The Visual Art League (VAL) of Lewisville, Texas is pleased to announce a call for entries for Fresh Ideas 2024, a juried show to be held at the Lewisville Grand Theater Main Art Gallery in Lewisville, Texas September 21st - October 19, 2024.

Fresh Ideas is VAL's Annual Premier Juried Art Exhibition and sale, which is housed in the beautiful 2,400 sq. ft. Lewisville Grand Theater Main Art Gallery (see www.lewisvillegrand.com and visualartleague.org).  It is open to all visual artists 18 yrs and older who reside in Texas. The non-refundable entry fee, for a maximum of (3) pieces is:

• $55 for non members of VAL
• $40 for VAL members
• Artworks will be available for sale if the artist chooses. See Legal Agreement

Important Dates:
Exhibition Dates: September 21st  - October 19, 2024
Deadline to enter: September 3rd 11:59 pm (Mountain Time)
Artist Notification: September 7-8
Hand deliver work to Lewisville Grand Theater: Monday September 16th 2024
*Lewisville Grand Theater Staff cannot accept shipped artworks!
Opening Reception: Saturday September 21st 2024
Pick up artwork: Monday October 21st 2024

Awards

• 1st Place - $1,000 and a solo show in summer of the following year at the Lewisville Grand Theater.
• 2nd Place - $500
• 3rd Place - $250
• Six Honorable Mentions @ $100 each
• People's Choice Award - $100

Accepted mediums: oil, watercolor, acrylics, pastel, mixed media, collage, altered books, assemblage, drawings, prints, ceramics, glass, textiles, fiber, encaustic, sculpture and photography (film, digital, altered processes, photographic montage). *Digital compositions using AI Image Generator Software are not allowed!

Juror: Amy Werntz  https://www.amywerntz.com

Amy Werntz is a Figurative Realist painter currently living and working in Dallas TX. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Dallas in 2001. She practiced Interior Design full time until 2010 when she left to pursue her art. Her goal is to give importance to ordinary moments in everyday life, focusing primarily on the older generations in our society. She has had solo exhibitions at Valley House Gallery - Dallas, TX, LHUCA - Lubbock TX, Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center - Lake Charles, LA, Irving Arts Center - Irving, TX, as well as numerous group exhibitions throughout the US. Some of her accolades include Third Place, Fifth Place and Second Honor awards from the Portrait Society of Americas International Portrait Competition, Best in Show in the Texas and Neighbors juried show in 2022, 2019, and 2018. She was a finalist in the Bennett Art Prize 2021. Her work has been featured in publications including Fine Art Connoisseur and International Artists Magazine.

While her work is typically created in a realist style and primarily focuses on the figure, she has a great love for all styles of art and creative work. She hopes to bring the passion to her role as juror for the Fresh Ideas 2024 exhibition.

"When you are young you live with the face you are given;  when you are old you live with the face you have made."

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES::

Images of entries to be considered for the show must be submitted via Callforentry.org. Image must meet the requirements of that site for size and type of file to be accepted online.  Artists may submit up to (3) pieces for consideration.

 ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS:

1. Original 2D and 3D artworks must have been created in the last (2) years and must not have been previously shown in any VAL exhibits.  The gallery is owned by the City of Lewisville and is considered family-friendly, so no explicit nudity, confrontationally political, or disrespectful religious images allowed.  No collaborative artworks. All art submitted must be an original composition of an individual artist.
2. Maximum size for hung work is: 60x60, including frame.
3. 2D artworks intended to be hung on the walls, must look professionally finished and be ready for installation.
4. Framed pieces must be equipped with d-rings attached to the back and stretched with wire. Sawtooth hangers or uniframes are not acceptable. Please tape wire ends to prevent injury to the hanging committee.
5. Wires when stretched to hang the art, should not come closer than two inches from the top of the frame to prevent the hanger from showing when the art is hung.
6. Plexiglass, or similar material, must be used in place of glass for any piece larger than 16 x 20.
7. Any artwork printed on acrylic or metal must have smooth round edges or be framed. No sharp edges!
8. Diptychs, triptychs, or other multi piece works constitute one piece, and must be no wider than 60" when hung together.
9. Pieces that are hung may not be over 50lbs in weight.
10. Hanging canvas pieces should have clean, gallery-wrapped edges or be framed. Depth of canvas determines finish. 1.5" or greater depth should have a clean finished edge. Less than 1.5" requires a frame.
11. 3D artwork must be able to securely sit on a pedestal with a base that will fit on a 20 x 14 surface or rest on the floor freestanding, or safely hang using a wire.
12. Any pieces, including sculpture, which are very fragile or heavy, the artist will be expected to assist with the installation.

​Please Note:

1. This is a juried show. The juror has the right to reject any submitted artwork during the jury process.
2. VAL reserves the right to reject any accepted artwork if: it does not look professionally presented, framed pieces over 16" x 20" have glass, or it is not properly wired and ready for installation. NO EXCEPTIONS!
3. ALL ACCEPTED WORKS MUST REMAIN ON EXHIBIT FOR THE DURATION OF THE FRESH IDEAS SHOW.
4. It is required that artists who are accepted sit the Gallery for a 2hr shift during the exhibit. For artists living outside the immediate area, the Curator will coordinate with the artist for an acceptable substitution.

Important Information on Delivery of Accepted Artwork:

• A link for Sign-Up Genius will be sent to artists to schedule an intake time.
• Work accepted into the exhibition must be delivered to the Lewisville Grand Theater Main Art Gallery, 100 North Charles Street Lewisville, TX at your scheduled time.
• It is the responsibility of the artist to arrange for delivering their works themselves or by a representative of the artist.
• Any artwork not received at the Gallery by 5:00 pm on September 16, 2024, will not be included in the show.

Application Requirements

You must submit a minimum of one jpeg image or a maximum of three.

Eligibility Criteria

You must be a Texas Artist 18yrs or older.