Umpqua Valley Arts (UVA) invites artists who are exploring the use of diverse materials and modes of making to submit to our Materiality Matters exhibition. This is a juried exhibition highlighting artists who have explored alternative materials and processes in their art practice. 

Materiality in art refers to the manipulation and alteration of materials to express ideas and concepts that may not be expressed by traditional media. The concept of materiality is unique to each art piece and artist. Through our exhibition Materiality Matters, UVA wishes to explore the unique and diverse ways that artists work to define the materiality of their practice and how materiality conveys ideas and concepts, and inspires dialogue. 

For this exhibition, UVA is open to all media and modes of making with special interest in receiving works from artists exploring installations, sculptures, time-based, and interactive artwork exploring this concept. Artworks for this exhibition are chosen by a team made up of UVA Staff and professionals working/residing in the Pacific Northwest with varied backgrounds. These professionals make up a committee dedicated to selecting work that reflect the call requirements, reflect the philosophy and goals of the call, and reflect UVA exhibition guidelines.

Application Requirements

All entries are digitally submitted with digital jpeg files through CaFE. If this is your first time using the CaFE system, we recommend allowing an hour to create a CaFE account, upload files, and complete your application. Entries will be accepted via review of the submitted digital jpeg files. The link can be found at: https://uvarts.com/calls-to-artists/

Images must be uploaded into the Call for Entry system (CaFE). Submissions made using slides, links to websites, physical photographs, paper applications, or resume/CV will not be eligible for entry. CaFE’s upload requirements are as follows: 

• File format: JPEG only 
• File dimensions: No smaller than 1920 pixels on the longest side 
• File resolution: 72 ppi/dpi (standard web resolution)
• File size: up to 5 MB maximum

Eligibility Criteria

All submissions must follow these guidelines to be eligible for entry:

• Eligible to all established, mid-career and emerging artists across the United States
• Artists may submit up to (5) entries in all themes, genres, and media.
• Entries must be original works of art and entirely created by the entrant.
• No reproductions representing original artworks will be accepted. Fine art prints (including c-prints, digital prints, etchings, lithographs, woodblock, etc.) are eligible, but must be signed, numbered and in a limited edition of 125 or less.
• No work will be accepted into this show which is in violation of any copyright.
• All artwork must not exceed 60” on its longest side, fit through a standard 3-foot wide door, and weigh less than 50 lbs. If submitting a diptych or triptych, the combined measurements or weight of the work must follow these guidelines. In the case of installation works, some exceptions can be made about the dimensions of works. For any exception requests, please email the Exhibitions and Program Coordinator at ashley@uvarts.com.
• If an artist is submitting work with a film/video aspect to it, the artist must provide video equipment that is compatible with UVA’s gallery installation hardware and furniture. Equipment examples are projectors, small portable TVs with plug-ins, or laptops.
• All artworks that require special installation requirements must not be installed in a way that will harm the gallery walls or floors. If you have any questions about UVA’s installation guidelines before submitting, please reach out to our Exhibitions and Program Coordinator: ashley@uvarts.com.
• Artists may not substitute their piece with another nor withdraw the work once it has been accepted.
• Artwork may be for sale, or be labeled with NFS (Not For Sale) if requested by the artist. UVA commission rates are 30% for UVA members and 40% for non-members.
• Artwork must have been completed within the last three years and not been previously exhibited at UVA.
• All work must be display-ready upon arrival with appropriate installation hardware.