech is in jeopardy and the arts censored. The call to act has never been louder.
“We Create Diamonds” is a call to the creative community in response to the wide-spreading events sweeping the nation. With each day, we seem to be facing a new hardship — as well as pre-existing ones — that push us as a society to the limit of what we as a people can endure.
But despite these setbacks, the people have put pressure to advocate for change. This glimmer of resistance has become a beacon of hope, reminding us of what is important and allowing us to shine through even brighter than before.
How do we create diamonds? Our common unity, a deep and searing passion for a better and brighter future, is our strength not to simply endure, but to stand our ground and outlast all that is stacked against us. With the ever-growing pressure and uncertainty of what the future holds, we know one thing is for certain — the harder they push back, the brighter we shine.
At this moment, art is more important than ever. It connects and unites. Your creative voice matters. “We Create Diamonds” seeks artists to celebrate the experiences, cultures, and identities that shape the many facets of our nation.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK:
Submissions are open to all mediums: 2-D, and 3-D/sculpture work. The exhibit will run from March 21-April 18th. Work must be available during this timeframe. Since space is limited, this will be a juried show.
Please include a PDF image sheet that has the following information and upload up to 4 JPEGs of available work you would like to show (maximum 1200 pixels in length). The following information should accompany each image on the PDF:
1. Artist name & Contact Info (phone & e-mail)
2. Title of the piece
3. Description of Medium
4. Complete accurate dimensions (length, width, depth, & approximate weight)
5. Is it for sale?
6. Value of the piece (please include, whether or not it is for sale)
ABOUT THE CURATOR
Michael Talbot is a Jamaican-born, Boston-based Freelance Artist and Visual Storyteller who has worked on a wide range of projects, murals, exhibitions, and showcases since 2012.
His work, often narrative-driven, is most characterized by the keen use of motion, negative space, as well as a limited palette reminiscent of graphic novels and other forms of sequential art. His passion and interest for storytelling is the forefront in his practice and craft, he tends to draw from his knowledge in as many areas of study as possible to help strengthen this process. Talbot’s work can be seen throughout the Greater Boston area, including Somerville and has two murals in East Somerville at Connexion and the Deano’s Pasta building.
