Call Description

Step into a realm of strange and peculiar things. This exhibit will have you looking twice, wondering if what you’re seeing could really be, and coming to view exhibits more than once to take it all in. Take a walk on the wilder side with us and venture down a path of strange and unusual.

Art, regardless of medium, will shine a light on what sits just inside the shadows. This is an opportunity for artists to bring to light the odd and quirky things that inhabit our lives, or the farther reaches of our minds.

Open, but not limited, to the following mediums: taxidermy, creepy fiber arts, bone and skull art, photography, acrylic, oil, and more. We welcome a broad interpretation of this theme. 

Show dates are March 3, 2026 - April 14, 2026, with the opening reception held Saturday, March 6, 6-8 p.m.  Cash award opportunities total $1,400. Visual artists, sculptors, and photographers 18 and older from the Great Lakes Region (including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York) are invited to apply.

Important Dates

• January 31: Deadline for Entry
• February 18-22: Artwork arrives at gallery
• March 3-April 14: Show open to the public
• March 6, 6-8 PM: Opening Reception
• April 14-18: Artwork is picked up or shipped out at artist's expense

Cash Award Opportunities

• Best of Show: $500
• Second Place: $300
• Third Place: $200
• Viewer's Choice: $100
• Two Honorable Mentions: $100 Each
• Sponsor's Award: $100

Our gallery, located inside the historic Alberta House, is a block from the Soo Locks, which attract over 500,000 visitors a year. The Sault Area Art Center is located in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, MI - home of the Soo Locks - part of a major shipping route. From our location, freighters can be seen up close maneuvering through the St. Mary's River. The area is steeped in history and surrounded by natural resources for those that enjoy the outdoors. Artists are encouraged to attend the show in person!

Application Requirements

• This juried competition is open to all US residents 18 and older from the Great Lakes Region (including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York)
• Each artist may submit images of recent (within the last 2 years), original, artwork in any medium, including sculpture, photography, fiber, and mixed media.
• 2-D and 3-D art is accepted. All 2-D art must be gallery ready to hang
• Each applicant may submit 1 image of up to 3 pieces of work
• Must be original work; no reproductions of artwork will be accepted.
• All work must be for sale (there is a 30% gallery commission)
• Shipped work must include a pre-paid return shipping label if artist expects the work to be returned at the end of exhibit.
• By entering work in this exhibition, the artist gives SAAC the right to use images for digital and print promotional purposes, including use on social media.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant must be 18 and older living in the Great Lakes Region (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York).