The morass, the fen, the mire, the bog. From birth to rot, swamps and marshes around the world are fertile grounds for the ever-turning cycle of life. Life found in swamps provide critical cleaning and filtering functions for our waters, and act as a sponge for rainwater to prevent flooding. Swamps are also crucial nursery habitat for fish, amphibians, birds, pollinators, and plant life.

On the other hand, our modern fast moving society uses terms for wetlands to mean stagnation (bogged down), overwhelm (swamped), and being trapped (mired). Swamps are treated as blank spaces to be drained, developed, and tamed into so called “useful” and “workable” land. Swamps have been positioned as the antithesis to productivity.

We welcome submissions that explore the meanings of SWAMPED in all media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, fabrication, printmaking, photography, and horticulture. All artists and experience levels are welcome.