Barn Door Gallery
NCFA’s dedicated art gallery at 33 Hawley
June 2025
There’s nothing wrong with love
June 6 - June 27
Opening Reception on Arts Night Out
Sunny and Jae are both trans/non-binary artists who explore their queer identities through abstraction. As friends and collaborators who use complementary materials to create imagined worlds, they want to discover how their work can be in conversation with each other. Love, in this context, is a celebration of desire and connection, and our muster point in a world on fire.
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Sunny Allis (they/them) is a trans/non-binary multimedia artist. Their artistic works focus on cultivating community and connection through different forms of play and storytelling. Sunny studied directing and design for theater at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and received their MFA from California Institute of the Arts in Integrated Media.
Sunny has developed an alphabet of objects and symbols that translate into a variety of media. They function as building blocks, creating foundations for new languages and worlds. Through queering spaces and objects, they seek to unlock ways that bodies relate to their environments in unexpected ways. Sunny explores how shifts in scale and perception affect our orientation to the world around us, expanding our awareness of the different ways we can move and feel.
Sunny’s paintings, sculptures, immersive environments and animations have been featured in galleries both in solo and group exhibitions. They have created interactive public art installations that take people through imaginary worlds and immersive environments at Occidental College, the City of Santa Monica, and Kidspace Children’s Museum, among other organizations.
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Jae Southerland (they/them) is a working class queer visual artist from North Carolina currently living and working in Montague, Massachusetts. Their creative practice has included painting, zine making, sculpture, textiles/fiber art, immersive installation, photography, video, and graphic design. They recently began working with tulle as their primary medium to create small adornments, sculptural pieces, and site-specific installations.
In 2022, Southerland created their first interactive public work, where we dream–an outdoor installation made with hand-dyed tulle and reclaimed wood, constructed on the beach at Laurel Lake in Erving, Massachusetts. The piece was dedicated to the transgender community and part of the Survivor Art Collective’s annual Queer Trans Beach Day. In May 2023, they held their first solo showing of work, tender fortress, as part of an ARC 2023 residency at A.P.E. Ltd Gallery in Northampton, Massachusetts. Southerland returned to A.P.E. in 2025 to create a large-scale experiential installation for Registry of Grief and Delight, an exhibition created in collaboration with the gallery’s co-directors.
June Split Level Gallery 2025
Queernology & Naturepunk
June 5 - June 27
Opening Reception on Arts Night Out
Queernology & Naturepunk explores queer existence across time, examining its natural roots, current challenges, and future visions. Through ink, etching, print, textile, and comics, this exhibition brings together two distinct yet resonant practices. Together, these works map a queer cosmology that spans myth and machine, ritual and data, deep time and urgent presence. Queernology & Naturepunk invites you to wander through past selves and future worlds, to reimagine belonging not as a fixed point, but as a living, evolving ecosystem.
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Emet Aron (he/they) presents etchings, sacred printed bandanas, tarot paintings, and pages from a graphic novel memoir that draw on myth, memory, and natural cycles. These pieces illuminate queer healing and self-realization. Rooted in dialogue with nature and spirit, their work invites viewers into deep listening—with intuition, with the animal body, with the sacred wild.
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JT Phillips (they/them) offers a contrasting lens: Bold Afrofuturist drawings of unfathomably ancient, alien nonbinary Gods observing humanity from the edges of space and time. An alternate yet possible timeline exists where these creatures bestow the gift of knowledge to humans. These dispassionate Dieties, neither benevolent nor cruel, witness our entwined relationships with nature and technology. Their presence asks us to consider: what future do we create through our actions, and who—if anyone—will be there to watch it unfold?
July 2025
Resistance is a Collective
July 2 - July 25
Opening Reception on Arts Night Out
"Resistance is a Collective" emerges as a profound tribute to the resilience and strength of Black women, intertwining their narratives with the rich tapestry of movements like Black Lives Matter and the LGBTQI+ community. Rooted in the artist’s earlier work, "Tears, Tragedy, Triumph," this new exhibit amplifies the voices of those who have faced unimaginable loss and violence, ultimately shedding light on the broader fight for justice.
