Call Description

Northwest Expressions is a juried exhibit presenting the contemporary two- and three-dimensional works by artists ages 16 and older from Washington and Oregon. All submissions will be juried online by Northwind Art juror Anne Pfeiffer. The selected works will be exhibited at Northwind Art’s Jeanette Best Gallery, 701 Water St. in Port Townsend, Washington, from June 25 through August 10, 2026.

Entries must be original, entirely the work of the entrant, and executed within the last three years. No not-for-sale entries will be accepted. The sale price of the artwork must be set by the artist at the time of submission.

Artists may enter two-dimensional and three-dimensional works, including jewelry and photography. 

Artists may submit up to three individual pieces of artwork as part of one application. 

The digital image of each artwork submitted as part of the application should represent the quality and nature of the work. Work that is different from the original submitted images may not be accepted. Artists must submit an image showing the artwork in its entirety, including the frame. Only one image of each artwork may be submitted (if submitting three separate works, please submit one photo of each). 

Accepted artwork must be hand-delivered and picked up (if not sold). No shipped work will be accepted.

Awards
One (1) $250 Jurors’ Choice Award
One (1)  $250 People’s Choice Award

Accepted artists will be notified of the Jurors’ Choice Award recipient the day the exhibit opens. 

Accepted artists will be notified of the People’s Choice award recipient the day the exhibit closes. 

Fees
The $35 application fee covers submission of up to three separate pieces of artwork as part of one application.
All fees are non-refundable. These entry fees go toward awards and exhibit operating costs.

Selection Process
Artwork for the exhibit will be chosen by juror Anne Pfeiffer. She will evaluate the quality and creative voice of each piece. The final artwork selections will reflect a variety of media, techniques, and styles. 

About the Juror
Anne Pfeiffer is an artist and educator who lives, explores, and paints on the Olympic Peninsula. Retired from a 30-year career teaching art in public schools from high school to college levels, she continues to teach a variety of courses at Northwind Art School in Port Townsend. As a dedicated educator, Anne supports any creative adventure and takes great joy in watching the artistic growth of her students.

As an artist, Anne uses her awareness of color relationships, mark making, and composition to express the power of her surroundings. She paints in oil and gouache, and considers plein air paintings as reflections of the light and of the artist: imperfect and unique, and always with something to teach her. Both nature and painting history are her inspirations. As for her formal education, Anne holds a Master’s degree in painting and has studied in workshops with several renowned Colorists and American Impressionists.

About Northwind Art
Built on a strong foundation of community, Northwind Art was founded in January 2021 when two established art organizations, Port Townsend School of the Arts and Northwind Arts Center, joined together. We are now known simply as Northwind Art. We are a nonprofit organization that puts artists at the heart of all we do. Three main pillars, EDUCATION, EXHIBITS, and ARTIST RESOURCES are the focus of our work and mission. Our incredible community of donors, partners, and grant organizations make it all possible.

Calendar
March 20: Call for entries opens.

May 29, 11:59 pm PDT: Application deadline.

May 30 - June 5: Jurying period.     

June 6: Notification to artists of accepted artwork. Artists will be notified by email whether or not they are accepted. 

June 19- 22, 12 pm-5 pm PDT: Artists deliver artwork to Jeanette Best Gallery.

June 25, 12 pm PDT: Northwest Expressions exhibition opens to the public; Juror’s Choice Award recipient announced.

July 4, 5 pm-8 pm PDT: Saturday Art Walk public reception.

August 10, 5 pm PDT: Exhibition closes, People’s Choice Award recipient announced

August 13, 12 pm-5 pm PDT: Artists pick up unsold artwork from Jeanette Best Gallery.

Drop-off and Pick-up location
Northwind Art Jeanette Best Gallery 
701 Water Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368

Drop-off and Pick-up times
June 19 - June 22 , 12 pm-5 pm PDT: Artists drop off artwork at Jeanette Best Gallery.

August 13, 12 pm-5 pm PDT: Artists pick up unsold artwork from Jeanette Best Gallery.

Application Requirements

Submitting on CaFE
Artists may submit a maximum of three (3) different artworks in their application. Information provided during the CaFE submission must match the artwork submitted for the online jurying.

Eligibility Criteria

This is an exhibit for residents of Washington and Oregon only. Artists must be 16 years of age or older. Artwork will be juried online and exhibited at Northwind Art's Jeanette Best Gallery in Port Townsend, Washington. Artwork must be hand delivered and picked up (if not sold); no shipped work will be accepted.

Sales and Recognition: Should your work(s) sell, Northwind Art will pay you a wholesale price equal to 50% of the retail selling price. Should your work sell, you agree to complete a W9 form upon request. Northwind Art reserves the right to use art images for the purpose of promotion and marketing. Prices are set at the time of submission. Art buyers may pick up their purchases on or after August 13 during our open gallery hours (12pm-5pm PDT Wednesday-Monday).

Conditions of Delivery: All artwork must be delivered in person for exhibition. All hanging artwork should be ready to hang with wire. Very few exceptions will be made for small artworks that can't be hung with wire. If art is not suitably hang- or display-ready, we will ask the artist to do so at time of delivery. Northwind Art is not liable for damage to works on paper that do not have surface protection. 

Every artwork must include artist’s name, the title of the artwork, and the retail price before delivery. This information needs to be attached to the back of hanging work or on the bottom of 3-D pieces.

Every work (painting, photography, or other) that is to be displayed on the wall must have some form of hanging attachment.

Highly preferred hanging hardware are D-rings/strap hangers.

Please Avoid:

● Eye hooks 

● Screws/nails

● D-rings sticking from the top of the frame as a hanging piece.

● Loose wire ends

● Alligator/sawtooth hangers (a very few exceptions for tiny works that can’t be wired)

Place hanging rings roughly ⅓ of the way down the frame. Coated wire, double looped through side rings, is preferred, and wire cuts must be clean. 

The top point of the wire should come to roughly a minimum of 3-4 inches below the top of the frame. Leave enough space/play in hanging wire for staff (and a purchaser) to reach behind and hang the work on the wall (should not be wired taught straight across the frame).

We use single-point Floreat hangers (single, double, or triple nails), which can hold work of almost any weight. Usually, double-hook hanging (two separate hooks spaced some distance apart) is unnecessary, except for some very wide and vertically short work. So please wire for single-hook hanging. Any questions at all, please ask. We’re glad to help!

If using previously used frames, please refurbish to new condition. Please ensure clean/finished sides on work that isn’t framed (such as gallery-wrap canvases). Matting should be clean with good cuts and no dust/debris inside the glass.

If the wiring/hanging hardware does not meet the above standards or if the work arrives without the affixed information, we will ask you to please alter it before we accept the work from you.