Call Description

Crooked Tree Arts Center - Petoskey is accepting submissions for the juried art exhibition Process and Practice: Crafting Wellbeing. Selected artworks may relate to this theme broadly and in many ways. 

Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk, poet, and mystic wrote: "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." Research in neuroaesthetics, a field that explores the biological basis of aesthetic experience, demonstrates that sustained artistic practices and engagement with the arts can contribute to the wellbeing of individuals and communities. The exhibition will explore relationships between sustained creative practices, experiences with art, and wellbeing. 

Artists residing in the Great Lakes Region (Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and the Canadian province of Ontario), who are at least 18 years old, are invited to submit up to 3 original works to Process and Practice: Crafting Wellbeing, juried by Dr. Elizabeth Fergus-Jean. Individual works may be comprised of multiples or series'. The exhibition will run from September 15, through November 1, 2025, in the Bonfield Gallery, at the Crooked Tree Arts Center, in Petoskey, Michigan. 

Three cash prizes will be awarded: First Place award of $500, Second Place award of $300, and Third Place award of $200.

The juror, Dr. Elizabeth Fergus-Jean, MFA, Ph.D. is a nationally recognized and award-winning transdisciplinary artist, educator and occasional writer whose focus is on the transformative and healing power of the creative spirit. At the core of her approach is her deep spirituality and strong eco-consciousness and her love of the natural world and sharing this with others. 

Her artwork has been exhibited in museums, universities and art galleries including the Springfield Art Museum, Butler Institute of American Art, Memorial Art Museum and the Ross Museum. Her work is also held in numerous public and private collections, including Huntington Corporation, Price Waterhouse and the New Mexico History Museum. It has also appeared on the covers of more than 15 international myth and depth psychology journals and books. 

She has been Artist-in-Residence at the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center, and at The Ohio State University.  As an author, Elizabeth has written several books and numerous essays, two of which have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Her two essays, Ariadne and Labyrinth: A Metaphor for Transformation, were published in Mythology: A CD-ROM Encyclopedia.

A passionate and committed teacher, Elizabeth has taught for over 45 years in a wide range of venues, including the Columbus College of Art and Design, Denison University and Pacifica Graduate Institute, where she was a founding faculty member for the Humanities Program. She has also taught and worked with inner city youth, at art centers, museums, church groups, and Jung associations across the county. Her popular workshops reach out to a range of individuals who seek to expand their own creativity, clarify their authentic voice, and become aware of archetypal patterns within their lives. 

She received her BFA (Phi Kappa Phi) from Rochester Institute of Technology, an MFA in Painting and Design from the University of Washington, and her PhD in the Mythological Studies with emphasis in Depth Psychology at Pacifica. Loving to expand her knowledge, she is currently studying Druidry, Tarot and Sophrology. 

Applicant Calendar:

• Call Dates: May 9 - August 3, 2025
• Deadline for submission: midnight EST on August 3, 2025
• Notification: August 12, 2025
• Delivery window: Tuesday, September 2- Saturday, September 6, 2025, during posted gallery hours. The artist is responsible for transporting work to and from Crooked Tree Arts Center - Petoskey, either through shipping or in-person drop-off and pick-up.  
• Exhibition Dates: September 16- November 1, 2025
• Reception: Saturday, September 20, 2025, 5-7 pm
• Unsold art pick-up window: Tuesday, November 4 - Saturday, November 8, 2025
• If shipping artwork, the artwork must arrive with a return shipping label. Arrangements for return shipping will be made by November 9, 2025.

The exhibition will be on view in the Crooked Tree Art Center -Petoskey's Bonfield Gallery, from September 16, November 1, 2025, from 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.

​Eligibility
The opportunity is open to artists residing in the Great Lakes Region (Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and the Canadian province of Ontario) who are at least 18 years old. Work must have been created in the past two years. All physical media will be considered except for video works, and works that rely on AI.

Awards
$1000 in prizes will be awarded. Three cash prizes will be awarded: First Place $500, Second Place $300, Third Place $200.

Application Requirements

Image File Size and Format Guidelines:
Must meet CaFE image format requirements.

Terms and Conditions

• The call is open to U.S. residents residing in the Great Lakes Region (Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and the Canadian province of Ontario) who are at least 18 years old.
• Submissions must be original works created by the artist submitting the work.
• Artists may submit up to three works. Individual works may be in series or multiples. 3D work, and work in multiple or series may be represented with two images.
• Works must not have been previously exhibited at Crooked Tree Arts Center- Petoskey.
• Accepted two-dimensional canvas artwork or works on paper must be framed and wired for hanging.
• Accepted works must be "installation ready" with appropriate hardware for hanging and installing.
• Crooked Tree Arts Center galleries are sales galleries, and works can be for sale. Sales prices are set by the artists. Crooked Tree Arts Center will retain a 40% commission on all sales. Works do not have to be for sale.
• A non-refundable fee of $25.00 per artist is required for entry (CTAC members $15.00, Guild Members may enter for free). If you are a current Artist Guild Member of Crooked Tree Arts Center, you will receive an email with your code. All other CTAC members, please use the coupon code MEMBER to receive the member discount. Should you have questions about your membership status or are interested in becoming a member,  please call CTAC at (231) 347-4337.
  Accepted work may NOT be removed until after the close of the show.
• Work not picked up by specified pick-up dates becomes property of Crooked Tree Arts Center unless prior arrangement has been made with Crooked Tree Arts Center staff. The artist forfeits any claim to the work and Crooked Tree Arts Center cannot be held responsible for any method of disposal arising from forfeiture.
• By submitting work to this exhibition opportunity, the artist agrees to all terms and conditions described in the exhibition prospectus.

Submission Procedure:

• Submit up to 3 works. 3D works and works in series or multiples may be represented with two images each.
• Entries must be submitted online via CaFÉ, and file formats must meet CaFÉ specifications. Complete the required entry forms, including medium/process, title, size, and retail price of the work, as well as a statement describing how your work fits the theme.
• Accepted works can be shipped or hand delivered. All included works must be clearly labeled with the artist's name, artwork title, and medium; the label should be secured to the back of the work. ​
• Shipped work must include a return shipping label.
• Please make sure that your email address in the application form is accurate, as all exhibit communication will be delivered via email.
   

Eligibility Criteria

​Eligibility
The opportunity is open to artists residing in the Great Lakes Region (Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and the Canadian province of Ontario) who are at least 18 years old. Work in any media, except video and primarily AI generated work may be submitted.