Call Description

Vessels: that which hold- 

 All Media Juried Exhibit

Juror: Jamison Keʻa Rosehill
 

What does it mean to be a vessel? What does it mean to hold? To contain? 

In this exhibit we invite artists to explore the meaning and media of a vessel both literally and figuratively. Artwork may be a vessel by form or explore the theme of the word vessel. 

Open to all Hawaiʻi based 2D and 3D artists in all mediums and styles. Accepted works will be displayed along with Hawaiʻi Island pieces from the annual Hawaiʻi Handweavers Hui exhibit.

Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Island Art Alliance (HIAA) and the Hawai’i State Parks.

First entry free for Hawaii Island Students.

Note: Maximum of five entries per artist, with $20 non-refundable entry fee for each submittal.

Important Dates

Exhibition Dates: September 5 -  25, 2025 at Wailoa Center

Submission deadline: Friday, August 8, at 5:00 PM HST.
 

Artist notification: Monday, August 11
 

Accepted Artwork Drop-off:

• Hilo - Wailoa Center:  Saturday, August 30 between 10:00am - 1:00pm.
   
• Kona - Kona Frame Shop Parking Lot*: Friday, August 29, at 10:00am. Artwork must be less than 40" x 40" with wrapping to be eligible. 
• Off Island work must be received by Friday, August 29. Please see Shipping Details section below for more information.

The exhibition opens: Friday September 5
Opening Reception: Friday, September 5, 5:00 - 7:00 pm.
The exhibition closes: Thursday, September 25, 2025
 

Artwork Pick-up:

• Hilo - Wailoa Center: Friday, September 26, between 10:00am - 1:00pm.
• Kona - Kona Frame Shop Parking Lot*: Friday, September 26, 10:00am
• Off-Island: Artworks will be shipped by October 6

*Kona pick-ups and drop-offs are in parking lot outside of Kona Frame Shop (73-5619 Kauhola St.) DO NOT contact the folks at Kona Frame Shop to make arrangements. Please contact Wailoa Center. More info upon acceptance to the exhibit. 
 

Submitting Artwork

To enter participants must have or create a Café account. All images to be uploaded to their portfolio in Café. The maximum file size that will be accepted is 5 MB. For this call we highly recommend submitting high quality images with the longest edge at 1200 pixels, sRGB, jpeg.

To better showcase your 3D works, you can:

1. Submit a collage of multiple photographs of your artwork. This will allow the juror to see the work from all angles.
2. Submit a short video of the artwork. Take a video as you walk around the piece or from a variety of angles. Please note in the video description that the 3D object is the submission no the video.

When submitting, an artist's bio and artist statement is highly recommended, 200 word limit. They will be included in the exhibit documentation.

Need Help? Check out this helpful videos from CAFE:

Image Requirements: https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/uploading-media/

Preparing Images for Download: https://www.callforentry.org/preparing-your-image-files-for-upload/

Photographing your work: https://www.callforentry.org/photographing-artwork/

Entry Fees: 

$20 non-refundable entry fee per each submission. Maximum of five entries per artist. All images or videos must be submitted digitally and will be judged by jurors based upon files submitted.

Hawaii Island Student Discount. To encourage more local students to participate in the shows at Wailoa, HIAA offers a free first entry student discount for all HIAA-sponsored calls. This discount is available to all full time Hawaii Island students grade school through college, and can be redeemed using code 'HIStudent'. We hope this initiative will increase student participation in the shows.
 

Acceptance:

Artists will be notified via email on the status of their application by Monday August 11, 2025. Please make sure your CAFE account is updated with your current contact information to ensure you are receiving communication from Wailoa Center and HIAA.

Shipping Details for Off-Island Artists

Off-Island work must be received by Friday, August 29, 2025. 

• Artists are financially responsible for shipping, insurance and handling to and from Wailoa Center. 
• No styrofoam or other peanuts.
• Packaging will be reused for returns and must be of a professional quality.
• Please include a detailed description on how to unpack and repack your artwork. 
• Packages MUST include a prepaid return label. A $10 handling fee per artwork will be collected upon acceptance into the show.
• Accepted shippers. USPS and FedEx. UPS no longer services Wailoa Center.
• Please research shipping costs for the artwork prior to entering.
  
