The Art of Theatre
Exhibition Dates: August 16 – October 5, 2025
Lordy Rodriguez and Wendy White, Jurors

Theatre follows the development of stories, fiction, performance, and fantasy. Such a crucial component of our human experience, theatre reflects humanity in a unique way that differs from other creative outlets. While performative components are present in every society, distinction between theatre as an art form and entertainment, and theatrical or performative elements in other activities is commonly acknowledged. 

Art and theatre have been integral parts of human culture since its inception, they are distinct entities, and they lose, or sometimes gain, perceptiveness in these intersections. Numerous visual artistic elements are crucial to theatre, including set design, costume design and creation, character development, props, sound, lights, and orchestration. Arts Benicia, a non-profit art gallery in Benicia, CA, invites artists, musicians, thespians, and theatre enthusiasts to submit artwork, created music, or multimedia, related to the theatre experience, for a juried and curated exhibition. This exhibition aims to showcase artists' interpretations of the various visual arts components within the theatre world.

All 2D and 3D media accepted, and audio and video files. 2D work may not exceed 36” in width or 72” in height, including the frame. 3D work may not exceed a 36” x 36” footprint.

Deadline for Entries:  May 1, 2025 (10:59 pm Pacific Time)

Jurying of entries: May 3-16, 2025
Notification to artists: May 21, 2025
Hand Delivery of artwork: July 25-26, 2025
Delivery of shipped artwork: July 22-26, 2025 (no later than July 26)
Members and Exhibition Artists Preview: August 14, 2025, 6 - 7 pm
Opening Public Reception: Saturday, August 16, 2025, 4 - 6 pm
Close of exhibition: Sunday, October 5, 2025
In Person Pick-up of Artwork: October 7, 1 - 4 pm (or by appt)
Return Shipped Artwork: begins October 7, 2025

Jurors

Lordy Rodriguez was born in the Philippines, raised in Louisiana and Texas, and currently lives and works in Benicia, CA. He obtained his B.F.A. degree from School of Visual Arts, New York and his MFA at Stanford University. For several years he has been working on a series of ink drawings that critically look at the effect visual languages have on culture and identity through the use of mapping and cartography. His recent exhibitions include, “Tahoe: a Visual History”, Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, NV (2015),  “The Map at Art”, Kemper Museum, St. Louis, MO (2012), “Code Switch” and "The Map is Not the Territory", Hosfelt Gallery New York, New York (2013 and 2011 respectively), “Surface Depths”, Nevada Art Museum (2009), “States of America”, Austin Museum of Art (2009), “Optimism in the Age of Global War”, 10th Annual Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul, Turkey, (2007), and “The California Biennial”, Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach, California (2006). Recently completed public art projects include works for the San Francisco Arts Commission at San Francisco International Airport, General Services Administration at Land Port of Entry Immigration Federal Facility  in New Mexico, and the Facebook headquarters event space lobby in downtown San Francisco.

Wendy White was raised in Michigan, and is the Founder and Creative Principal for TRYBE Creative, a San Francisco Bay Area graphic design agency specializing for over two decades in the food, wine and spirits industry. She is a multi-award winning designer who balances creative and technical expertise with solid experience in print, web and photography. Wendy has worked both on, and behind the stage, with many community theatre companies. She has spent 25 years with local school district's theatre programs, designing stage sets and supporting all facets of the production from strong stage crew development, props, costumes, sound, and lights, to show posters, playbills and lobby marketing. Wendy is committed to understanding the long-term vision of clients, and accurately and consistently reinforcing the design goals in all visual media. Wendy is a 1999 BFA Graphic Design graduate of CCA in San Francisco. 

GALLERY LOCATION
1 Commandant's Lane, Benicia, CA 94510

GALLERY HOURS
Thursday - Sunday, 1:00 to 5:00 pm, during exhibitions. The gallery is closed between exhibitions.

CONTACTING ARTS BENICIA
Staff often works remotely. The best way to reach staff is via email or leave a phone message: Jean@artsbenicia.org; 707-747-0131.

ABOUT ARTS BENICIA
Arts Benicia is a community-based non-profit organization offering diverse and relevant exhibitions in its gallery and at other venues in Benicia, and providing engaging public programs, creative workshops for adults, and inspiring youth arts educational programming. Located in the Commanding Officer’s Quarters, an 1865 mansion in the historic Benicia Arsenal, Arts Benicia has been a vital part of the Bay Area regional art scene for over 37 years, supporting artistic development and enriching the larger community.

POLICIES
Arts Benicia has a history of selling artworks at every exhibition. Upon sale, a check and purchaser information will be mailed to the artist within 30 days after exhibition closure, to the address provided in the Exhibition and Consignment Agreement. Artists receive 60% on the sale of their work. Arts Benicia, a non-profit organization, receives 40%. Arts Benicia also bears all the sales transaction fees and collects and reports sales tax on artwork sales.

Entry fees are not refundable. Only use the member entry price if you are a current member, otherwise your entry will not be juried.

Exceptions for late delivery of artwork cannot be made.

RELEASES AND WARRANTIES
Artists agree to release Arts Benicia for damages in shipping or delivery. Artworks are insured while they are at the gallery. Our gallery includes a security alarm system and a security camera system.

