Arizona artist Ann Morton announces open call for textile artists, makers to participate in new public intervention, large-scale installation

Feb, 05, 2020

Exhibitions and Special InstallationsModern and Contemporary Art

Arizona artist Ann Morton announces open call for textile artists, makers to participate in new public intervention, large-scale installation

The Violet Protest will be on view at Phoenix Art Museum from September 19, 2020 through January 31, 2021, represents call to action

PHOENIX (February 5, 2020) – Ann Morton, the 2019 Arlene and Morton Scult Artist Award recipient, invites textile artists and makers from across the United States and Puerto Rico to participate in a new collaborative art experience. Called The Violet Protest, the public effort seeks to unite makers of varying political ideologies and encourages bipartisan collaboration. Free to combine prints and colors, textures, stitching, and yarns, makers who wish to participate in the project are asked to create 8” x 8” square textile units using equal parts of red and blue material, symbolizing the union of opposing U.S. political ideologies.

Morton’s goal is to receive 26,750 fabric squares, which she will then configure to form a large-scale installation of the letters “U” and “S,” with the red and blue blending to create the overall impression of the color violet. The installation will be on view at Phoenix Art Museum from September 19, 2020 through January 31, 2021 as part of the artist’s upcoming solo exhibition. After the exhibition closes, Morton will then send 50 squares from the installation to each U.S. Senator and Representative, accompanied by a photo of the work and a letter calling for elected officials to come together and prioritize the representation of their diverse constituents over personal political gain.

The submission deadline for The Violet Protest is August 15, 2020. For more information, to participate, or for examples of textile units that have been submitted, visit www.violetprotest.com or follow @thevioletprotest or #thevioletprotest on Instagram, Facebook, and Ravelry.

About Ann Morton

Ann Morton is a Phoenix-based artist who works primarily in fiber art. Her work exploits traditional fiber techniques as conceptual tools for aesthetic, social communication to examine a society of which we are all a part—as bystanders, participants, victims, and perpetrators. ​Driven by a desire to make right, Morton creates artworks that reflect both her own handwork and that of interested community members through public interventions that seek to harness the power of making for social purpose and change. Previous public interventions organized by Morton, who was recently named the 2019 Arlene and Morton Scult Artist Award recipient, include ReThanks (2017) and the award-winning Ground Cover (2013).

About the Arlene and Morton Scult Artist Award

The Arlene and Morton Scult Artist Award recognizes a mid-career Arizona artist. Eligible candidates are chosen from a pool of artists who demonstrate artistic excellence through their work; are presently making and exhibiting new work; have demonstrated significant growth in their work over their careers; and have been residents of Arizona for a minimum of four consecutive years. The Scult Award recipient is then selected based on the work they are currently producing, in addition to pieces they have created in the past.

About Phoenix Art Museum

Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum has provided millions of guests with access to world-class art and experiences in an effort to ignite imaginations, create meaningful connections, and serve as a brave space for all people who wish to experience the transformative power of art. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, the Museum is a vibrant destination for the visual arts and the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Each year, more than 300,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 20,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. The Museum also presents a comprehensive film program, live performances, and educational programs designed for visitors of all ages, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visitphxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.