Call Detail
Reimagining History
Visit Organization Website
Contact Email: jean@artsbenicia.org

Entry Deadline: 3/10/23
Application Closed

Entry Fee (Non-Member Entry Fee ): $45.00
Entry Fee (Member Entry Fee ): $35.00
Media Fee(Add'l Media Fee): $5.00
Work Sample Requirements
Images | Minimum:Min. 3, Maximum:Max. 6
Audio | Minimum:Min. 0, Maximum:Max. 6
Video | Minimum:Min. 0, Maximum:Max. 6
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 3, Maximum:Max. 6
Call Type: Exhibitions
Eligibility: International
State: California
Event Dates: 5/20/23 - 6/25/23
Jury Dates: 3/11/23 - 3/21/23

Reimagining History
Exhibition Dates: May 20 – June 25, 2023
Sandow Birk, Juror

Arts Benicia, a non-profit art center in Benicia, CA, invites artists to submit artwork for Reimagining History. The idea of reimagining history is not new in the world of art and literature. The works of artists such as Robert Colescott, Cindy Sherman, and Enrique Chagoya examine issues of race, gender, ethnicity, and political identity through their visual retelling of iconic images and historical figures. In literature, examples span from Herodotus' The Histories in 440 BC to Tolstoy's War and Peace to the contemporary Seth Grahame-Smith’s Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. Arts Benicia is inviting artists to submit artworks that reimagine and reconsider histories, be it of a personal nature or global scope.

All media accepted, 2D and 3D, audio and video files. 2D work may not exceed 48” in width or 72” in height, including the frame. 3D work may not exceed a 48” x 48” footprint. 

Deadline for Entries:  March 10, 2023 (10:59 Pacific Time)
Jurying of artwork: March 11 – 21
Artists Notified: March 24 - 27
Shipped Artwork Received: May 2-5 (no later than May 5)
Hand Delivered Work Received: May 4 - 5, 1 – 4 pm
Preview for Members & Exhibiting Artists: Thursday, May 18, 6 – 7 pm
Public Reception: Saturday, May 20, 4 – 6 pm
In-Person Artwork Pick-Up:  June 26 & 27, 1 – 4 pm
Shipped Artwork Return: June 26-27

JUROR

Los Angeles artist Sandow Birk is a graduate of the Otis/Parson's Art Institute. His work has dealt with contemporary life in its entirety. Past themes have included inner city violence, graffiti, various political issues, war, prisons, surfing, and skateboarding while recent projects have dealt with police violence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Holy Qur’an. He is the recipient of many awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Fulbright scholarship to Brazil. Sandow is represented by the Catharine Clark Gallery in San Francisco, Track 16 Gallery in Los Angeles, and Koplin del Rio Gallery in Seattle.

GALLERY LOCATION
1 Commandant's Lane, Benicia, CA 94510

GALLERY HOURS
Thursday - Sunday, 1:00 to 5:00 pm, during exhibitions. The gallery is closed between exhibitions.

CONTACTING ARTS BENICIA
Staff often works remotely. The best way to reach staff is via email or leave a phone message: Jean@artsbenicia.org; 707-747-0131.

ABOUT ARTS BENICIA
Arts Benicia is a community-based non-profit organization offering diverse and relevant exhibitions in its gallery and at other venues in Benicia, and providing engaging public programs, creative workshops for adults, and inspiring youth arts educational programming. Located in the Commanding Officer’s Quarters, an 1860 mansion in the historic Benicia Arsenal, Arts Benicia has been a vital part of the Bay Area regional art scene for over 35 years, supporting artistic development and enriching the larger community.

POLICIES
Arts Benicia has a history of selling artworks at every exhibition. Upon sale, a check and purchaser information will be mailed to the artist within 30 days after exhibition closure, to the address provided in the Exhibition and Consignment Agreement. Artists receive 60% on the sale of their work. Arts Benicia, a non-profit organization, receives 40%. Arts Benicia also bears all the sales transaction fees and collects and reports sales tax on artwork sales.

Entry fees are not refundable. Only use the member entry price if you are a current member, otherwise your entry will not be juried.

Exceptions for late delivery of artwork cannot be made.

RELEASES AND WARRANTIES
Artists agree to release Arts Benicia for damages in shipping or delivery. Artworks are insured while they are at the gallery. Our gallery includes a security alarm system and a security camera system.

Application Requirements

MEDIA
All media accepted, 2D and 3D, audio and video files. Any digital files must be in a common format and if the work is accepted the artist must provide the audio or video player.

SIZE LIMITATIONS. 2D work may not exceed 48” in width or 72” in height, including the frame. 3D work may not exceed a 48” x 48” footprint. There is a 35-pound weight limit for any hanging work. Floor weight for 3D work must not exceed 300 lbs. Please contact the staff with any special requirements for installation.

ENTRY PROCESS
Artists may submit one application. One application allows you to submit up to 6 artworks with appropriate payment of entry fees.

IMAGES TO SUBMIT
Up to 6 entries (images or files) may be uploaded...and a maximum of 6 artworks may be submitted. For optimal juror viewing, submit the highest quality images. For each image file, 1 MB is the minimum size; maximum file size for each still image is 5 MB. If your photo software specifies quality levels instead of pixels (i.e., you are submitting an image directly from a cell phone), choose "actual size" or “very high quality.”