Application Requirements

MEDIA
All 2D and 3D media accepted, audio and video files. Any digital files must be in a common format and if the work is accepted the artist may be required to provide a device for playing the file.

SIZE LIMITATIONS
2D work may not exceed 36” in width or 72” in height, including the frame. 3D work may not exceed a 36” x 36” footprint. There is a 32-pound weight limit for any hanging work. Floor weight for 3D work must not exceed 300 lbs. Please contact the staff with any special requirements for installation.

ENTRY PROCESS
Artists may submit one application. One application allows you to submit up to 6 artworks with appropriate payment of entry fees.

IMAGES TO SUBMIT
Up to 6 entries (images or files) may be uploaded...and a maximum of 6 artworks may be submitted. For optimal juror viewing, submit the highest quality images. For each image file, 1 MB is the minimum size; maximum file size for each still image is 3 MB. If your photo software specifies quality levels instead of pixels (i.e., you are submitting an image directly from a cell phone), choose "actual size" or “very high quality.”

Do not include your name in any of your file titles. Use the artwork title to name the files.

For questions on using café to apply for this call and prepare your images, etc. visit https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/ 

CONCEPT STATEMENT, OPTIONAL
A brief explanation describing your concept to the juror may be submitted during the application process. This statement will be seen by the juror. Omit your name from this statement. This is not your artist statement which can be submitted upon invitation to the exhibition.

FEES AND PAYMENT

Entry fee is $40 (or $30 for current Arts Benicia members; selected at checkout) for one artwork; an additional $5 fee is required for any additional entries, up to a maximum of 6. For example, to submit 5 entries, a non-member artist will pay $40 for the first entry, plus an additional $20 ($5 each for four additional), for a total of $60. Fee may be paid through CaFE using a credit card or Paypal.

Entry fees are not refundable for any reason, in whole or in part. Arts Benicia members receive a discount on the entry fee, by selecting member at checkout. To review other benefits of becoming an Arts Benicia member, including NARM benefits, or to join online before submitting your entry, visit artsbenicia.org.

NOTIFICATION OF JURY RESULTS
The deadline is May 1, 2025 at 10:59 PM, PDT. An email will be sent via CaFE to all submitting artists by May 21 with jury results. Additionally, the results will be available in CaFE artist accounts after May 21. Arts Benicia will produce and distribute promotional materials in digital formats and make them available to exhibiting artists at no cost. 

It is the responsibility of all submitting artists to check for emails, possibly in your SPAM or Promotions files, for notification. If you do not receive notification about either acceptance or non-acceptance of your submissions by May 21, contact Arts Benicia via email at info@artsbenicia.org.

CONTRACT
All artists with accepted artwork must provide a signed exhibition contract to participate.

DELIVERY AND SHIPPING DETAILS
Artists must be able to deliver or pick up your work, or have someone else do it for you, on the designated dates. See schedule above. Exceptions for late delivery cannot be made. Late pickups will be charged fees for storage and retrieval of the artwork. Except in rare situations, we cannot store packing materials of hand-delivered work; take packing materials with you and bring them back when you pick up your work at the end of the exhibition. Artists should use UPS or FedEx to ship work to the addresses indicated in the contract. Artists shipping work to Arts Benicia must purchase a return shipping label. This is most easily accomplished at the time you purchase your outgoing shipping. Enclose the pre-paid label inside your package or crate or email it to wendy@artsbenicia.org. We cannot access individual shipping accounts.

PREPARATION
All artwork must be clean, fully dry, and in good repair. Arts Benicia reserves the right to decline any artwork that does not meet the preparation standards or is otherwise unsuitable for exhibition. Examine your artwork for cleanliness under good lighting.

Artworks must have secure identification on the back or bottom of the work, with the Artist’s name and the title. If artworks require special installation, the Artist must include written instructions. 

Wall works must be wired. Works cannot hang from sawtooth hangers. Stretched canvas must not have exposed staples. Giclées are not accepted. Due to nature of the hanging system in the Commanding Officer’s Quarters, there are weight limitations (see SIZE LIMITATIONS above) and a cleat system is not permitted.  If your artwork requires an exception with regard to hanging mechanisms, please contact celeste@artsbenicia.org before submission to discuss the options. For 2-D work, Arts Benicia reserves the right to change the position of your hanging wire to accommodate the COQ hanging system.

ART SALES
Artwork must be available and for sale. Please contact Arts Benicia before entering to discuss special works of art that may not be for sale.

Arts Benicia will retain 40% of art sales during this exhibition and mail a check to the Artist at the postal address the Artist provides above, in the amount equal to 60% of the sales price declared by the Artist in this contract or CaFE application (and either confirmed or amended on the Inventory Form, after selection to the exhibition), within 30 days of the exhibition closing date. The Artist agrees Arts Benicia is not responsible for any commission, division of sales, or financial obligation between the Artist and any other gallery, organization, or person. Arts Benicia handles all art sales, including sales tax.

ARTIST STATEMENT
Selected artists juried into the exhibition will be asked to submit their bio, artist statement, and resume, to be made available within the gallery. These materials are not required until after artist selection into the exhibition.

Eligibility Criteria

National and international artists invited to apply.