Call Description

Concept

After decades of serving local and regional artist, around 2021 we took note of gap in participation in our exhibitions from young adults.  In response we created the Emerging Perspectives Exhibition.  A juried exhibition for 18 to 35 year olds.

Accepted artists have their work on display through the month of April and have the opportunity to win both a grand prize award of $500, or a people's choice award of $250.

Accepted artwork will be announced on March 4. 

Exhibition Dates: April 4–26, 2026

Juror's Talk and Award Announcement: April 4, 2–3 p.m.

2026 Juror

Steven Pearson:

Steven Pearson is the Joan Develin Coley Chair in Creative Expression and the Arts and Professor of Studio Art at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland where he has been teaching studio art courses since 2004. He has served as the director of the college’s Esther Prangley Rice Gallery, an exhibition space for McDaniel students and
other emerging contemporary artists from the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond, since 2005.
 

Pearson was born in Johnstown, NY. Upon graduation from High School, he served honorably in the United States Navy. Pearson then received his Associate of Arts in Fine Art from Fulton-Montgomery Community College in Johnstown, NY, his Bachelor of Science in Studio Art from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY, and his Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the Leroy E. Hoffberger School of Painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD. During his training at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, Pearson’s work focused primarily on narrative figuration. After graduation, he painted still lifes, investigating the formal and conceptual nature of everyday objects. By appropriating formal compositional devices explored by modern and contemporary artists—such as Kazimir Malevich, Ad Reinhardt, Donald Judd, and Jules Olitski—Pearson constructed still lifes using commonplace objects, including cardboard boxes and paper lunch bags. While he was a resident at the Vermont Studio Center in 2003, Pearson’s work became increasingly abstract, while remaining committed to exploring the still life genre. During a residency at the Ragdale Foundation in Illinois in 2005, Pearson’s work further evolved to become essentially nonobjective, and remained that way until 2020, when Pearson's work shifted back towards still life and narrative figuration. Throughout these various shifts in Pearson’s painting styles,
order, structure and careful observation of the places he inhabits provide the connecting thread in his development, echoing his early experiences in the Navy.

Judging

The competition will be judged in two rounds:

1. The first round will be conducted virtually through the Delaplaine’s online exhibit entry portal, with the juror working remotely.  This round will determine which artworks will be accepted for exhibition.
2. The second round jurying for the Grand Prize Award will be conducted in person after the artwork has been installed.  The People's choice award will be determined by filled out ballots at the end of the exhibition.

Dropoff, Display, and Pickup

1. All artwork accepted for exhibition is to be hand delivered or shipped and received at the Delaplaine at 40 S. Carroll Street in Frederick, MD on Monday, March 23 through, Sunday, March 29, 2026, during our normal business hours (Monday–Saturday 9–5 pm, Sunday 11–5 pm).
   • Artwork shipped to the Delaplaine MUST include a return label for return shipping.
2. The Delaplaine will insure the artwork from the time of delivery until the designated pick-up time (for an amount that shall not exceed the sale price less commission).
3. All accepted artwork must remain on display for the duration of the Emerging Perspectives Exhibition.
4. Artwork may be picked up from the Exhibition from 4 pm to 5 pm on Sunday, April 26th, or 9 to 5 pm on Monday April 27th.
   • Any other pick-up arrangements must be made in advance by contacting Corey Frey, Delaplaine Exhibitions Manager, at 301-698-0656 ext. 108 or cfrey@delaplaine.org.
   • Any work left at the Delaplaine for longer than the designated pick-up dates may be disposed of at the Delaplaine's discretion.

Application Requirements

Artist Information

• Artist Full Name
• City and Country of Residence
• Phone
• Email
• Artist Statement
• Social Media Links (optional)
• Website (optional)

Artwork Information

• Work Samples: 1 to 3 Artworks with High Resolution images
• There are no theme, size or media requirements or restrictions for this exhibition.

Eligibility Criteria

Origin of Work 

• All artwork must be original in design and personal execution.
• Artworks must be the artist’s original work. No commercially made prints, giclees, or reproductions of an original work of art will be considered for exhibition.

Condition of Artwork at Dropoff, if Accepted

• Artwork must have been created by the applicant within the past two years. Artwork must not have been previously displayed at the Delaplaine. Artwork must remain on view for the duration of the exhibit. Artists are solely responsible for artwork preparation, delivery, and pick up.
• Accepted two-dimensional, wall-hanging work does not need to be framed but does need to be wired to a professional standard, delivered ready to hang. NO SAWTOOTH HANGERS; they do not work with the Delaplaine’s professional hanging system. Wire should be affixed to the frame using D-ring or strap hangers in one smooth line. Please make sure that the picture hanging wire used is a suitable strength for the weight of your work. Framed work should be secured using offset clips and screws (works on canvas) or using points (flat works with backing board). ABSOLUTELY NO TAPE, DUCT TAPE, MASKING TAPE, OR OTHER UNSTABLE METHODS FOR SECURING WORK TO ITS FRAME.
• Accepted work may be refused because of framing or condition.
• Artists accepted into the exhibition will be provided with a drop-off form and label for the back in the top right-hand corner with the following information:
  • Artist name
  • Title
  • Medium
  • Sale price or not for sale (NFS) indication with insurance value
  • Preferred phone number
  • Email address