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The 34 Gallery aims to channel the power of art to explore monthly mental health themes through art therapy. Your participation is a form of mental health advocacy that also brings global attention to these conditions.

• This month, we are particularly interested in works by artists utilizing this art therapy open call to address Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Sleep Paralysis, Insomnia, & Substance Abuse Recovery.

Themes: Our October Open Call, “Sway," has been created by our 34 Gallery Medical Advisor Dr. Roba M. M. Abd ElAziz to explore mood swings and emotional regulation. This theme explores the fluidity and unpredictability of human emotion, particularly as experienced through mental health conditions. Just as a sway moves gently yet unpredictably, our moods, thoughts, and behaviors can fluctuate between extremes—moments of calm and moments of turbulence.

• By connecting with the lived experience of mood disorders, anxiety, sleep disturbances, or substance abuse recovery, we can better understand the invisible rhythms and internal struggles that shape our daily life.

Artists in this call are invited to reflect these oscillations, capturing both vulnerability and resilience, and showing how movement—whether emotional, mental, or physical—defines our humanity. Explore personal or observed experiences with mental health, using a chosen medium to translate feelings, cycles, and moments that are often difficult to articulate.

Works can depict the tension between stability and fluctuation, the push and pull of emotional extremes, or the subtle, almost imperceptible movements of thought and feeling. The goal is to create pieces that resonate emotionally, evoke empathy, and illuminate the nuances of psychological experiences in a way that is both authentic and compelling. Show us what it means to sway.

Remember: Artists create Golden Ages. Join us in starting one! Let's remind humanity to embrace the light of who we are. Your artistic advocacy with us can and will make a difference. As a Mental Health Art Gallery, we are asking Creatives to mobilize to help save lives at this time. Someone seeing your work can be inspired to keep going with hope and resilience despite their mental health struggles. 

Requirements: Submit up to 3 artworks or poems below or to submissions@34gallery.org  by September 26th. Include the following questions in your cover letter: 

• Your artist name, artwork titles, and website/social media links.  
• 1 - 2 paragraphs describing the creative process regarding your work & how it fits with the Open Call Theme. 
• 1 - 2 paragraphs on your experience of mood swings and/or your routine to maintain emotional regulation. 

Open Medium. Fine Art, Poetry, Audiovisual, Short Film & A.I. Artwork Accepted. 

Selected artists will be notified by October 10th. 

• Be advised that this open call also includes a global youth & adult audience.
• Works that are sexually graphic and/or advocate violence (self or others), discrimination, or hatred (societal/gender/religious/cultural) of any kind will be disqualified.
• Technique for this call is open but not limited to: Open Medium. Poetry, Audiovisual & A.I. Artwork Accepted. 
• File Type: .MP4, .JPG, .PNG --File Size: Up to 100 MB for art & audiovisual submissions; Word, Google Docs, .PDF for poetry.