Through striking imagery and powerful storytelling, the artist encapsulates the essence of resistance, aiming to elevate the often-overlooked stories of Black women. Each piece serves as a reminder of the collective power that lies within these narratives, emphasizing that their struggles, activism, and unwavering spirit are vital components of a larger movement towards freedom and triumph in society. This exhibit invites viewers not only to witness but also to engage with these profound stories, fostering a deeper appreciation for the ongoing journey towards justice and equity.
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Robin (she/they) identifies as an artist and seeker, driven by her intuition and intellect to uncover the stories behind her work. Utilizing bold colors and collage techniques, along with her photography, Robin aims to create pieces that transcend conventional boundaries. She believes that creative expression should explore both the present and the possibilities of what could be.
Her work often focuses on and celebrates women of color, as exemplified in her series "Women of Color Are Political." After she began creating pieces about women of color, Robin felt compelled to amplify the voices of other marginalized groups that resonate with her own experiences through her art.
Currently, Robin resides in Northampton, Massachusetts, with her wife Miriam, their children Ell and Lily, and their dog Leo. Living in Western Massachusetts has provided her with the ideal environment to cultivate her artistry and grow as a creator. Robin eagerly looks forward to sharing her work with others.
Main Street Banner Project 2025
Main Street Banner Project 2025
Date tbd
The results are in! The inaugural Main Street Banner Project call has concluded, and finalists have been selected by a jury dedicated to showcasing a diverse array of works across various mediums and experiences. Fifty images were chosen for display on 25 vibrant banners along Main Street in Northampton this summer. This project serves as a fundraiser for the Barn Door Gallery at 33 Hawley, helping us fulfill our mission of supporting the local creative community.
A. L. R. Keaton
Allie Litera
Andrea Holland
Ann Cloutier
Arch MacInnes
Bridie Wolejko
Carolina Castro
Chang Yu
Charles Miller
Cheri Cross
Christine Mirabal
Cindy lutz kornet
David Andrews
Dean McKeever
Debra Courage
Debra Hoyle
Gail Fitzpatrick
Haley Jenner
Iris Dela
Jankaleishka Burgos Cruz
Jay Smith
Jennifer Ablard
Jennifer Lotstein
Jesse Merrick
Jill M Strait
Jodi Hoover
Julia McGlew
Kim Condon
Kit Pedraza
Laura Curran
Lauryn Winiarski
Linda Post
Mariana Cicerchia
Marlene Rye
Mary Witt
Meadow Meredith
Melissa Stratton Pandina
Natalie Goodale
Nona Hatay
Paige Quinn-Vasic
Pamela Marino
Ray Brod
Rebecca Herskovitz
Richard Swiatlowski
Robert Markey
Rosetta Marantz Cohen
Ruth LaGue
S.T. Gately
Savannah Grant
Will Johnston-Rutledge
The Main Street Banner Project is made possible through the generous support and vision of Craig Stevens of LandScapes Inc., a dedicated design/build landscape company working in Western Mass for the past 25 years. Craig has been a steadfast supporter of NCFA and our community, working with local residents and recovery clients to build sustainable landscaping projects. His contributions also include the collaboration with colleagues who donated the large River Birch downtown pots, support for Habitat for Humanity and Hairston Recovery House, and organizing community events throughout Northampton, including a free movie night at the Academy.
Financial support for the Main Street Banner Project is being provided by LandScapes and Paradise Copies, which provides full-service printing and design solutions for our community.
The Barn Door Gallery Mission and Values
The art gallery that the Northampton Center for the Arts (NCFA) stewards at 33 Hawley is a space which supports NCFA’s mission to foster community connections through the arts. The Barn Door Gallery provides dedicated space to cultivate constantly evolving and transformative conversations between and among artists and viewers. In managing this community resource, NCFA uses the following intentions as a guide:
To create an art space that is accessible and inclusive, with transparent criteria, that welcomes a wide variety of artists and art mediums
To steward the art gallery in such a way that it is available to as many artists and community members as possible
To provide space to learn more about how people with varying identities express themselves through art
To maintain a rotating curatorial committee of NCFA staff and board and community members that makes recommendations on curatorial decisions
To make financially sound decisions that will enable us to continue to provide opportunities for our community to experience the arts for years to come
Application Process for Exhibits
Next CALL FOR PROPOSALS: May 2025 - NOW OPEN!
