Call Description

Please download prospectus, with complete show information, here: Placerville Arts Association.

The 60th National Mother Lode Art Exhibition is a prestigious juried art exhibition sponsored by Placerville Arts Association (PAA), located in El Dorado County, California. The exhibit has grown over the years into one of the most prominent national exhibits in the area. Now hosted at the Mills Station Arts and Culture Center (MACC) in Rancho Cordova, California, for the fifth consecutive year, this dynamic exhibit features artworks from across the United States. With an open theme that does not adhere to the show’s name, each exhibition is unique, shaped by the distinctive selections of the juror. This show is a must-see, offering a diverse array of classic and contemporary art that captures the creativity and talent of artists nationwide. The selected art has included a large variety of media, including painting, sculpture, photography, textiles and jewelry, among others. This year’s awards total over $4250, including a $700 Best of Show. Members of PAA have an opportunity to garner awards not open to non-members. (Please see Membership in the "View Rules and Terms to Apply" section.)

Juror and Judge - Debra Kreck-Harnish. Debra is a Northern California artist who has lived, worked, and traveled throughout the United States and Europe. She has worked as a web designer and a publisher’s representative. Debra attended the Institut für Europäische Studien in Vienna, Austria. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from Alfred University in New York. She is a lifelong creative recycler: “trash,” she believes, “is simply a failure of imagination.” Over the past fifteen years, Debra has put her imagination to work, building complex and eloquent mixed-media assemblages out of discarded objects.To learn more about Debra, please go to www.kreck.me.

Exhibit Location: Mills Station Arts and Culture Center (MACC)
10191 Mills Station Road, Rancho Cordova, CA 95827 (This is NOT a mailing address.)

Exhibit Days and Times: Thursday, November 5th through Saturday, November 21st, 2026 • Thursdays & Fridays: 2pm - 7pm and Saturdays: 11am - 4pm • Sundays & Mondays: Closed • Tuesdays & Wednesdays: by appointment.

Entries Open: Monday, June 8th, 2026.

Deadline for Entry: Friday, September 16th, 2025 at 10:59pm PDT. Enter early, as technical help may not be available. No artwork will be accepted after this date and time.

Online Jury Process: Monday, September 21st through the week of October 4th, 2026.

Accept/Decline Notices: Week of October 4th, 2026.

Accepted Entries Shipped: Artwork must arrive between Monday, October 12th and Saturday, October 24th, 2026. Ship artwork only by FedEx. Please use residential address: Placerville, CA, USA, 95667 to calculate shipping costs. Additional information will be sent once art has been accepted. Artwork shipped via U.S. Postal Service or UPS CANNOT be accepted.

Hand-deliver Art: Tuesday, October 27th, 2026, 10am - 6pm at the MACC (address above).

Last Day of Show: Saturday, November 21st, 2026, 11am - 4pm

Pick Up Art at MACC: Monday, November 23rd, 2026, 10am - 6pm. Storage is NOT available. All work must be picked up. Work left after Monday, November 23, 2025 at 6pm, will become the property of PAA.

Please click and read "View Rules and Terms to Apply" button at bottom.

Application Requirements

Conditions of Entry: Entry into this exhibition constitutes agreement with all conditions set forth in this Prospectus and forms; this is your commitment to participate. Accepted work must remain for the duration of the show. Please do not submit the same art in two overlapping shows. By entering work into this show, you are committing to exhibiting it if accepted. Accepted artwork withdrawn, due to sale or otherwise, affects the show and takes a spot from another potential artist. 

Artwork Specifications: 
Two-Dimensional Work - Must not exceed 48” wide by 72” tall by 6” deep, including mat and frame if applicable. Diptychs and triptychs are considered one piece and are not to exceed the above dimensions. Each hanging piece may not exceed 30 pounds Canvas greater than or equal to 1-1/4” deep may be unframed but all edges must be neatly painted or image must continue around all sides. Cradle boards greater than or equal to 1-1/4” deep may be unframed and may be left unpainted. Canvases and cradle boards less than 1-1/4” must be framed. All pieces must be ready to install. The backs of work to be hung must be wired with D-rings, with exposed wire ends covered. Plexiglass is strongly recommended for all shipped artwork. We realize certain pieces may need to be hung differently from these specifications, i.e. quilts, fiber arts. Contact show chair with questions regarding these specifications before completing your entry.

Three-Dimensional Work - Sculptures to be placed on pedestals must fit safely on a 24” x 24” space and must be able to be displayed securely on a level surface. Free-standing sculptures must fit within a 4-foot x 4-foot square and may not be more than 6 feet tall. Sculptures over 50 pounds are to be installed by the artist and must meet gallery fire and safety code rules. If shipping, art weighing more than 40 pounds and larger than 4 foot wide x 6 foot long must be shipped differently. Contact show chair prior to entering. All free-standing work must be stable and safe for viewing. If work needs additional support, that support must be provided by the artist. Contact show chair with questions regarding these limitations before completing your entry.

Entry Fees: $25 (includes PayPal fees) for the first entry and $15 for each additional entry, up to 10 submitted pieces, of which up to 2 may be accepted. Entry fees are nonrefundable and are due upon entry. Fees are the same for PAA members and non-members. All entries and fees must be made through CaFE.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all artists residing in the USA. No theme. Entries must be original artworks created by the submitting artist. No giclees or other reproductions of original work allowed, except photography and other digital art. Artwork must have been produced between 2023 through the current show deadline and not have been previously shown in a Mother Lode Art Exhibition. All media except installations will be considered. Videos may be accepted only if they can be shown on a screen provided by the artist which can stand on a 24” square pedestal. Accepted art must be identical to the image submitted for entry. No substitutions.

Please click and read "View Rules and Terms to Apply" button below.