Do not include your name in any of your file titles. Use the artwork title to name the files.

For questions on using café to apply for this call and prepare your images, etc. visit https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/ 

PLEASE NOTE: This call on CAFE is set up to require a minimum of THREE ENTRIES (files or images). If you wish to enter only one work, please include the same work three times to meet the minimum (you may submit detail images of the same work if you like). If you wish to enter two works, please submit two images or files of one of the works for a total of three, to meet the minimum. UNLESS YOU ENTER THE MINIMUM REQUIRED THREE IMAGES OR FILES, CAFE WILL NOT ACCEPT YOUR ENTRY. THIS IS BECAUSE CAFE IS NOT SET UP TO ACCEPT A MINIMUM OF ONE ENTRY WHILE ALSO PERMITTING UP TO THREE ENTRIES TO BE ENTERED FOR THE MINIMUM ENTRY FEE OF $35. If you have questions about this, please contact me at jean@artsbenicia.org

CONCEPT STATEMENT, OPTIONAL
A brief explanation describing your concept to the juror may be submitted during the application process. This statement will be seen by the juror. Omit your name from this statement. This is not your artist statement which can be submitted upon invitation to the exhibition.

FEES AND PAYMENT
Entry fee is $45 (or $35 for current Arts Benicia members; selected at checkout) for up to 3 artworks; an additional $5 fee is required for any additional entries, up to a maximum of 6. For example, to submit 5 entries, a non-member artist will pay $45 for the first three entries, plus an additional $10 ($5 each for two additional), for a total of $55. Fee may be paid through CaFE using a credit card or Paypal.

Entry fees are not refundable for any reason, in whole or in part. Arts Benicia members receive a discount on the entry fee, by selecting member at checkout. To review other benefits of becoming an Arts Benicia member, including NARM benefits, or to join online before submitting your entry, visit artsbenicia.org.

NOTIFICATION OF JURY RESULTS
The deadline is March 10, 2023, at 10:59 PM, PDT. An email will be sent via CaFE to all submitting artists by March 27 with jury results. Additionally, the results will be available in CaFE artist accounts after March 27. Arts Benicia will produce and distribute promotional materials in digital formats and make them available to exhibiting artists at no cost. 

It is the responsibility of all submitting artists to check for emails, possibly in your SPAM or Promotions files, for notification. If you do not receive notification about either acceptance or non-acceptance of your submissions by March 27 contact Arts Benicia via email at info@artsbenicia.org.

CONTRACT
All artists with accepted artwork must provide a signed exhibition contract to participate.

DELIVERY AND SHIPPING DETAILS
Artists must be able to deliver or pick up your work, or have someone else do it for you, on the designated dates. Exceptions for late delivery cannot be made. Late pickups will be charged fees for storage and retrieval of the artwork. Walk-in delivery is May 4-5 only.  Except in rare situations, we cannot store packing materials of hand-delivered work; take packing materials with you and bring them back when you pick up your work at the end of the exhibition. Artists should use UPS or FedEx to ship work; do not use USPS for any packages. Do not request a signature on the shipping receipt; this will hinder timely delivery. All work must be received by May 5. Artists shipping work to Arts Benicia must purchase a return shipping label. This is most easily accomplished at the time you purchase your outgoing shipping. Enclose the pre-paid label inside your package or crate or email it to jean@artsbenicia.org. We cannot access individual shipping accounts.

PREPARATION
All artwork must be clean, fully dry, and in good repair. Arts Benicia reserves the right to decline any artwork that does not meet the preparation standards or is otherwise unsuitable for exhibition. Examine your artwork for cleanliness under good lighting.

Artworks must have secure identification on the back or bottom of the work, with the Artist’s name and the title. If artworks require special installation, the Artist must include written instructions. 

Wall works must be wired. Works cannot hang from sawtooth hangers. Stretched canvas must not have exposed staples. Giclées are not accepted. Due to nature of the hanging system in the Commanding Officer’s Quarters, there are weight limitations (see SIZE LIMITATIONS above) and a cleat system is not permitted.  If your artwork requires an exception regarding hanging mechanisms, please contact celeste@artsbenicia.org before submission to discuss the options. For 2-D work, Arts Benicia reserves the right to change the position of your hanging wire to accommodate the COQ hanging system.

ART SALES
Artwork must be available and for sale. Arts Benicia will retain 40% of art sales during this exhibition and mail a check to the Artist at the postal address the Artist provides above, in the amount equal to 60% of the sales price declared by the Artist in this contract or CaFE application (and either confirmed or amended on the Inventory Form, after selection to the exhibition), within 30 days of the exhibition closing date. The Artist agrees Arts Benicia is not responsible for any commission, division of sales, or financial obligation between the Artist and any other gallery, organization, or person. Arts Benicia handles all art sales, including sales tax.

ARTIST STATEMENT
Selected artists juried into the exhibition will be asked to submit their bio, artist statement, and resume, to be made available within the gallery. These materials are not required until after artist selection into the exhibition.

Eligibility Criteria

National and international artists invited to apply.