Call Description

16th Annual Abstract Only! 

Abstract art only! Artwork must be non-representational. No recognizable figures, objects etc. All media welcomed in 2D, 3D and digital media. 

Juror: Codie M. King

Open to 2D, 3D and video artists in Hawaiʻi, and US. 

Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Island Art Alliance (HIAA) and the Hawai’i State Parks.

First entry free for Hawaii Island students.

Note: Maximum of five entries per artist, with $20 non-refundable entry fee for each submittal.

Important Dates

Exhibition Dates: August 14 - September 17 2026

Submission Deadline: July 17, 2026; 11:59pm HST 

Artist notification: Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Accepted Artwork Drop-off:

• Wailoa Center: Saturday, August 8, 2026 from 10:00am-1:00pm
• Kona (Kona Frame Shop Parking Lot)*: Friday, August 7, 2026 at 10:00am (artwork dimensions for transport cannot exceed 40"x40" including packaging)
• Off Island work: must be received by Friday, August 7. (Please see Shipping Details section below for more information)

The exhibition opens: August 14, 2026
Opening reception: August 14, 2026, 5:00pm - 7:00 pm
The exhibition closes: September 17th, 2026

Artwork Pick-up:

• Wailoa: Friday, September 18th, 10:00am-1:00pm
• Kona (Kona Frame Shop Parking Lot)*: Friday, September 18th, 10:00am
• Off-Island: Artworks will be shipped by September 30

*Kona pick-ups and drop-offs are in parking lot outside of Kona Frame Shop (73-5619 Kauhola St.) DO NOT contact folks at the the Kona Frame Shop to make arrangements. Please contact Wailoa Center. More info upon acceptance to the exhibit. 

Submitting Artwork

To enter, participants must have a CaFÉ account and create a portfolio.

• If you do not have an existing CaFÉ account, you must first create one in order to proceed to submitting artwork to this juried exhibition.
• For each artwork submission, you will need to upload an image and artwork information to your portfolio in CaFÉ.
• The maximum file size that will be accepted is 5 MB.
• For this call we highly recommend submitting high quality images with the longest edge at 1200 pixels, sRGB, jpeg.
• Once submitted and entry fees are paid, you cannot make changes to your submission or add further artworks.

To better showcase your 3D works, you can:

• Submit a collage of multiple photographs of your artwork. This will allow the juror to see the work from all angles.
• Submit a short video of the artwork. Take a video as you walk around the piece or from a variety of angles. Please note in the video description that the 3D object is the submission not the video itself.

When creating your CAFE account and portfolio, be ready with both an artists statement and description of each work. 

• Your artist's statement will be entered when creating your account. This can include a short bio, and/or your perspective as an artist.  (Max of 2000 characters)
• When uploading artwork images and information to your portfolio, please use the description section to convey the vision or story behind each work.  (Max of 2000 characters)

Both the artist statement and artwork description will be included in the exhibit documentation.

Need Help? Check out this helpful videos from CaFÉ:

Image Requirements: https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/uploading-media/

Preparing Images for Download: https://www.callforentry.org/preparing-your-image-files-for-upload/

Photographing your work: https://www.callforentry.org/photographing-artwork/

Entry Fees: 

$20 non-refundable entry fee per each submission. Maximum of five entries per artist. All images or videos must be submitted digitally and will be judged by jurors based upon files submitted.

Hawaii Island Student Discount - To encourage more local students to participate in the shows at Wailoa Center, HIAA offers a free first entry student discount for all HIAA-sponsored calls. 

This discount is available to all full time Hawaii Island students grade school through college, and can be redeemed using code 'HIStudent'.

We hope this initiative will encourage student participation in the exhibitions.
 

Acceptance:

Artists will be notified via email on the status of their application by Monday, July 20th 2026. Please make sure your CaFÉ account is updated with your current contact information to ensure you are receiving communication from Wailoa Center and HIAA.

Shipping Details for Off-Island Artists

IMPORTANT: Read ALL Shipping Requirements. More Shipping instructions will be provided if accepted into the exhibition. 

• Off-Island work must be received by Friday, August 7th 2026.
• Artists are responsible for all return shipping costs and payment arrangements. Please research shipping costs.
• Accepted artwork must be shipped in reusable packaging suitable for return shipment and include all packing materials necessary for repacking. 
• Artists must provide a valid FedEx account number and shipping instructions prior to the exhibition opening. UPS and USPS return shipping is not available.
• Wailoa Center volunteers will repack and ship unsold artwork using the artist’s designated carrier account. 
• Wailoa Center does not pay return shipping charges, purchase shipping insurance, obtain shipping quotes, or process carrier claims.

