A baby’s tiny shoe on top of a pay phone started it all…
“Years ago, I saw a tiny, weathered baby shoe sitting quietly on top of a pay phone outside a gas station. It was dirty and weathered but oddly captivating with a sparkly design shining through the grime. It stopped me in my tracks. Who lost it? How did it get there? I felt like there was a story there, waiting to be told. Since then, I’ve started noticing lost shoes everywhere—on the shoulder of the highway, dangling from power lines, hidden in the grass at the park, too many on the beaches to even count. Each one feels like a mystery, a memory, maybe even a metaphor.” — Sheila Carr, Gateway Art Gallery Curator
That single lost shoe has inspired our next member exhibit at the Gallery: “Lost Soles”
We’re inviting artists to create original works inspired by these forgotten footsteps of strangers or maybe even of people we know. It doesn’t even even have to be a human shoe, for that matter! The theme is wide open to interpretation—explore it literally, symbolically, emotionally, humorously, or even spiritually. Whether you want to tell a story, spark curiosity, or create a striking visual—this is your chance to follow where that lost shoe leads you.
Submission Info:
- Entry is free to all Art League of North Florida members (incl. YAL.) Members may enter up to 2 pieces each.*
- Open to all mediums (except AI-generated. You may be asked to verify your process if there is a question.)
- Sculpture, painting, mixed media, photography, illustration, digital art, installation—all are welcome
- Entries must be no larger than 36″ in any direction and weigh less than 15 pounds. Sculptural and installation pieces must be able to stand/display on their own.
- Entry drop-off date: Saturday, May 31 from 10 am-2 pm. No early or late drop-offs will be accepted.
*We will do our best to get every entry displayed but if we run out of room, we may have to limit entries to 1 per person. Please put your first choice in the “Entry #1” space on the entry form. (downloadable heresoon)
During the show, Gallery visitors may vote on their favorite pieces! Top selections will be photographed and readied for a potential Gallery-produced coffee table book or calendar, with proceeds supporting future exhibits and artist programming at the Gallery.
We hope you’ll join us in turning something lost into something unforgettable! If you have questions, please contact our Curator.