The ancient concept of the natural elements of earth, water, air, fire, and ether has long influenced thought and culture. Over time, it has expanded to mean anything produced without human intervention including plants, animals, and now the naturally occurring elements on the periodic table. No matter how you define them, natural elements exist all around us in the purity of nature and in the tension between the manufactured and the wild. The Sault Area Art Center seeks artwork inspired by, using, or impacted by the natural elements. We welcome a broad interpretation of the theme. 

Show dates are July 1st - 30th.  Cash award opportunities total at $1,400.  Visual artists, sculptors, and photographers 18 and older from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin are invited to apply.

Important Dates

• May 15th: Online submission due
• May 25th: Notification of selected work
• June 16th - 25th: Artwork delivery (Tu-Sa, 11am-4pm)
• July 12th, 1pm - 3pm: Opening Reception
• July 31st - August 2nd: Pick up artwork

Cash Award Opportunities

• Best of Show: $500
• Runner Up: $300
• Third Place: $200
• Viewer's Choice: $200
• Two Honorable Mentions: $100 Each

The juror for this show will be Charles Colbert.  Charles did his undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago (1968) and received his PhD from Harvard University in Art History (1978). He is the author of several books and many articles on 19th century American art.  His teaching career spanned 37 years, at Boston College, Middlebury College, and Portland State University.  Retiring in 2012, he moved to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  He has long sustained a devotion to creating art, an undertaking he now pursues avidly, exploring several subjects and media from landscape painting to portraits to doing collages, using oils, acrylic and oil pastel. In the past he had an exhibition at the De Havilland Fine Art Gallery, Boston MA, and has shown his work at the Alberta House on several occasions.

Our gallery, located inside the historic Alberta House, is a block from the Soo Locks, which attract over 500,000 visitors a year. 

Application Requirements

• This juried competition is open to all US resident 18 and older from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
• Each artist may submit images of recent, original, artwork in any medium, including sculpture, photography, fiber, and mixed media.
• 2-D and 3-D art is accepted. All 2-D art must be gallery ready to hang
• Each applicant may submit 1 image of up to 3 pieces of work
• Must be original work; no reproductions of artwork will be accepted.
• All work must be for sale (there is a 30% gallery commission)
• Shipped work must include pre-paid return shipping label
• By entering work in this exhibition, the artist gives SAAC the right to use images for digital and print promotional purposes

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant must be 18 and older living in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.