Call for Artists: Shades of Blue – Beyond Indigo

An Exhibition at Arts Space Narrogin, October 2025

Cnr Park and Fairway St, Narrogin WA 6312

3rd – 24th October 2025
Open to Western Australian Artists

About the Exhibition

Shades of Blue – Beyond Indigo is an invitation to textile-based artists of all skill levels to explore and expand upon the richness of the theme indigo—in all its forms. This exhibition is an opportunity for artists to showcase their skills, push creative boundaries, and contribute to a diverse and thoughtful interpretation of this evocative concept.

If you’re an emerging artist eager to exhibit your work for the first time, or an experienced practitioner we welcome your submission. If you are keen to delve deeper into the historical uses, expand on the technique of indigo dyeing, or revel in the conceptual links that the colour indigo tantalises us with, we invite you to explore a creative response that is Beyond Indigo.

This exhibition is timed to coincide with the textile event Fibres West to be held at Narrogin Agricultural college during the first week of October

Theme: “Indigo”

Indigo is an ancient plant pigment dating back to around 400BC and commonly used by many cultures to dye fabric. It is obtained from several different plant sources, of which Indigofera tinctoria is a rich blue colour and a widely known source. It truly is a universal colour known right across the world and used in the cultures from Egyptian, Mayan,

Japanese, Cherokee Indian, Mexican, Guatemalan, Indian, European, Chinese, Vietnamese, Philippines, and other Asian nations. Isaac Newton even named indigo in his optical spectrum colour wheel and hence it is named in the 7 colours of the rainbow.

We all know indigo, where it touches us everyday in the colour of our jeans. A lucky few of you will even have had the experience of dyeing in your own indigo fermentation vat, a truly wondrous experience. Of course, now there are synthetic indigo dyes, available but nothing will eclipse the lure and alchemy of natural indigo.

Artists are encouraged to interpret indigo through a wide lens. You might explore:

• The colour indigo and its emotional, aesthetic, or cultural associations
• The pigment of indigo, the dyeing process, both traditional and contemporary
• Botanical, historical, or cultural significance of indigo
• Broader symbolic or abstract connections – indigo as mood, depth, ritual, or memory
• The common use of indigo for instance in denim or cotton clothing

There is no requirement to use actual indigo dye in the work, but artists should clearly engage with the theme in some meaningful way.

Who Can Apply

• Open to Western Australian artists of any skill level
• Both individual and collaborative works are welcome

Entry Conditions

• All mediums will be considered, and will be selected with a focus on textile practices
• The work can be an existing work, or you can make new work. For existing works, all details must be supplied on entry form.
• Maximum size of the work is 2m (h) x 1.2m (w) for wall-based pieces or 2m (h) x 0.8m (w) x 1m (d) for free-standing/self-supporting works. Larger works? If your piece exceeds these dimensions, please contact us before submitting to discuss feasibility and space requirements.
• Installation Requirements: We are accepting both wall-hung and self-supporting works. We are currently unable to suspend works from the ceiling.
• If your work requires a plinth or specific display needs, please note this on your entry form so we can discuss options in advance. Please feel free to get in touch to discuss any special installation requirements prior to submitting.
• There is an entry fee of $20.00 to be payable to Arts Narrogin along with your entry form. This will cover the galleries time, marketing and sitting of your exhibition.
• Work must be delivered ready to hang or install.
• It is your responsibility to get work to and from Narrogin. However, we will provide details of a Perth pickup and drop off location and date closer to the time.
• Pending number of entries, a selection will be made.
• Artworks can be offered for sale, with a gallery commission of 20% applied.
• The gallery will support selected artists with promotion, basic install assistance, and social media coverage.

Key Dates

• EOI Application Deadline: 12th August
• Final Details of work: 9th September
• Delivery/Installation of Work: 30th September. Install will take place 30th September – 3rd October
• Opening Event: 2.00pm Wednesday 8th October
• Exhibition: 3rd – 24th October 2025
• Deinstall: 28th October

We recommend submitting expressions of interest as early to help us with our admin and receive updates.

Selection Criteria

• There is no jury or formal panel—this is a supportive and open exhibition. Pending the number of entries and available hanging space, a selection will be made. Submissions will be selected based on how strongly the work engages with or challenges the theme of indigo, and the creative or technical quality of the proposed work.

We’re especially interested in works that:

• Offer fresh or unexpected perspectives on the theme
• Demonstrate skill in textile techniques
• Encourage viewers to see “indigo” in new ways

How to Submit

• Please complete and submit the application form below — submissions are accepted via this form only.
• Each form allows for one artwork submission.
• Multiple submissions are welcome; simply complete a separate form (and payment) for each work.
• An entry fee of $20 applies per submission.
• For any enquiries, please email: admin@artsnarrogin.com.au
• The exhibition will be held at Arts Narrogin, corner of Park and Fairway Streets, Narrogin WA 6312.
• One artwork per form. $20 entry fee per submission. Multiple submissions accepted, they just require separate forms.
• Enquiries can be made via email to admin@artsnarrogin.com.au

The exhibition will take place at Arts Narrogin, Cnr Park and Fairway St, Narrogin WA 6312