And it Begins! Critical Mass is Open!

Image: Angela Bacon-Kidwell (2014 Critical Mass Top 50)

Photographers, start your engines! Critical Mass 2015 is now open for entries! Photographers can submit 10-image portfolios and artists statements here. Before you do, you’ll want to read the entry details and take a look at the stellar list of 200+ jurors.

Critical Mass is an unprecedented platform for photographers looking to show their work to a wider audience of photo professionals. Critical Mass jurors are chosen because they are professional museum curators, book publishers, photo editors, gallerists, and new media producers who actively use photography. They’re not just folks with an informed perspective on the field and the ability to identify great photographs – they’re people who are on the hunt for fresh new work, people who can directly offer opportunities to artists. We love seeing these connections happen. Each year we see exhibitions offered, images acquired for collections, articles written about photographers “discovered” via Critical Mass, book proposals made – it’s exciting stuff! A Top 50 group is chosen and awards are given every year – but career-building connections are made by many, many more of the photographers who enter Critical Mass.

As we kick off another great season of Critical Mass, we thought we’d share a few more success stories here on our blog. Considering entering this year? We’d love to see your work. Registration is open until noon Pacific Time on July 28th, don’t delay!

I am delighted to be working with Jeanine Michna-Bales after having the pleasure of reviewing her work [in Critical Mass] last year. I am grateful for Photolucida facilitating the introduction and look forward to her solo show here at the gallery February 2017!
—Arnika Dawkins (Owner, Arnika Dawkins Gallery)

I am incredibly grateful for all the attention my work has received as a result of Critical Mass. My participation resulted in my work being featured on Slate.com and Petapixel.com, and in upcoming one person shows at photo-eye Gallery in Santa Fe and Kopeikin Gallery in Los Angeles.
—Richard Tuschman

As a gallery director and curator it was amazing to judge Critical Mass and see so much good work. I ended up giving two, one-month solo exhibitions to different artists I first found through Critical Mass. A benefit to my gallery, Documentary Arts Asia, and a benefit to them. I also invited a few promising photographers to apply for our no-cost Artist in Residence program. I’m already looking forward to seeing this year’s work.
—Ryan Libre (Director, Documentary Arts Asia)

I am happy to let you know that the work of five photographers from Photolucida’s Critical Mass were accepted for exhibition by the committee of the 2015 Shanghai International Photo Festival. The photographers that will be included are: J. Scriba, Jim Kazanjian, Debora Schwedhelm, Heidi Kirkpatrick, and Fritz Liedtke.
—Yan Li (Curator, Beijing High Noon Culture & Art / People’s Photography)

I am happy to let you know that we will be exhibiting Mila Teshaieva’s “Promising Waters” body of work at the Haggerty Museum of Art in January, 2015. We will be showing the 47 prints that are included in her monograph, and we are excited that she may come over from Berlin to present a lecture. Also, we acquired eight prints from Aaron Blum for the Haggerty Museum’s permanent collection after seeing his work in Critical Mass.
—Wally Mason (Director, Sheldon Museum of Art)

I was thrilled and honored to learn that I had been offered a show at Blue Sky Gallery. This was a result of Critical Mass.
—Francine Fleischer

Being in the Top 50 is an incredible honor and thrill for me. I am preparing for a show which was a direct result of being a Finalist last year when Hamidah Glasgow of Center for Fine Art Photography offered me the solo show in her comments….I will keep you updated as so many good things are happening. I remember meeting you [Laura Moya] for the first time in Atlanta and you told me to “keep at it.” Words of wisdom I have followed. I said at the time “Photolucida was the gold standard” and I continue to hold that opinion. Thank you for Photolucida and all you have done for me and our community. It is very much appreciated.
—Susan Barnett