Call Description

SFVACC invites artists and photographers to submit work for Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! (formally Call of the Wild) an online exhibition celebrating our artistic relationship with flora and fauna in nature.

From buzzing insects and soaring birds to majestic animals and lush plant life, we welcome your creative interpretations of the wild world around us. Whether your inspiration comes from a backyard garden, a mountain trail, or a distant safari, show us how nature stirs your soul.

This is your chance to honor wildlife near and far, give voice to environmental concerns, or simply revel in the beauty of the natural world. Embrace your inner adventurer, biologist, or environmentalist - and let your work remind us of what we cherish, what we risk losing, and why it all matters.

Let your wild side roam free - we can’t wait to see what you share!

• Best of Show $800 – 1st Place $400 – 2nd Place $300 plus 4 Honorable Mentions

JUROR – Pat Bates 

Pat Bates is first and foremost a lover of birds, bees, butterflies and all living creatures. She sits on the Board of Directors of the San Fernando Valley Audubon in Southern California and her commitment is to preserving and protecting our wonderful creatures and the environment through and community activism, painting, and photography.

Patricia is a New York farm-country native, a scientist by training with a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona, and a retired Certified Public Accountant. Pat is honored to be a member of Artist Co-Op 7 in Southern California, a collection of wonderful artists and art teachers. She is an enthusiastic photographer concentrating on wildlife and photojournalism. Her work has been exhibited in group shows at the San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center, CA, American Jewish University, CA, the Thousand Oaks Community Gallery, CA, and many other venues.

ELIGIBILITY
Open to artists and photographers working in all media.

IMPORTANT DATES
Exhibit entry starts: Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Deadline for entries: Sunday, August 10, 2025 – 11:59 pm MST

Notice of acceptance (by e-mail): August 23-24, 2025

Award winners notified: August 25, 2025

Exhibit opens: Friday, September 12, 2025

Exhibit closes: October 31, 2025 - 11:59 pm* PST

*Exhibit will remain on view on the SFVACC website Archived Exhibits page indefinitely.

AWARDS
An $800 cash award will be presented for Best of Show. A 1st Place cash award of $400 and a 2nd Place cash award of $300 will be awarded as well. Juror will also select up to Four Honorable Mention awards.

SUBMISSION CRITERIA AND CONTENT
Entries must be original and of the artist’s own execution.  Do not submit works which violate copyright laws.   Artwork created and completed under the direct supervision of an instructor is not eligible. Once artwork is submitted, it may not be substituted or withdrawn by the artist.  All juried artwork must remain online until the end of the exhibit.  Please do not enter art that has been shown at any previous SFVACC exhibit.  

ARTWORK FORMAT, PRESENTATION & REQUIREMENTS 
Artwork submissions are limited to six (6) original artworks per artist as .JPGs in the following media: drawing, mixed media, collage, printmaking, fiber art, photography, painting, digital art and sculpture. No AI generated work will be accepted. All artwork images should be submitted unframed unless the artist feels that a particular style of mounting, matting or framing is crucial to proper artistic presentation. This should be stated in the art’s description. Title cards for the artwork will be generated from the information you provide. Please make sure all your information is spelled correctly, your first and last name is capitalized, the dimensions of your work appears in the following format 36x24 (no " marks are necessary), and include a dollar sign precedes the price of your work.

FORMAT FOR DIGITAL IMAGES (JPGS)
All entries must be submitted as high resolution (1-5MB), digital .JPEG either cropped to remove background or on a black background without a mat. Photos of the artwork should not be taken through glass or Plexiglas. Image quality is critical: Poor photography and presentation may affect acceptance by the juror. The digital image (.JPG) must represent the submitted art.

Directions for uploading photos to CaFÉ are clearly described on their website.  

ENTRIES & FEES One entry is $40.  Artist may add up to 5 additional entries at $5 each.  Payment is made through CaFÉ via credit card.  Fees are non-refundable.  There is no guarantee of acceptance into the exhibit.

SALES
A prospective buyer can contact the artist via email by clicking on the artist’s name under the image they are interested in purchasing.  All sales will be handled directly between the artist and buyer.  Prices cannot be changed from those stated at submission.  SFVACC will receive NO commission on any and all sales of art from the exhibit or as a result of the exhibit.  If artwork is sold, the artist must notify the SFVACC so a red dot (signifying it’s been sold) and SOLD in the place of the price, can be added.  Any artwork without a sale price on the entry form will be considered “Not for Sale” (NFS). Collecting sales tax is the responsibility of the artist. Shipping and insurance shall be by mutual agreement between the buyer and artist. 

PROMOTION OF THE EXHIBIT
Promotion will be handled by the SFVACC, but we welcome artists promoting the exhibit as well. The exhibit’s prospectus will be available online at www.sfvacc.org/open-call.

LOCATION
This virtual exhibit may be viewed 24/7 on the SFVACC website - www.sfvacc.org > EXHIBITS > Current Exhibit.

Application Requirements

Application Requirements: See FORMAT FOR DIGITAL IMAGES above.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to artists and photographers working in all media except AI.