Call Description

Studio ACE Gallery invites artists of all levels and backgrounds to submit work for Common Threads: The Fabric of Our Community, a juried exhibition celebrating the rich, expressive world of textiles and fiber arts.

Textiles—among the oldest and most universal artistic mediums—carry stories in every stitch. Woven, sewn, dyed, layered, felted, quilted, knotted, or repurposed, fiber-based materials offer a tactile language that speaks to memory, identity, resilience, and cultural tradition. From the intimate textures of handwork to bold contemporary experiments with fabric, thread, and mixed media, textile art reminds us that creativity is something we all touch, wear, and share.

This exhibition seeks works that explore connection—connections between people, cultures, materials, and ideas. We welcome pieces that honor traditional craft, push the boundaries of fiber as a modern art form, or reimagine textiles in unexpected ways. Whether your work is deeply personal, abstract, conceptual, or rooted in community stories, we want to hear your voice.

Join us as we bring together the diverse perspectives that make up the fabric of our community!

About the Juror:

This exhibition will be juried by Michelle Montjoy (she/her), a multi-disciplinary artist based in Oceanside, California. A former public school art teacher, Michelle’s practice includes installation, sculpture, textiles and social practice. Recent projects include The Breathing Room at the New Children’s Museum- an interactive space designed for sensory sensitive individuals, Evidence, an ongoing performative stitching To Do- a mending project with Siobhan Arnold and Anna O’Cain, and River with Oceanside Museum of Art.

Michelle has received Creative Catalyst and California Arts Council Artists in Communities grants and is a 2023 CAC Established Artist awardee. Her work has been shown at MCASD, OMA, the San Diego International Airport, The Seabird Resort, Art Produce gallery and more. Deeply rooted in the incremental, Michelle’s work explores ideas about connection, family, and awareness.

About ACE Gallery and Studio ACE: 
Located in Oceanside, CA, Studio ACE was founded in 2016 by Executive Director Julia Fister and is dedicated to providing inclusive, affordable, and high-quality arts education for all ages and abilities, from toddlers to seniors, including free art programs for neurodivergent children, teens, and adults. ACE Gallery, part of Studio ACE, is an intimate exhibition space established in early 2024 to support the nonprofit’s arts programming.

ACE Gallery offers both emerging and established artists a welcoming space to share their work with the community, fostering creativity and connection. In addition, Studio ACE partners with various organizations to serve under-resourced communities and regularly participates in local fairs and festivals, offering free, family-friendly art activities tailored to each event.

Proceeds from artwork sales at ACE Gallery support both the exhibiting artists and Studio ACE’s mission to connect, inspire, and enrich lives through Arts, Community, and Education (ACE).

Application Requirements

Submission Details: 

ACE Gallery welcomes submissions of artworks in an array of media. See parameters below; for artwork in a medium not listed, please contact gallery@studioace.org before applying.

Submissions may include but are not limited to: 

Fiber art, vessels, wearable art, art quilts, traditional quilts, weaving, felting, knotting, basketry, mixed media (minimum 75% fiber art), textile art, sculptural, and experimental work.

Special Notes:

• For any artwork that will be hung, the maximum width is 36” and the maximum height is 72”.
• For any artwork that will be displayed on a pedestal, the maximum height is 24”, the maximum depth is 14”, and the maximum width is 14”.
• Weight limit for all artworks is 35 pounds (including packaging if artwork is shipped).
• Artwork requiring electrical connections cannot be accommodated.
• All artwork must arrive ready to install (ready to hang or display).
• Work requiring special handling is to be installed & removed by the artist.
• No accepted work may be substituted or exchanged for any reason.
• Work must be original to the artist and must be for sale.
• The split for all artwork sales is 60% to the artist and 40% to ACE Gallery.
• The artwork sale price listed by the artist when applying is the FINAL sale price and may not be changed after acceptance.
• All artwork details listed on the application are final and cannot be changed after acceptance (size, medium, sale price, etc.)
• Artist bio and/or brief information on artwork with photo is encouraged for Gallery Bio Book, when accepted. Please provide an 8 ½ x 11 PDF emailed to gallery@studioace.org or dropped off with artwork or shipped with artwork.

Important Dates: 

• Submissions Open: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
• Submission Deadline: Sunday, August 17, 2025, at Midnight (PST)
• Emailed Notification of Accepted Work: Friday, August 22, 2025
• Artwork Drop-off: Friday & Saturday, September 12 & 13, 2025 (11:00am–2:00pm)
• Exhibition Dates: Monday, September 20 – Friday, October 24, 2025
• Opening Reception: Saturday, September 27, 2025 (5:00–7:00 pm)
• Artwork Pick-up: Saturday, October 25, 2025 (11:00am–2:00pm)
• Artwork Shipping: Monday, October 27, 2025 (the week of)

Delivery or Shipping of Accepted Artwork: 

Accepted works can be either dropped off at the gallery or shipped at the artist's expense. See the following instructions and delivery schedules. 

In-person Artwork Drop-off: 

• All hand-delivered works will be dropped at ACE Gallery:
  • 3861 Mission Ave #B3, Oceanside, CA 92058
• Hand delivered artwork will be accepted on the following dates/times: ∙
  • Friday, February 13, 2026, from 11:00am – 2:00pm
  • Saturday, February 14, 2026, from 11:00am – 2:00pm

Shipped Artwork:

• All shipped works will be shipped at the cost of the artist to:
  • ABO/Attn: Bob Boon, 7930 Arjons Dr, STE A, San Diego, CA 92126

Shipped Artwork Must:

• Arrive by 4:00pm on Friday, February 13, 2026.
• Be insured for its full value.
• Be packed in a sturdy shipping box using materials that can be easily reused for return shipment.
• Include a prepaid return shipping label with barcode (UPS or FedEx) OR the artist must ensure a label is provided to ACE Gallery by the conclusion of the exhibition (see artwork return instructions below).

Pick-up and Return of Artwork:

Important Note: ACE Gallery does NOT have art storage. Unless other arrangements have been made, a late pick-up fee of $10 per day will be charged to the artist for:

• All artwork not picked up during the designated pick-up date/time.
• All artwork to be shipped back to the artist for which a return shipping label is not provided to ACE Gallery by the conclusion of the exhibition.

In-person Artwork Pick-up: 

• At ACE Gallery, Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 11:00am – 2:00pm

Shipped Artwork Return:

• Artwork will be shipped back to artists throughout the week following the conclusion of the exhibition (the week of Monday, March 30, 2026).
• Artists must provide a prepaid shipping label with a barcode (UPS or FedEx) for return shipment by the conclusion of the exhibition to ensure safe return of the work.

Eligibility Criteria

Entry Fees: 

• $25 for up to three (3) submissions.
• Additional submissions are welcome at a cost of $10 per image.
• Artists are encouraged to submit as many images as desired.