Call Description

Ink Only 5 –

PaperWorkers Local (PWL) is excited to announce a Call for Entry to their biennial juried exhibition of contemporary prints – Ink Only 5

PWL is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit artists' co-operative actively working to promote the understanding and appreciation of printmaking and work on paper in general, as well as to create opportunities for artists.

This year we are partnering with Birmingham Public Library, to host our exhibit at the beautiful 4th Floor Gallery, August 16 – September 13, 2025.

Eligibility-

This call is open to all artists/printmakers ages 18 and older living in the USA. The call is open to all forms of printmaking including all traditional as well as experimental techniques, with the exception of prints created exclusively by digital means. All entries should have been created in the last 3 years.

Entries and Fees

All entries must be made through Cafe.org following their rules and guidelines for image submissions.

A $35.00 non-refundable entry fee allows  3 images for submission. If you want to evener less than 3 images, just enter repeat images until you reach a count of 3. You may submit up to 3 additional images. Each additional image will have a $10 fee.

A 20% commission will be withheld by PWL for any work sold.

Juror-

Cynthia Nourse Thompson will be the juror for Ink Only 5.

Cynthia Nourse Thompson is currently Professor and Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Zuckerman Museum of Art at Kennesaw State University. Prior to this position, for six years she was Associate Professor and Director of the graduate programs in Book Arts & Printmaking and Studio Art at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. She has also served as Associate Professor and Curator of Exhibitions at University of Arkansas; twelve years as Professor of Book, Print and Paper Arts and Chair of Fine Arts at Memphis College of Art; and additionally worked at Dieu Donné Papermill, Harlan & Weaver Intaglio and Rutgers Center for Innovative Print and Paper now the Brodsky Center at PAFA. Thompson has been awarded numerous residencies including Yaddo, Columbia College Chicago Center for Book and Paper Arts, Women’s Studio Workshop, Visual Studies Workshop, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Penland Winter Residencies, and a Maker-Creator Fellowship at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. She also served as a visiting scholar and printer in residence with her collaborator David Charles Chioffi at the Bodleian Bibliographical Press in Oxford UK in May of 2022. Thompson has also been visiting faculty at University of Georgia’s study abroad program in Cortona, Italy and Santa Reparata International School of Art in Florence, Italy. Thompson received her BFA in Printmaking from the Maryland Institute College of Art and her MFA from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

Prizes-

1st Place - $500 and a solo exhibition at PWL within the next 2 years.

2nd Place - $300

3rd Place - $200

Dates and Deadlines-

Deadline for entrees through CaFE – July 6, 2025 - 11:59 pm (MST).

Notifications emailed– July 20,2025.

Shipping arrivals – August 4 - 8, 2025.

Opening reception and award presentation – August 16, 2023.

Exhibition – August 16 – September 13, 2025.

 Return of work -September 14 - 31, 2025

Application Requirements

All entries must be made through www.CallForEntry.org (CaFÉ), following their rules and guidelines for image submissions.

A $35.00 non-refundable entry fee allows 1-3 images for submission. You may submit up to 3 additional images. Each additional image will have a $10 fee. If you are only entering 1 or 2 images please repeat those images to total 3.

A 20% commission will be withheld by PWL for any work sold.

Work in the exhibit can be priced for sale or marked NFS.

PaperWorkers Local will retain a 20% commission on all works sold.

All works must hang for the duration of the exhibition.

Work sent must match work entered, any work that differs from work judged will not be included in the exhibit.

All work must be suitably framed with acrylic/plexi. No glass will be accepted.  All frames must have wire or d-rings.  No sawtooth hangers accepted.

Shipping details will be provided with acceptance notifications.

All reasonable care will be used handling  the work in the exhibition; however, it is up to the artist to provide insurance for the work during shipping and during the exhibit if desired.

PaperWorkers Local or Birmingham Public Library accepts no responsibility for the work.

The exhibit will be monitored  during exhibit hours.

If you have any questions or concerns about entries, please email our project director, John DeMotte, at inkonly5pwl@gmail.com.

This exhibition would not be possible without the generous support of the Birmingham Public Library and the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

Eligibility Criteria

This call is open to all artists/printmakers ages 18 and older living in the USA. The call is open to all forms of printmaking including all traditional as well as experimental techniques, with the exception of prints created exclusively by digital means. All entries should have been created in the last 3 years.