The Sesnon Underground is now accepting exhibition proposals. Please read guidelines below.
Sesnon Underground Mission Statement
The Sesnon Underground is an experimental educational space where UCSC students are given the opportunity to exhibit their own bodies of work. Affiliated with the Sesnon Art Gallery in Porter College, the Sesnon Underground serves as a student run space. Artists are entrusted with the responsibility of curating, installing and marketing their own shows with the assistance and facilitation of the Sesnon Gallery. The Sesnon Underground offers a hands-on educational space for the UCSC community and welcomes students of all disciplines to engage in the experience of the space.
If you are a student and are interested in having an exhibition please submit a proposal to us at sesnon@ucsc.edu. See a sample Underground exhibition proposal file attached at the bottom of this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I apply to have an exhibition in the Sesnon Underground?
A: A written proposal is required for all applicants which will be evaluated by the Underground Committee. Please email all applications as word documents to the Underground Committee at: sesnon@ucsc.edu
Q: Is there funding available for my exhibition?
A: Student creatives across campus are invited to apply for a Sesnon Underground microgrant of up to $150. These microgrant funds are made possible by our Giving Day donors who support the Sesnon Gallery to administer paid student internships, free artmaking workshops, and student-curated exhibitions in the Sesnon Underground. Additionally, we have compiled a resource list for campus funding sources for student activities.
Q: What should my proposal for my exhibition consist of?
A: Your proposal should consist of an artist statement (typically one cogent page) defining what you are hoping to accomplish within your exhibition, five examples of past and present work, your projected graduation year and, if applicable, a drawing of the proposed installation. See the attached sample proposal at the bottom of this page.
Web materials for your exhibition page:
1) Artist statement
2) Images 1 - 15 still images for your exhibition including a horizontal "cover image". The Sesnon Underground webpage can also host video files. Images can be sent in files via email or shared Google Drive. If you're emailing images, we recommend compressing them into a zip file.
Image specifications: cover image will have to be at least 542 pixels wide by 360 pixels tall. The other images can be any size/ratio.
Title the file names of your images with a number and your name. The images in your virtual exhibition page will appear in the order that you assign them.
Example: Artist Name-cover-image.jpg , Artist Name-image-1.jpg , Artist Name-image-2.jpg , Artist Name-image-3.jpg (and so forth)
3) Image Credit list
Image list must correspond to your image submissions 1 - 15 and include a title, medium, year, and (optional) description for each image.
For example:
Image 1 (Artist Name-1.jpg)
Title: "Swirling Blues"
Medium: Acrylic painting on canvas
Year: 2020
Description (Optional): This abstract painting represents the dizzying nature of this year and the blue color refers to sadness. At the center is a cohesive shape representing the finding of one's own center of inner calm while the random shapes around it represent the chaos of the outer world.
Q: How long will my show run?
A: The average length of a Sesnon Underground exhibition is two weeks. This includes the time necessary for installation/deinstallation of your show. If you want to hold an opening or closing reception it needs to be held on a Friday, as there are class conflicts on other weekdays due to the wall that the Underground shares with the classroom space next door.
Q: Will the Underground space be ready for me to exhibit my work once I am ready to install?
A: Yes. After each exhibition, student artists are expected to restore the space to its former state. Failure to completely and fully restore the Underground may result in the forfeiting of the retained security deposit. The Underground is maintained on a daily level by gallery attendants, who regularly sweep and mop the floors. The space is prepped and painted once per quarter by the Underground Committee members.
Q: How do I gain access of the Underground space once I am ready to install?
A: Upon being accepted to exhibit work in the Underground space, an Underground Committee member will retain a $50 security deposit, which will be exchanged for a key to the Underground space.
Q: Will the necessary tools for installation/deinstallation of my exhibition be provided for me?
A: Yes, the Sesnon Gallery can provide you with the basic tools such as drills, levels, mounting tools, spackling compound, etc. Please contact the Underground Committee for more details on available tools and supplies at: sesnon@ucsc.edu
Q: How will I know my art will be secure in the gallery?
A: The Sesnon Underground is open during the same hours as the main Sesnon Gallery. A gallery attendant will open and close the space but there will not be an attendant on duty in the space at all times. It is your responsibility to secure your own work and the Mary Porter Sesnon nor the Underground galleries can not be responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged work.
Q: Who is responsible for the press surrounding my show?
A: You are. We will be happy to post information about your exhibition on the Sesnon Gallery Facebook, but the bulk of the press surrounding your show will be your responsibility. The Sesnon Underground staff can direct you to local printers and give you advice as to how to best promote your show if you would like.
Q: Who is responsible for organizing and running the opening reception?
A: You are. A gallery attendant will not be provided for your reception so it is your responsibility to clean up and lock the space afterwards.
See previous exhibitions on the Sesnon Underground Exhibitions & Archive page
