The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is pleased to announce its third juried exhibition – “California National Parks: Stories of Water” – a showcase of fine art inspired by the nine National Parks located within the state of California. This show will take place September 23, 2023 – February 19, 2024 at the Wildling Museum, 1511-B Mission Drive, Solvang, CA 93463 in the first-floor gallery. Cash prizes for first, second, and third place will be awarded at the opening reception to be held Sunday, September 24, 2023 from 3 – 5 p.m. The exhibition will be juried by Nathan Vonk, owner of Sullivan Goss – An American Gallery in Santa Barbara, California.

Eligibility: Open to all artists in any wall-hung media, 18 years or older.

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Image Submission: This is a juried exhibit and artworks will be for sale. Artists may submit digital images of their works online at www.callforentry.org for the jury selection process. The fee for entry is $35 for the first image and $20 for each additional image, limit 3 entries per artist. 

Exhibition Description: “California National Parks: Stories of Water” will only feature artworks made within or of the nine National Parks including: Channel Islands, Death Valley, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, Joshua Tree, Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles, Redwoods and Yosemite. National Monuments and seashores are NOT included. DO NOT submit works that are not from any park listed above as they will not be accepted.

The goal of this exhibit is to both bring awareness to the wealth of national parks to be found in California as well as the various forms of water that can be found in them, or evidence of a lack of water. Examples: lakes, waterfalls, dew, rain, fog are just some of the ways water is found in all the parks. Impacts of a lack of water are also desired as persistent drought is a major issue in California, and will be an important talking point in this exhibition. This competition provides an opportunity for artists to display their work in a professional museum setting, and for the public to view and purchase the works being produced by these fine artists. This is the third such exhibition and competition organized by the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature.

The exhibit will be held at the Wildling Museum, 1511-B Mission Drive, Solvang, CA 93463 from September 23, 2023 to February 19, 2024. Artists and the public are invited to attend an exhibit opening reception to be held Sunday, September 24, 2023 from 3 to 5 p.m. Transportation to the reception is not included.

Application Requirements

Jurying Considerations: Beyond the artwork requirements listed below, the juror will be looking at the quality of composition, technical quality, appropriate presentation, creativity, diversity in mediums and adherence to the theme. Jurying is blind, so the artist names will not be associated with the artworks presented. No more than two entries from any one artist will be accepted, to ensure a diverse show.

Artwork Requirements:

• Work must be your own original artwork/photograph, not created under an instructor’s supervision or copied from any other artwork by any other artist.
• Only wall-hung pieces are accepted.
• Artist agrees to permit the Wildling to reproduce the accepted artwork for Wildling publicity and documentation purposes.
• For tips on how to best photograph and submit images, click on the “Help” link at www.callforentry.org.
• Delivered work must match the image juried. No substitutions of accepted works will be allowed.
• Artwork must be in suitable condition for hanging. Artworks that arrive damaged or dirty or with scratched glass or acrylic or unsuitable hanging hardware will be eliminated from the show and the Wildling is in no way responsible for correcting these deficiencies.
• All accepted work must remain in the gallery for the duration of the exhibit.
• Prices quoted on the entry form may not be changed after acceptance.
• SIZE RESTRICTIONS: Work must not exceed 48 inches maximum, including frame, in any dimension.
• Each artwork will be delivered to the show ready to hang, including hanging wire and or D-rings. Be sure that the highest part of the hanging wire is at least 1-1/2 inches from the top of the frame so that the hanging hardware will be hidden from view behind the frame. Wiring must be in good condition and substantial enough for the weight of the artwork. No saw-tooth hangers.
• Simple framing in black, natural wood, or matte metals is strongly suggested to ensure a cohesive exhibition style. No gold frames.
• Submitted work should be correctly oriented (vertical or horizontal).

All artworks shall be delivered with an attached label specifying:

• Artist Name
• Artwork Title
• Medium (i.e. Oil on canvas, Pastel, Digital photographic print, etc.)
• Artwork Size – both unframed and framed
• Sale price – please note that there is a commission split of 60% to artist, 40% to Wildling
• California National Park where scene is located

In addition, print the artist name on the back of the artwork so that we can identify the artwork in the event the label is inadvertently detached.

Prizes and Awards:

Three cash awards will be announced at the exhibition opening:

• First prize of $2,500
• Second prize of $1,000
• Third prize of $500

All exhibited works will be included in an online gallery.

Revenue from Sales: Revenue from sales will be distributed as follows – 60% to the artist, 40% to the Wildling. Do not submit works that are not for sale. Once the pricing is declared for any artwork you may not change that pricing.

IMPORTANT DATES

Deadline Extended:

Monday, July 17, 2023 – final day to submit digital images and pay jurying fee www.callforentry.org

Thursday, August 3, 2023 – artists notified of acceptance or rejection

Monday, August 28 – Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Deliver your juror-accepted and ready-to-hang artwork(s) to the Wildling Museum, 1511-B Mission Drive, Solvang, CA 93463. Advance confirmation required. See "Liability" section below for shipping works. 

Sunday, September 24, 2023 from 3 - 5 p.m. – Show opening reception at the Wildling Museum, 1511-B Mission Drive, Solvang, CA 93463. Show continues through close of day February, 19, 2024.

Tuesday, February 20 – Sunday, February, 25, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Pick up your artworks from the Wildling. Advance confirmation required.

Liability:

Artwork will be handled with the utmost care, and the Wildling will make every reasonable effort to keep artwork safe. Artists are responsible for insuring their own pieces during transit. The Wildling and its representatives will not be responsible for loss, theft or damage of artworks while in transit. The Wildling will insure the artworks for the sales price while the pieces are on the Wildling premises. Artists are responsible for whole cost of shipping to and from the Wildling. Works mailed to the Wildling must arrive by Friday, September 1, 2023 with a prepaid return label enclosed. The Wildling is not responsible for works left over 30 days from close of exhibition at which they will be considered abandoned and surrendered to the Wildling who then has the right to dispose, remove, sell or accession said artworks. Submission of online entry form and fee, along with a signed waiver form for accepted works at the take-in, shall constitute agreement with ALL conditions set forth in this prospectus.

License:

By entering the juried exhibition, all entrants grant an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide non-exclusive license to the Wildling, to reproduce, distribute, display and create derivative works of the entries (along with a name credit) in connection with the juried exhibition and promotion of the juried exhibition, in any media now or hereafter known.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all artists in any wall-hung media, 18 years or older.