Since its founding, HCP has earned an international reputation for exhibitions of current and relevant work that have helped to define the state of photography. HCP's exhibitions have included works by some of the most important photographers of the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as the work of many emerging photographers who are now established professionals.
Learning Curve is an annual exhibition celebrating HCP students’ work from the past year. It features a range of photo-based work—including digital, analog, and alternative processes—and highlights HCP Education's various programs. There is no fee for entry.
Every year the Learning Curve exhibition is juried by a leading curator, editor, or artist who is in dialogue with the medium of contemporary art and/ or photography. Works selected by the juror will be exhibited at HCP and highlighted on our digital platforms (website, newsletters, and social media).
This year's Learning Curve will be juried by Lorena Molina.
About the Juror
Lorena Molina is a Salvadoran multidisciplinary artist, educator, and curator. She is an Assistant Professor of Photography and Digital Media at the University of Houston. She's also the founder and the director of Third Space Gallery, a community space and gallery that supports and highlights BIPOC artists.
At the core of Molina's work is an exploration of spatial inequalities and the challenges that oppressed groups face in constructing place and establishing a sense of belonging. The work is driven by a deep sense of displacement experienced after a 12-year-old civil war forced her and her family to migrate to the United States. Most of her work stems from a need to find and build community in a way that is both tender, accountable, and challenging through difficult conversations that make everybody involved actively question their position and privileges in society.
She received her Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 2015 and her Bachelor of Fine Arts from California State University, Fullerton, in 2012. Molina has been a recipient of the Diversity of Views and Experiences fellowship, The Christopher Cardozo Fellowship, (Two) Truth and Reconciliation grant from Artswave, The Idea Fund, and The Kala Art Institute fellowship. She has exhibited and performed both nationally and internationally at venues including the Contemporary Art Center, Cincinnati, The Kemper Museum, Southeast Museum of Photography, 621 Gallery, The Carnegie, Covington, KY, Vox Populi, FSU Museum of Fine Arts, EXPO Chicago, The Armory, The Delaplaine Art Center, The Beijing Film Academy and all over the piazzas of Florence, Italy.
Important Dates
May 7th, 2024 – Entries start being accepted via Submittable.
June 2nd, 2024 – Deadline for entries (11:59 PM).
June 14th, 2024 – Jurying notification sent to submitters via email.
July 5th, 2024 – Accepted works must arrive at the HCP by this date.
July 18th, 2024 – Opening reception, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
On View: July 18th to August 18th, 2024
Eligibility
Students who attended a course or a workshop at HCP from January 2023 onward are welcome to apply. Students of all levels of photographic knowledge or experience may apply.
Submission
Carefully edit a group of no more than 5 jpg. images that describe your current photographic work.
Each of your images should be resized using the following specifications:
- JPEG (.jpg) filetype
- 300 DPI
- 2000 pixels (px) on the LONGEST side
- Adobe RGB (1998)
You will also need to provide the following:
a. an artist bio
b. an artist statement (if applicable)
c. specific information for each piece:
• Title (for identification purposes)
• Year
• Size (height X width)
• Medium of finished work (archival inkjet print, Polaroid, chromogenic print, photo collage, etc.)