Exhibition Theme:

The Sebastopol Center for the Arts (SebArts) presents an open call for submissions from November 15, 2024–January 15, 2025 for the 2025 photography exhibition, Leftward Bound, the first all-photography exhibition at SebArts. 

Juried by Trisha Lagaso Goldberg andTheodore Lau, the exhibition will run March 20–May 4, 2025. Leftward Bound coincides with the progressive values of the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival 2025, which will run concurrently. “Leftward Bound” explores themes of transformation, resilience, and the power of choice. It reflects the artist’s journey that seeks to challenge norms and explore new creative horizons. This show’s visual narratives underscore the significance of perspective and the impact of embracing the unconventional. It is an invitation to see the world with fresh eyes and to appreciate the beauty and complexity of life’s detours.

We are excited by submissions that pursue shifts, points of view, or trajectories aimed at difference, open-mindedness, and the unpredictable.

We encourage works that are personal, odd, specific and outside the mainstream, rather than general.

This is the first all-photography exhibition to be held at Sebastopol Center of the Arts.

Jurors:

Trisha Lagaso Goldberg is an artist, public art consultant and independent curator. She piloted the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts’ commissioned works branch of its public art program (2006-2018) and served as the founding gallery director of thirtyninehotel in Honolulu (2006-2010), where she commissioned projects by artists such as Carolyn Castaño, Eamon Ore-Giron, and Stephanie Syjuco. Her curatorial projects include Lands End (2021-2022), which featured the work of 27 international artists addressing climate crisis at the historic Cliff House and the 2022 Carlos Villa: Worlds in Collision touring retrospective, presented at the Newark Museum of Art, San Francisco Arts Commission Main Gallery and Asian Art Museum, San Francisco. Lagaso Goldberg is currently researching and developing an exhibition titled, Remittance, for the Independent Curators International and the Noguchi + Hawai‘i exhibition for the Honolulu Museum of Art. She is a member of the Ninth Planet - a transdisciplinary contemporary art collective organizing the Lagrange Point exhibition for Slash Art in San Francisco. Lagaso Goldberg lives and works in the Bay Area and on the island of O‘ahu.

Theodore Lau is a Cantonese American writer, curator and artist from San Jose, California. Theodore’s research covers a range of subjects under an invocation borrowed from Kevin Quashie, to “imagine a Black World” – intertwining the transnational possibility of art, imagination, and liberatory worldmaking for the global majority. Theodore is Gallery Programs Associate at the San Francisco Art Commission, works and curates independently through the collective dbnr, and has held curatorial positions at Tina Kim Gallery; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts; KADIST; and the ICA San Jose. Independently, Theodore has contributed to exhibitions including Not For Sale at Citygroup New York City, and Carlos Villa: Worlds in Collision at the Newark Museum of Art, San

Francisco Arts Commission Main Gallery and Asian Art Museum. Theodore holds a BA in the History of Art and Architecture from Brown University. theodore-lau.com

Medium & Dimensions:

Lens based photography, analog, digital, alternative process; no AI at this time.  Open to artists worldwide.

Maximum of 3 pieces of artwork per artist. 

Framed work may not exceed 4 ft on the longest side.

Framed work needs to include fixtures and be ready to hang. We recommend using d-rings, wired with no slack one third from the top of the piece. 

All work must be photographs taken by the artist.

All work must not have been previously shown in the SebArts Gallery.

Awards:

1st place $300, 2nd place $200, 3rd place $100, two $50 coordinator awards

Commission:
- Artists receive 60% of the sales price of work that is sold.
- Indicate clearly on form if not for sale NFS but share the value for insurance purposes.
- Sales completed to SebArts Gallery visitors in the 60 days after exhibit closes require 40% payment to SebArts.

Please ensure that all images are 5MB or less in size and are in JPEG format. - Each entry/piece can have one main image and up to two additional images/views (to show perspective or detail). 

We advise that you submit high quality images that best represent your work. Work that differs from the submission image may not be included in the exhibition. When filling out forms, make an entry in each field. You may use “N/A” if the field does not apply. When entering more than one image per piece, enter the main image then up to 2 detailed views. 

Commission:

Artists will receive 60% of the sales price of the work sold.
 

Work that is shipped: 

Ship to SebArts, 282 S. High St, Sebastopol, CA 95472 

Must arrive by Friday, March 14th, 2025

Artist is responsible for all shipping and handling costs to and from the exhibit. 

Each shipped entry must be packaged in a reusable container for the return of work. 

In order to return your unsold art, each shipped entry MUST include a return label and a prepaid return shipping form (UPS or FedEx) in the box. 

Unsold work, with valid return forms for shipping, will be shipped within 15 days after the last day of the show.

Hand delivered art:

Must be received in the gallery on Tuesday March 18th, 2025 10:00-1:00 or by special arrangement.

Must have artist name and contact information on the back of the work. 

Liability, Sales, regarding work submitted:

Selected work must be on view for the duration of the exhibit. Work may not be withdrawn prior to close of the exhibition. 

Selected artists agree to allow work to be photographed for media use, for educational and publicity purposes.  

Indicate clearly on form if not for sale NFS but share the value for insurance purposes.

Notifications:

Artists will be notified via email of acceptance by February 4th, 2025.

Application Requirements

Entry-Fees:
$35 per entry

$5 per image

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility

● Open to artists worldwide. 

● Maximum of 3 pieces (artwork) per artist. 

● Wall hung work may not exceed 5’ height x 4’ width. 

● Wall mounted work needs to include fixtures and be ready to hang. 2D work should be framed, recommend using d-rings, wired with no slack one third from the top of the piece. 

● All work must be original (no reproductions of original artwork) 

● All work must not have been previously shown in the SebArts Gallery.

● All work must have been completed in the last 3 years. 

SELECTION:
- Work will be selected from online applications.
- The Juror will view all work in an anonymous manner. Please do not contact Juror for any reason and be sure your application and artwork does not show artist name (or your work may be excluded).

SUBMISSIONS ENTERED ONLINE ONLY
- Please ensure that all images are 5MB or less in size and are in JPEG format.
- Each entry/piece can have one main image and up to two additional images/views (to show perspective or detail).
- We advise that you submit high-quality images that best represent your work. Work that differs from the submission image may not be included in the exhibition.
- When filling out forms, make an entry in each field. You may use “N/A” if the field does not apply.
- When entering more than one image per piece, enter the main image and then up to two detailed views.
- Please include dimensions and weight.