McMasterpieces:
Call For Entries Themed All Media Show to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Richmond VA: Entries due 10/31/24!
When I think of McDonald's restaurants, I often think of iconic elements like the Golden Arches logo, the Big Mac, fries, and the PlayPlaces. It’s also known for its fast service and global presence, making it one of the most recognizable fast-food chains in the world. The smell of fries, the sound of the drive-thru, and the variety of menu items that cater to different tastes are also key aspects that come to mind. What about you? What do you think of when you think of McDonald's? For our McMasterpieces exhibit, we’re inviting artists to share their unique perspectives and interpretations of what McDonald's means to them. We can't wait to see what you create!
Submission Deadline: Extended! 10/31
Submission Fee: $15 each up to 3 entries
Commission: 70 % to artists, 30% to CAC with 10% of sales will go to The Ronald McDonald House Charities
Artists Notified by: October 23, 2024, via Email
Artwork Drop Off: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 – Friday, Nov. 8, 2024 by Noon
Exhibition Opening: Friday, November 15, 2024, from 5-8pm
Exhibition End Date: Sunday, January 5, 2025
Artwork Available for Artists to Pick Up: Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Richmond (RMHC Richmond) is an independent, non-profit chapter of Ronald McDonald House Charities. We provide a “home-away-from-home” for families with children receiving care at local area hospitals throughout the Richmond region. When a child is sick, the entire family needs comfort and support. We believe no family should have to deal with their child’s medical crisis alone.
RMHC Richmond eases the hardship that families caring for sick children often face, through programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. Through our core programs Ronald McDonald House® and Ronald McDonald Family Room®, RMHC Richmond keeps families with sick children together and close to the medical care their child needs. At leading local hospitals, RMHC Richmond provides unique family-centered care and services through the Ronald McDonald House Sibling Center, Hospitality Cart and Lunches with Love programs. These programs ensure that every family whose child needs access to specialty care in RVA has world-class temporary housing and support services and the opportunity to be actively involved in their child’s care.
And God Said, Let There Be Fries (Italian: E Dio disse, Sia fatta la Patatina) is a striking fresco by John Price, a contemporary artist, drawing inspiration from Michelangelo’s renowned The Creation of Adam. Playful but profound, this piece reimagines Michelangelo’s iconic work. In this latest addition to the McMasterpieces collection, the divine hand doesn’t offer the spark of life—but the perfect, golden McDonald’s fry. 🙌
The painting mirrors the iconic scene from the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling, where God imparts life to Adam, but here, the divine spark is reimagined. Instead of the moment of human creation, we witness the creation of something equally revered in the modern world—McDonald’s fries. The hand of God extends outward, offering a perfectly crisp, golden fry, while the hand of man, mirroring God’s, reaches out, desperate to grasp the divine creation. The gap between their fingers remains, a symbolic nod to the unattainable perfection that McDonald’s fries represent—ever so close yet always leaving us yearning for more.
The golden arches are implied in the divine light, casting a sacred glow over the entire scene, reminding us of the eternal pursuit of satisfaction. This work evokes a sense of reverence for everyday indulgence, celebrating McDonald’s fries as a near-spiritual experience that transcends the mundane and approaches the divine. It captures the moment where the sacred meets the simple pleasures of life, reminding us that sometimes, a fry can feel almost divine.
Did you know that 1 in every 8 Americans has worked at McDonald’s? The artist, John Price, is part of this group. His personal connection to the Golden Arches makes his contribution to McMasterpieces even more compelling.
Growing up in Augusta, Georgia, John’s first job at McDonald’s wasn’t just a paycheck—it was a lesson in life. Facing poverty, with summers without electricity and winters without heat, McDonald’s provided more than just income. When he wasn’t sneaking a Chicken McNugget or two, John was in awe of the order and efficiency he witnessed as a fry cook. “I learned a lot more about structure at McDonald’s than I did at school,” he says. That sense of structure stayed with him, shaping his wide-ranging career—including service in the Army, selling cars, and co-owning a “paint and sip” business.
Today, John has put that discipline into his true passion—art. From portraits to murals to live wedding painting, John’s work captures moments of creativity and meaning. His journey from McDonald’s crew member to professional artist makes his involvement in this project all the more powerful. We think he deserves all the McNuggets he wants for the hard work he’s put into this piece for RMHC Richmond!
We’re so grateful to John and his heart of gold(en arches) for creating this piece and for helping us spread the word that starting today, October 1st, McMasterpieces is now accepting submissions.
🎨🍟 Calling All Artists: Submissions are NOW OPEN for McMasterpieces 🖼️
We are thrilled to announce that submissions are NOW OPEN for the McMasterpieces exhibit, benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Richmond! You have until 10/19 to enter your artwork on artcall.org. Whether you’re a painter, sculptor, photographer, or digital artist, all mediums are welcome, and we are on a mission to gather as many entries as possible.
Why submit?
Your artwork will directly support RMHC Richmond, whose mission is to keep families with sick children together, providing them with a ‘home away from home’ while their children receive treatment. RMHC Richmond offers comfort, care, and critical support for families in need, making a lasting impact on our community.
Don’t wait! Your art has the power to make a meaningful difference, and together we can create something truly extraordinary for an amazing cause. We’re excited to see the creativity and passion you’ll bring to this special project!
McMasterpieces at Crossroads Art Center
Deadline: 10/19
Exhibit Opening: 11/15 – Come see and shop!
Submit now, make your mark, and support RMHC Richmond.
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