Call for Artists: Light in the Hollows
Illuminating Southwest Virginia’s Appalachia
Exhibit opens April 4, 2026 — Opening begins at Dusk
Haus of Taylor | Downtown Tazewell, Virginia
There’s a moment in Southwest Virginia—right before night fully settles—when the mountains start telling the truth. The ridgelines soften. The hollows deepen. Porch lights click on like small, steady promises. Fog drifts through the low places. The day turns quiet enough that you notice what’s been there all along.
That hour is where our next exhibit begins.
On April 4, 2026, Haus of Taylor opens Light in the Hollows — Illuminating Southwest Virginia’s Appalachia, and we’re inviting artists to be part of it.
Not with a theme that boxes you in—
but with a shared force that gives the room cohesion:
Light.
Light as subject. Light as material. Light as metaphor. Light as witness.
About the exhibit
Appalachia gets described from a distance like it’s a single idea. But the truth is layered: beautiful and hardworking, tender and tough, familiar and still mysterious.
This exhibit is built around a simple truth we’ve all felt here:
In these mountains, light does more than brighten things—it reveals what’s real.
Porch glow. Fog lift. River shimmer. A shop window at night. Starlight you can still find. The way a hollow changes when the day turns.
We want work that honors that reality—without needing to perform for anyone.
The invitation / what we’re asking artists to explore
We want a cohesive theme without limiting the art. So here’s the heart of it:
Use light as your medium—literal or symbolic—to explore the beauty, mystery, labor, memory, and spirit of Southwest Virginia’s Appalachia.
Traditional or experimental. Documentary or abstract. Quiet or bold. If the work is honest, it belongs.
We’re not looking for one style. We’re looking for truth, and a room with atmosphere—like stepping into an Appalachian evening where the light gets low enough to tell on everything.
What the public can expect / and why it matters
Light in the Hollows is designed to feel like a place you recognize—even if you can’t name it.
Expect a curated mix of:
- Photography
- Painting
- Mixed media
- Sculptural work
Some pieces will whisper. Some will glow. Some will hold shadow on purpose. The goal is not “pretty”—the goal is real.
And because this show is about that in-between hour, the opening begins at Dusk—not a number on the clock—because that’s when Southwest Virginia changes tone.
Opening details
- Opening date: Saturday, April 4, 2026
- Opening begins: Dusk
- Location: Haus of Taylor, Downtown Tazewell, VA
- Format: Come-and-go opening. Arrive when the day turns. Stay as long as you like.
Parking
Street parking is available on and around Main Street in downtown Tazewell. Please be mindful of storefronts and marked areas, and if you’re able, leave the closest spots for those who need easier access.
Artist Call: How to Submit
What to send
Please submit:
- 3–5 images of proposed work (or recent work that fits the theme)
- Title / medium / dimensions / price for each piece
- Short artist statement + short bio (if we don’t have one, or if you want an updated one)
- Any installation needs (especially if the work uses power/light)
If you’re still developing new work, send what you have and tell us what you’re planning—we’re open to the process.
What you can expect from Haus of Taylor
We don’t treat submissions like inventory. We treat them like voices.
- We curate with care: cohesive flow, respectful spacing, and a clear narrative arc without forcing sameness.
- We promote artists well: spotlights, tagged posts, quality photos/video when possible, and consistent storytelling across the show.
- We communicate clearly: what’s selected, what’s needed, timelines, install details, and expectations.
- We treat your work like it matters—because it does.
How to submit
Submit through the Haus-Taylor.com contact form and include:
Subject: Light in the Hollows — Artist Submission
Or email us directly at: hello@haus-taylor.com
(If you prefer to keep everything on the contact form, remove this line.)
Suggested timeline/edit as needed
- Submissions due: March 15, 2026
- Notifications: March 10, 2026
- Work delivered by: March 25 — 31, 2026
- Exhibit opens: April 4, 2026 — begins at Dusk
Closing note
This exhibit started the way most true things start here—quietly
In a hollow at evening.
In a porch light.
In fog that won’t hurry.
In the last light on a ridge.
If your work lives in that kind of honesty—where light reveals, and shadow isn’t something to avoid—we’d be honored to see it.
— Luther Taylor
Haus of Taylor | Tazewell, Virginia
