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Weather or Not is an exhibition of  Plein Air painting  and tribute to the late Kathy Francis, who was a well-loved painter in the Port Townsend community and co-founder of a loosely knit group of fellow painters who called themselves “Weather or Not.”  No rules, no meetings, no dues… just brushes, paint, and canvas…and artist comrades who helped each other with observations and insights.  Kathy was a leader of this group until her health would no longer permit it. Her beautiful spirit remains with her fellow painters as we interpret the scenery of the Pacific Northwest through various artistic media. The exhibition will be juried by artist Catherine Gill, a renowned Northwest painter and educator. Much of her own work is done “plein air.”

Plein-air painting, in its strictest sense, is the practice of painting landscape pictures out-of-doors; more loosely, the achievement of an intense impression of the open air (French: plein air). (Wikipedia) It is a direct expression of what a painter sees before her or his eyes, subject to the whims of nature, which from time to time includes adverse conditions like bugs, heat, humidity, and some occasional discomfort. However, the refreshing beauty of plein air painting lies in its deployment of one’s artistic tools while in direct contact with the natural world. Thus, rather than offering the gradual articulations of studio painting, the work generously provides a sense of freshness and immediacy.

[ NOTE: This is a regional exhibit. All participants welcome from the Pacific Northwest region (WA/OR/AK/ID/MT/WY and BC). Artists must include return postage for any accepted work that does not sell. ]

Awards:
$500 One Juror’s Choice Award
$300 Three Merit Awards
$100 One post-exhibit People’s Choice Award

A maximum of five (5) entries may be submitted per artist. All submissions should consist of work completed within the last three years.  In keeping with the spirit of plein air painting, the work should be completed at least 75% outdoors.  Submitted digital images should represent the quality and nature of the work.  Do not substitute other works for the particular accepted pieces.  Artists must submit an image showing the artwork in the entirety. Only one image per artwork may be submitted. We welcome a broad range of sizes, so please indicate the dimensions of each of the entries.

Fees:
$40 for up to five entries
All fees are non-refundable

Entry fees go towards jury, awards, and exhibition operating costs.

About Northwind Art:
Built on a strong foundation of community on the Olympic Peninsula of the Pacific Northwest, Northwind Art was founded in January 2021, when two established art organizations, Port Townsend School of the Arts and Northwind Arts Center, joined together—we are now known simply as NORTHWIND ART.

Northwind Art is a non-profit organization that puts artists at the heart of all we do. Three main pillars, EDUCATION, EXHIBITS, and ARTIST RESOURCES are the focus of our work and mission.

Our incredible community of donors, partners, and grant organizations make it all possible.

About the Juror:

Catherine Gill has lived and worked in the Pacific Northwest for 40 years. She paints on location in watercolor, oil, and pastel and is also a printmaker. Catherine teaches painting and printmaking at her studio in Seattle, as well as throughout the United States, Europe, China and Australia. Her artwork has been featured in The Artists Magazine and Watercolor Magic and has been exhibited throughout the world. Catherine is also a co-founder of Art Partners International, an organization dedicated to bringing together art and artists of diverse cultures. She is a member of Northwest Watercolor Society, Women Painters of Washington, Plein Aire Painters of Washington, Seattle Print Arts, and Print Arts NW.  Her book Powerful Watercolor Landscapes has become a popular teaching tool for artists of all skill levels. You can view Catherine’s art at her website, www.catherinegill.com.
 

Calendar:
May 16: Call for entries opens                                                            

July 14: Application Deadline
July 15-23: Jurying period                                                    

July 24: Notification to artists
August 21-25: Shipped work must arrive between these dates
August 28: 12 - 5pm: In-person drop off of accepted art
August 29: 10am-3pm: In-person drop off of accepted art
August 31: 5pm-7pm Artist invitational preview  

September 1: Exhibition opens to the public

September 2: Saturday art walk reception, 5-8pm

September 2: Juror’s talk and awards announcement 3:00pm

Exhibition Dates: September 1, 2023 – October 29, 2023

Gallery hours: Thursday - Monday 12:00-5:00pm or by appointment

October 29: Exhibition closes, 5:00pm

October 30, 12pm - 5pm: in-person pick up of artwork
October 31, 10am - 3pm: in-person pick up of artwork

NOTE:  Every piece of artwork must have a label affixed to the back with the following information:

Artist Name: ______________________________________
Artist Phone: ______________________________________
Artwork Title: _____________________________________
Artwork Medium: _________________________________
Price: ___________________________

If Shipping Artwork:
All shipped artwork must arrive between August 21 - 25, 2023, and be labelled as per above indication.

Ship or Deliver to:
Northwind Art                                                                    

701 Water Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368

(360) 379-1086

_______________________________________

Rules & Terms

Sales and Recognition:  All artwork submitted must be available for sale. Should your work(s) sell, Northwind Art will pay you a wholesale price equal to 60% of the retail selling price indicated in your submission. Price is set at time of submission. Northwind Art reserves the right to use art images for the purpose of promotion and marketing.

Conditions of Delivery: Acceptance of the image during judging stage does not necessarily guarantee inclusion in the exhibition. Should any piece of art differ significantly from the original image entry, the piece will be disqualified from the exhibition. Shipped work must have an accompanying return shipping label. The artist will be notified if art arrives damaged. Northwind Art will not pay for return shipping. Artwork must be received ready to display. Any piece that is inappropriately presented will be disqualified. All hanging artwork should be suitably framed or wrapped canvas stretchers to professional standards and ready to hang, preferably with coated wire and D-rings; no eye screws or saw-tooth hangers. Northwind Art is not liable for damage to works on paper that do not have surface protection. 

Agreement and Liability: Submission of the artwork shall constitute an agreement on the part of the artist to comply with the conditions set forth in this prospectus, including the following: I hereby release and discharge the officers, employees and volunteers of Northwind Art from any and all claims occasioned by damage or loss of said artwork while in possession of Northwind Art. No work accepted for this exhibition may be withdrawn prior to the close of the exhibition unless agreed to by the Exhibitions Director. Permission to reproduce the artwork for publicity purposes and for educational purposes is granted. All decisions of the Juror and Exhibitions Director are final.

Application Requirements

A maximum of five (5) entries may be submitted per artist. All submissions should consist of work completed within the last three years.  In keeping with the spirit of plein air painting, the work should be completed at least 75% outside.  Submitted digital images should represent the quality and nature of the work.  Do not substitute other works for the particular accepted pieces.  Artists must submit an image showing the artwork in the entirety. Only one image per artwork may be submitted. We welcome a broad range of sizes, so please indicate the dimensions of each of the entries.

Eligibility Criteria

This is a regional exhibit. All participants welcome from the Pacific Northwest region (WA/OR/AK/ID/MT/WY and BC). Shipped work must have an accompanying return shipping label.