We are Cielo Ornelas MacFarlane, Laurie MacFarlane and Martha Schermerhorn! We are organizing this fourth annual show at The Yards (50-52 Public Market Way Rochester, NY 14609) of contemporary ex-votos, altars and shrines as lifelong fans and makers of them!
Ex-voto is the proper Latin term, meaning “from the vow” for the type of Christian devotional art that is offered to a saint or to God as thanks for a miracle, a blessing, and as testimony to others. An ex-voto can be a crutch or cane that is no longer needed, a small sculpture of a body part that was healed, or a commissioned painting of an event miraculously survived.

An altar is a space for ritual or worship, such as a place for making offerings or sacrifices, receiving communion, or casting spells. A shrine is a space that is considered special or sacred because of its association with a particular person or event, such as the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe to Juan Diego or the first time you saw One Direction live in concert.

This year we are providing the additional prompt of the idea of devotion-on-the-go. Forget being in a specific place! With these objects, people can perform any ritual they need to, any time! Portable or pocket altars, a Catholic priest’s home visit kit, or miniature shrines.

This call is open to any and all interpretations, religious and secular, personal and political, fictional and factual.

Preference given to artists local to the Rochester/Buffalo area with all mediums welcome (including installations!) and no size restrictions.

Saints Preserve Us Art Show is made possible with support from The Yards Collective.

Submission fee
$25 for up to five entries of 1-3 images each.
Yards Members will get a $5 discount – $20 submission fee for the same.
Accepted artists are responsible for delivery and pick up of their work in a timely manner.

Submission Deadline: August 24th

Notification of Acceptance: August 28th
Exhibitor’s Agreement due back: September 4th
Artwork must be delivered by September 29th
Exhibition Dates:  October 4th – 26th
Opening Reception: October 4th