NCFA will put out a call for exhibit proposals each May.
A new curatorial committee will meet each July to make decisions about the following year’s exhibits. More here!
Committee members will be asked to review images independently before coming together.
Applicants will be notified by early August.
Exhibit proposals may include:
individual shows
guest curation or shared exhibits
submissions for the group show for emerging artists
all types of visual art, including 2D and 3D work
Please note that all artwork submitted must be available for sale (exceptions may apply) and NCFA retains a 20% commission on all artwork sold. NCFA will host an opening reception in coordination with Arts Night Out (the second Friday of the month) and ask that the selected artists participate in a facilitated artist talk.
The Barn Door Gallery is approximately 20’ x 26’ and has about 70-80 linear feet of wall space (depending on the kind of art being displayed). It has five pedestals, a movable wall, and tables may also be available for 3D work.
Submission Form for Solo Exhibits
Submission Form for Guest Curated and Small Group Exhibits
Submission Form for Emerging Artist Showcase
2025 SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY MAY 31ST AT MIDNIGHT! (Early submissions are highly recommended to ease stress and ensure that materials are successfully submitted on time and according to the guidelines.)
NCFA’s Commitment to Representation
As the leaders of a small, local arts organization, we know the power of the arts to help us process, contextualize, and speak out. In good times and bad, we know the beauty of witnessing works of art coming into being. We also know the challenges of supporting the arts in the context of infrastructure impacted by racism, classism, gentrification, unnamed power dynamics, colonialism, elitism, and gatekeeping that is too often performed in the name of curation. At the Center, we believe that arts administration and curation offer an opportunity for care, inclusion, and challenging the status quo. As such, we are committed to an ongoing practice of dismantling patterns of white supremacy culture in ourselves and our organization. (From NCFA’s Antiracism and the Arts page)
Our goals for representation in the Barn Door Art Gallery over the first three years:
NCFA is committed to supporting artists who hold historically marginalized identities. Half of exhibiting artists will identify as BIPoC. In addition, half of all exhibitors will identify as LGBTQIA+ artists. (These identities may intersect.) Proposals for identity themed exhibits are encouraged.
NCFA is committed to supporting emerging artists. One exhibit per year will be a group show dedicated to emerging artists, with some prioritization for those who have never exhibited work in a gallery before.
NCFA is committed to supporting local artists. As such, the curatorial committee will prioritize artists both within a 30 mile radius of the Center, and will consider artists from farther away (up to 60 miles) as well as those with ties to the area.
NCFA is committed to supporting and welcoming low income and new/emerging artists, and to taking steps to mitigate any tendency for artists to feel intimidated. We offer resources such as a commitment to no artist application fees, providing refreshments for artists’ receptions, and marketing support (website, social media, email, newsblast). We are working towards securing discounts for printing and framing at specific local businesses, providing basic hardware for hanging as well as resources for artists regarding the hanging and presenting of work. The parameters for portfolio submissions and formatting will be as flexible as is feasible.
NCFA is committed to listening to and engaging with community members, and will continue to prioritize multiple mechanisms for feedback.
The Curatorial Committee
Any community member may apply to be on a curatorial committee.
The application form is open and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Applicants will be contacted in the spring of each year to join that year’s committee.
Applicants will remain on the list unless they ask to be removed.
All eligible applicants will eventually be invited to serve on the committee.
NCFA will strive for each committee to have the same representation as our exhibiting artists: half BIPOC, half LGBTQIA+, and a mix of emerging and experienced artists. We understand these identities may intersect.
Each curatorial committee has the option to curate a group show for the January exhibit, either with their own art or an artist they would like to amplify.
In addition, the gallery curatorial committee will be guided by a three-year vision which will ensure that the mission and values established initially are consistently incorporated into the operation of the space.
Past Barn Door Gallery Exhibits
Barn Door Gallery
Past Split Level Gallery Exhibits
Barn Door Gallery
