On Beauty: The Prophet
Craven Arts Council & Gallery will be hosting On Beauty: The Prophet this July and August 2023 in the Main Gallery at Bank of the Arts. This ekphrastic exhibition will focus on artwork inspired by, or related to Kahlil Gibran's seminal work, The Prophet. 2023 marks the 100 year anniversary of the book's publication, and Craven Arts Council & Gallery seeks to honor its contributions to literature through an exhibition of artwork.
About the Book: Written in 1923 by Lebanese-American poet Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet was the 3rd highest selling poetry book of the 20th century, after Shakespeare and Lao-Zu. The book is composed of twenty six short chapters, detailing the words of an imaginary prophet, Almustafa, in response to questions from the public before he set to return to his homeland. Chapters touch on subjects including marriage, death, law, pleasure, children, and beauty. The book was inspired by Gibran's own faith of Maronism, but also Baha'i, Islam, Sufism, and other authors including William Blake, Walt Whitman, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. The work is considered Transcendental prose poetry, and has inspired countless generations of people since its original publication, becoming a part of the inspiration for the New Age Movement. Initially selling 1,150 copies of the 2,000 initially printed, demand for the book doubled the following year and the year after, selling it's one millionth copy in 1957, and at one point selling more that 5,000 copies a week. The book became popular with the counter culture movement of the 1960's ad 70's, and was routinely given as a gift at births, weddings, funerals, and other life events. The book entered the public domain in the United States in 2019. Click the button below for a full copy of the poems. |
Original Illustration by Kahlil Gibran from The Prophet
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About the Exhibition:
Craven Arts Council & Gallery is seeking works inspired by to related to the central themes, motifs, and ideas of Gibran's The Prophet. This exhibition is open to any artist at least 18 years of age (if shipping works please read The Prophet Terms and Conditions below). Artists will be asked to identify which chapter of the book the work identifies with, which will be included on the gallery labels. Craven Arts Council & Gallery will display the works in the Main Gallery at Bank of the Arts for the months of July and August, 2023, and will work to coordinate other special events about the book, the author, and related topics. This is an open exhibition call for artists of any skill level, and artists will be accepted on a first come basis. Artists may reserve a spot by registering for the exhibition now and completing the artwork registration at a later date. |
Important Dates:
Drop Off: June 30, July 1 10am-5pm ArtWalk Receptions: July 14, 5pm-8pm August 11, 5pm-8pm Pick Up September 1, 2 10am-5pm |
Terms and Conditions
1) These Terms and Conditions are in addition to the General Exhibition Terms and Conditions as outlined here. Please read that page as well as this one in their entirety before registering for the exhibition.
2) Each artist may submit one piece for exhibition. Artists must fill out out the Exhibition Registration form above to be part of the exhibit. Artist do not need to have the piece completed at this time or provide details of the work to register, but will need to complete the Artwork Registration before dropping the work off at Bank of the Arts. While all artists will be accepted, there will be a limit on the number of artists accepted due to space constraints. Artists are highly encouraged to register early to ensure their place in the exhibition.
3) Artists must drop off or mail their piece to Craven Arts Council and Gallery by 5:00pm, July 1st, 2023. Any shipping costs, including shipping to and from the gallery, and insurance, shall be the responsibility of the artist. Any artists shipping international must inform Craven Arts Council & Gallery by email at [email protected] when they register for the exhibition. Artists agree to reimburse CAC&G for any additional shipping incurred.
4) Artist may list the work for sale at CAC&G's usual 60/40 split in the artist's favor. Artists may also list the work as "Not for Sale" (NFS). Please refer the General Exhibition Terms and Conditions for more information on Sales Terms.
5) Artwork may be of any medium. 2D works do not need to be framed, but must be wired for hanging. Artworks may not exceed 48" in any dimension, except with express written permission from Craven Arts Council & Gallery. Artists utilizing temporary, perishable, or degrading mediums are asked to ensure any work will not create a health, safety, or cleanliness hazard. Artists may contact CAC&G at [email protected] if they have questions.
6) Works must be directly inspired by or related to the themes, ideas, and motifs of The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. Artists must identify a chapter of the book that the work relates to most directly.
1) These Terms and Conditions are in addition to the General Exhibition Terms and Conditions as outlined here. Please read that page as well as this one in their entirety before registering for the exhibition.
2) Each artist may submit one piece for exhibition. Artists must fill out out the Exhibition Registration form above to be part of the exhibit. Artist do not need to have the piece completed at this time or provide details of the work to register, but will need to complete the Artwork Registration before dropping the work off at Bank of the Arts. While all artists will be accepted, there will be a limit on the number of artists accepted due to space constraints. Artists are highly encouraged to register early to ensure their place in the exhibition.
3) Artists must drop off or mail their piece to Craven Arts Council and Gallery by 5:00pm, July 1st, 2023. Any shipping costs, including shipping to and from the gallery, and insurance, shall be the responsibility of the artist. Any artists shipping international must inform Craven Arts Council & Gallery by email at [email protected] when they register for the exhibition. Artists agree to reimburse CAC&G for any additional shipping incurred.
4) Artist may list the work for sale at CAC&G's usual 60/40 split in the artist's favor. Artists may also list the work as "Not for Sale" (NFS). Please refer the General Exhibition Terms and Conditions for more information on Sales Terms.
5) Artwork may be of any medium. 2D works do not need to be framed, but must be wired for hanging. Artworks may not exceed 48" in any dimension, except with express written permission from Craven Arts Council & Gallery. Artists utilizing temporary, perishable, or degrading mediums are asked to ensure any work will not create a health, safety, or cleanliness hazard. Artists may contact CAC&G at [email protected] if they have questions.
6) Works must be directly inspired by or related to the themes, ideas, and motifs of The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. Artists must identify a chapter of the book that the work relates to most directly.