  Shipping Address:
  WAILOA CENTER
  200 Piopio St. 
  Hilo, Hawaii 96720

Sales:

For any work sold, 75% of sales goes to the artist and 25% goes to HIAA for support of artists, art opportunities and exhibitions at Wailoa Center. 
 

Juror Information: 

Juror: J. Keʻa Rosehill
 

Juror Bio

Jamison Ke‘a Rosehill is a Native Hawaiian kālai ‘umeke (vessel carver) born and raised in Hilo, Hawai‘i. He draws upon ‘ike kūpuna—ancestral knowledge—to reinvigorate traditional expressions, with a special emphasis on the cultural significance of ‘umeke in ka wā kahiko. His work centers on honoring and preserving Native Hawaiian practices through both form and function.

Jamison has taught Native Hawaiian art across Hawai‘i, the continental U.S., and internationally, sharing his deep cultural knowledge with diverse communities. He has also contributed to the preservation of cultural heritage through his work in cataloging native artifact for private, museum and university holdings.

Juror Statement

Aloha kākou,

The term vessel can be represented in many ways. As I approach this show, I will be asking: Does this piece hold aloha? Mana? Moʻokūʻauhau, pilina, or ʻike? I will be drawn to works that serve as vessels for story, memory, or emotion—pieces that reflect the depth of where we come from and the complexities of how we connect to one another and our ‘āina.

I will especially look for art inspired by the place we live—work that honors the layers of culture here, that speaks to wahi pana, and that offers a personal window into the artist’s world. Whether rooted in tradition or abstract in form, I will seek out creations that feel meaningful, intergenerational, and grounded in kuleana.

The most compelling works will be those that inspire a story, hold kaona, or carry the artist’s truth—sometimes quiet, sometimes bold, always intentional. Across multiple mediums, I look forward to seeing pieces where the artist opens themselves to the process and invites us to feel what they feel when they create.

It will be an honor to experience the expressions of each artist. Your art will not only speak—it will carry, connect, and uplift.

Prizes: 

Monetary prizes will be awarded.

About Wailoa Center:

Located in Piʻopiʻo and the Wailoa River State Recreation Area, Wailoa Center is one of Hawai’i Island’s largest venues for showcasing the work of local and international artists. With exhibits that change monthly, the two galleries within Wailoa Center offer opportunities that provide inspiration and exposure to artists and community members alike. The Wailoa Center is free and open to the public.
 

About Hawaiʻi Island Art Alliance: 

Founded in 2015, Hawai`i Island Art Alliance (HIAA) is a non-profit organization supporting and inspiring art and culture in our community. HIAA is a completely volunteer-driven, whose current Mission is to concentrate on the support and production of a variety of happenings at the Wailoa Center. 

HIAA sponsors juried and non-juried exhibits, educational and cultural programming at Wailoa Center throughout the year.  Through its contributions at Wailoa Center, HIAA hopes to positively impact the art and cultural community on Hawaiʻi Island.

Please click the "Legal Terms" button below to read all rules for entry.

Application Requirements

• Completed Portfolio on CAFE with 1 - 5 artwork samples.
• Submission fee: $20 per entry (non-refundable).
• Artist Biography and Statement.

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to Hawaii State residents (please research shipping costs).
• Open to any media (2D, 3D, video, etc).
• Artwork must be in line with the theme. Pieces may be a vessel by form or explore the theme of the word "vessel".
• No reproductions or AI generated or assisted art will be accepted.
• For 2D works larger than 7’ tall x 9’ wide’ or 3D works taller than 10' or wider 6' feet, please contact Wailoa Center.
• Artwork must have been created in the past four years.
• Artwork can NOT have been previously exhibited at Wailoa Center.
• This exhibit will be displayed in a State Parks facility, thus artwork with sensitive subject matter (i.e. nudity, offensive religious or political statements, and or violence) may be juried out.
• If accepted, all work MUST be gallery quality installation ready to hang or be easily installed.
• If you have any questions regarding you or your artwork's eligibility, please contact Wailoa Center at (808) 933-0416 or dlnr.sp.wailoacenter@hawaii.gov