The Ghosts that Linger

About the Open Call

The Ghosts That Linger is an exhibition that explores the emotional weight carried by the material objects that surround us. It highlights artists that engage with themes of nostalgia, memory, and identity. These works transform everyday materials into something uncanny, poetic, or personal, revealing the hidden stories and meanings embedded in the things we possess. Each piece asks: What do the things we keep or abandon say about who we are? Juror: Shaina Kasztelan is a multidisciplinary artist based in Detroit, Michigan. She was raised in a midwest suburb surrounded by rows of identical houses, ever-changing strip malls, and endless fast-food franchises, all of which have influenced the materials and formal signifiers used in her work. Operating between painting, sculpture, collage, and installation, Kasztelan creates psychedelic dreamscapes using kitsch commodities that shuffle between curated control and chaotic mess. Through humorous juxtapositions, her work highlights the emotional dissonance between pleasure and disgust experienced through the consumption of manufactured goods and viral media under capitalism. Kasztelan received a BFA from the College for Creative Studies in 2012 and an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2024. In addition to her formal education, the artist has worked as a muralist, built theater sets, worked as a prop maker, and spent years building floats for America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Her work has been exhibited in many places including The Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, MI), the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (Detroit, MI), and the University of Michigan Institute for the Humanities (Ann Arbor, MI). Notable murals include those painted for the NXNE Music Festival (Toronto, ON), Facultad de Artes y Diseño UNAM (Mexico City, MX), and Murals in the Market (Detroit, MI).

What is Offered

Awards include $500 for First Place and $250 for Second Place. Exhibited work may be sold, with the South Haven Center for the Arts receiving a 35% commission.

Requirements

Work Sample Requirements: Minimum 1 image, Maximum 2 images. Minimum 0 audio, Maximum 2 audio. Total samples Minimum 1, Maximum 2. Call Type: Exhibitions. Eligibility: National, specifically artists 18-years and older residing in the United States and the Tribal Nations that share these geographies. A maximum of two works can be submitted with a total of two images. Accepted artwork must remain on display for the duration of the exhibition. Close-ups or a video to show a 3D or moving piece of visual art may be submitted for juror viewing. All work must be original, completed in the last five years, and professionally presented. The organization reserves the right to decline work that is substantially different from submitted images, does not meet size limitations, or is not professionally presented. Size limits: 2D works - 72” high x 55” wide maximum. 3D works - must fit through a standard doorway, max. 50lbs. No installations or ceiling-hung work allowed. Framing & Presentation: All work must be framed and/or exhibition ready (wired, NO sawtooth hangers, no clip frames with exposed glass edges). Work must be labeled with artist’s contact information, title, medium, and price. Installation: Only appropriately prepared works will be accepted. 3D works must be stable and pose no physical threat. 2D work must be “ready to hang.” Special hardware or hanging instructions must be included with work. Deliver/Pick-up work: Deliver and pick up work at the SHCA during specified times or by appointment. Work not picked up within 30 days of exhibition closing may become property of SHCA. No work will be released before the exhibit closes. Shipped Work: Must arrive by Saturday, September 20, 2025. Must be in a sturdy, reusable container with labeled, reusable packing materials (no peanuts). A return shipping label must be included. Hand Delivery: Works can be hand-delivered during specified delivery/pick-up times. Unsold pieces not return-shipped must be picked up during posted gallery hours. If not retrieved within two weeks of exhibition close without prior arrangements, items become SHCA property. Packaging may be stored at SHCA if labeled with artist's name and include re-packing instructions. Removing artwork: No artwork may be removed by the artist prior to exhibition conclusion. SHCA reserves the right to temporarily remove any piece. Insurance: SHCA carries art insurance for work on display in the gallery but is not responsible for insuring artwork during transit. Sales and Commission: If work is not for sale, an estimated value for insurance purposes must be included. Accepted work may not be substituted or withdrawn before the show closes. SHCA reserves the right to photographically reproduce accepted entries for publicity purposes.

How to Apply

Prospective entrants are required to submit images of each desired entry in jpeg format, with a title and brief statement explaining the piece's relation to the theme. Payments can be made by credit card at time of entry through Cafe (www.callforentries.org) or by check/money order payable to South Haven Center for the Arts. A reduced fee of $15 is available for student artists and those economically challenged.