Failure to provide required shipping information may result in the artwork being ineligible for exhibition.

Shipping Address:
WAILOA CENTER
200 Piopio St. 
Hilo, Hawaii 96720

Sales:

For any work sold, 75% of sales goes to the artist and 25% goes to HIAA for support of artists, art opportunities and exhibitions at Wailoa Center.

Juror Information: 

Juror: Codie M. King 

Juror Statement

"It is a profound honor to return as the juror for the 16th Annual Abstract Only! exhibition. Having founded this exhibit in 2010 during my tenure as Director of the Wailoa Center, I remember the uncertainty of those early days. Sixteen years later, I am thrilled to see it stand as a cornerstone of the center’s calendar.

In selecting this year’s body of work, I am looking for pieces that honor the historical roots of abstraction while pushing the boundaries of innovation and materiality. Abstract art should challenge the imagination without the crutch of the recognizable. I find myself drawn to well-composed, spontaneous gestures of line, color, and mass. However, once the 'hook' is set, my focus shifts to the physical: the presentation must be impeccable. From the framing to the glass, every detail counts, right down to ensuring your work is free of dust and debris. Art is a personal journey you’ve chosen to share; present it with the respect it deserves.”

Juror Bio:

"I have traveled extensively and have been a studio artist for most of my life. My foundation was built during a successful BFA and MFA career in the Fine Art Crafts era of the late seventies on the East Coast, where I found the freedom to push traditional disciplines like ceramics, wood, and fiber into unconventional forms. After 23 years with the State of Hawai’i DLNR and serving as the Art Director for the Wailoa Center, I am now retired and my passion for making art remains as strong as ever.

I describe my work as organically abstract. My goal is to create sculptures that generate a specific energy—an 'It' that forces a viewer to pause and validate a feeling. Whether 'It' appears randomly in the world or within a formal exhibit, I am always paying attention to the expression, its details, and its craftsmanship. At 71, as a mother and grandmother, I’m still very much  involved with all aspects of art and look forward to taking in the show."

Prizes: 

Monetary prizes will be awarded. 

About Wailoa Center:

Located in Piʻopiʻo and the Wailoa River State Recreation Area, Wailoa Center is one of Hawai’i Island’s largest venues for showcasing the work of local and international artists. With exhibits that change monthly, the two galleries within Wailoa Center offer opportunities that provide inspiration and exposure to artists and community members alike. The Wailoa Center is free and open to the public.
 

About Hawaiʻi Island Art Alliance: 

Founded in 2015, Hawai`i Island Art Alliance (HIAA) is a non-profit organization supporting and inspiring art and culture in our community. HIAA is a completely volunteer-driven, whose current Mission is to concentrate on the support and production of a variety of happenings at the Wailoa Center. 

HIAA sponsors juried and non-juried exhibits, educational and cultural programming at Wailoa Center throughout the year.  Through its contributions at Wailoa Center, HIAA hopes to positively impact the art and cultural community on Hawaiʻi Island.

Application Requirements

• Completed Portfolio on CaFÉ with 1 - 5 artwork samples.
• Submission fee: $20 per entry (non-refundable).
• Artist Statement (filled out when making your CAFE account)
• Description of artwork (filled out when creating your CAFE portfolio)

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to Hawaii State residents (please research shipping costs). (CHANGE FOR EACH EXHIBIT)
• Open to any media (2D, 3D, video, etc).
• No reproductions or AI generated or assisted art will be accepted.
• For 2D works larger than 7’ tall x 9’ wide’ or 3D works taller than 10' or wider 6' feet, please contact Wailoa Center.
• Artwork must have been created in the past four years.
• Artwork can NOT have been previously exhibited at Wailoa Center.
• This exhibit will be displayed in a State Parks facility, thus artwork with sensitive subject matter (i.e. nudity, offensive religious or political statements, and or violence) may be juried out.
• If accepted, all work MUST be gallery quality installation ready to hang or be easily installed. 2D framed wall art must use gallery wire with d-rings or equivalent. No sawtooth hardware.
• If you have any questions regarding you or your artwork's eligibility, please contact Wailoa Center at (808) 933-0416 or dlnr.sp.wailoacenter@hawaii.gov

Please click the "Legal Terms" button below to read all rules for entry.