Art often expresses, and breaks, societal norms.  At it’s best, it causes us to think about the world we live in and stirs up an emotional reaction.  Artists weave pieces of their soul into their creations and then hope it connects with someone strongly enough that they pay to take it home.  It’s not a profession known as a safe way to make a living.

Sage Magee, photo credit: facebook

Sage Magee, a senior at Avalon Charter High School, is hosting an art gallery to examine both of those issues – breaking societal norms and building bonds between starving artists and art lovers with pocketbooks.

The Taboo Art Gallery is looking for art that breaks taboos in any culture.  Art will be displayed at Sacred Paths Center during a weekend run in April.  Magee says the exhibit is accepting art submissions from any US resident and there is no age barrier.  Painting, drawing, printmaking, fiber, and mixed media or photography are the preferred disciplines.  Magee says pieces are picked for display based on relevance to the theme and difficulty in display.

Magee’s exhibit is part of her larger senior project “In Search of a Well-fed Artist” which she says is helping her explore a career in art management,  “I’ve been using my senior project as a way to test the waters in a career in arts management. It’s my practice run you could say.”  While she’s learning about gallery management first hand, she hopes that attendees learn about different taboos from cultures around the globe.

Magee shows she’s ready to push boundaries and take chances.  An exhibit on taboo subjects as a part of a school project is not playing it safe, but she says her school is supportive, “My high school is a very open school and encourages students to pursue their passions. So long as my gallery ends up being educational there won’t be a problem with it.”  She also notes that since the gallery is held at Sacred Paths Center, rather than the school, the school’s liability is lessened.

The gallery isn’t solely a project to gain experience, explore a career field, and display thought-provoking art, it’s also designed to raise money for a an artist community supply closet at Sacred paths Center.  All pieces displayed are also for sale, with the artist receiving 70% and 30%  going to the artist supply closet.   The supply closet, once it’s fully funded, allows anyone to come in and create art.

Taboo Art Gallery
Saturday, April 14 at 1:00pm
Location: SacredPaths Center

Art submission requirements:

Please send an electronic version (jpeg or pdf) of your submission(s) to sage.a.magee@gmail.com by March 15th, along with your name, phone number, and email address as well as a description of your submission; including materials used and dimensions of piece.   Art will be sold, but all prices must be flexible to all buyers, include the lowest and highest price you want your piece sold for.