Freedom: The concepts of philosophers such as Plato, Kant, Sartre, and Feyerabend are difficult to compare. Indeed, Feyerabend even denied being to be a philosopher at all. That is – supposedly – the reason why the mail art call of the Kansas City Public Library uses a more practical approach:
Freedom to: Freedom from
The organizers further break down the topic using questions: Are you free to act as you wish? Or are you free from something that is acting upon you? How far have we come? How far do we still need to go? What are the freedoms that you treasure most? Is freedom really free?
Artists worldwide are requested to send a visual representation of what liberty means to them.
- format: A6 or 5“x7” (12,7 x 17,8cm) mounted in the center of a white 8″x10″ (20,3 x 25,4cm). Unfortunately, his provision ignores the DIN paper sizes that are widely used around the world.
- deadline: 10 October 2026
- exhibition: 14 October 2026 – 17 January 2027
- address: Kansas City Public Library
Attn: FREEDOM
14 W. 10th St.,
Kansas City, MO
64105, USA
Additional rules
- All media will be accepted, including but not limited to collage, drawing, painting, photography, and fiber art. Representational, narrative, non-narrative, and abstract artworks will be accepted. All ages and skill levels will be accepted.
- Text-based or typographic artwork is accepted and encouraged, but entries must be intended as visual art.
- Please include a folded self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like your work to be returned.
- The Library will not exclude materials because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
- The Library will not prohibit or remove materials because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
- The Library will not display works that include nudity, sexually explicit content, graphic violence, or profanity.
- The Library rejects works that are racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, religiously exclusive, or promote violence.
- The Exhibitions Coordinator reserves the right to omit entries that do not adhere to the guidelines above. Otherwise, all mailed entries will be guaranteed inclusion in the exhibition.
- By mailing in your entry, you accept that your artwork may be photographed by the public, and that your entry may be used in various promotional media. You agree that your work will remain on view for the entire exhibition period.
The Photos
The photos document the Athens Polytechnic uprising of students in November 1973 against the Greek military junta of 1967–1974. The image in the middle shows a banner with the word ελευθερία (freedom).
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