Call Description

Mark Arts in Wichita, Kansas, invites artists to submit works for a new exhibition titled Land That I Love, in conjunction with the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence. Artists are encouraged to submit works that reflect the beauty of America. Artwork should celebrate the land, wildlife, and diverse communities we call home. This may include landscapes, cityscapes, portraits, and scenes of everyday life.  Media can include, but is not limited to, watercolor, oil, gouache, acrylic, sculpture, photography, ink, printmaking, graphite, charcoal, ceramics, pastel, collage, metal working, enameling, textiles, and mixed media.  Artwork must be for sale, created in the last two years, and not previously exhibited in Wichita, Kansas.

AWARDS

Mark Arts is proud to offer $3,000 in cash awards to attract leading artists from across the country, including $1,500 for first place. 

JURORS

Tina Garrett is a member of the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Portrait Society of America, Allied Artists of America, Women Artists of the West, and Oil Painters of America. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in Visual Communication from the Colorado Institute of Art Denver. She studied the Selective Start Method described in Alla Prima by Living Master Artist and author Richard Schmid and was inducted as a Putney Painter in 2020. Tina studied in workshops and/or in private lessons with Romel de la Torre, Casey Baugh, Aaron Westerberg, Jeremy Lipking, Dennis Perrin, Michelle Dunaway, Stanka Kordic, Kathy Anderson and Daniel Keys.

Steven S. Walker is a member of Oil Painters of American Plein-Air Painters of the Southeast and the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society. He earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts at Virginia Commonwealth University with a concentration in illustration and his master’s in fine arts from Marywood University. Steven has been included in several local and national juried competitions including the Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional and National exhibitions, Richeson 75 Landscape Competition, Plein Air Salon, and the Art Renewal Center. He was also part of a statewide traveling exhibition with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He was recently given signature status in the Oil Painters of America.

Soon Y. Warren is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, Southern Watercolor Society, the Society of Watercolor Arts, and the Texas Watercolor Society-Purple Sagebrush Society.  She earned an associate degree in commercial art from Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton, Virginia, and began painting full-time in 1998. Her artwork has been recognized in the Watercolor Magic Magazine Competition, the Jack Richeson Grand Prize Awards, the Artist’s Magazine Competition, Splash 8, Splash 10, Splash 11, Watercolor Artist magazine, and she won first place in the North Light Book Cover competition. She is the author of Vibrant Flowers in Watercolor and Painting Vibrant Watercolor: Discover the Magic of Light, Color and Contrast. 

JUDGING

All entries will be judged from digital images submitted through CaFE Entry or by digital photography submitted with paper form. If upon delivery, an accepted artwork is found to have been misrepresented it may be disqualified. Award winners will be selected by the juror and all decisions are final.

CALENDAR

·         Friday, April 3: Mailed and hand-delivered entries must be received by 5:00 pm CST

·         Friday, April 3: Online registration closes at 11:59 pm Central Time

·         Friday, April 10: Jury results sent by 5:00 pm CST

·         Friday, May 8: Deadline for receipt of artwork

·         Friday, May 29: Exhibition Opening Reception

·         Saturday, July 18: Exhibition closes

·         Tuesday, July 21: Hand-delivered artwork picked up

·         Friday, July 31: Shipped artwork released to carrier

CATALOG

Mark Arts will publish an illustrated catalog with all accepted entries. A complimentary copy will be mailed to each accepted artist at the conclusion of the exhibition.

Application Requirements

MEDIA LIMITATIONS

Artists may submit up to four original two-dimensional or three-dimensional works. Media may include, but is not limited to watercolor, oil, gouache, acrylic, sculpture, photography, ink, printmaking, graphite, charcoal, ceramics, pastel, collage, textiles, and mixed media. Works created by artificial intelligence will not be accepted. Artwork must be ready to exhibit, for sale, created between January 1, 2024-April 3, 2026, and not previously exhibited in Wichita, Kansas.  New media and video, as well as artwork that hangs from the ceiling, will not be accepted due to gallery limitations. All artworks must be display-ready with display hardware included. Two-dimensional work must be glazed or framed appropriately. Three-dimensional artwork will be displayed on pedestals. Artwork should promote an environment conducive to welcoming all audiences to Mark Arts, including families, school tours and community outreach programs. All artworks must be for sale.

Eligibility Criteria

ELIGIBILITY

Mark Arts encourages artists of diverse backgrounds and perspectives to submit work for consideration. The exhibition is open to all artists living and working in the United States, both amateur and professional.