That Which Surrounds You
A Virtual Exhibition

June 19 – August 1, 2021
Juror, Asya Abdrahman

Deadline for Entries:  Friday, April 30, 2021 (10:59 Pacific Time)
Online Judging: May 1 - 10
Artists Notified: May 12
Preview for Members & Exhibiting Artists: Thursday, June 17, 6 - 8 pm
Exhibition Opens (to the public): Saturday, June 19, 12 pm

Art has always been an important way to describe and convey our impressions of the world around us. For many, in the past year of lockdown and isolation, the world has been limited to that which surrounds us: our homes, our gardens, our immediate family. Yet, at the same time, we are keenly aware of the societal environment that engulfs our personal lives and communities. Artists are invited to share their experiences of that which surrounds them, whether interpreted literally as one’s physical surroundings and companions, the environment or allegorically as one’s thoughts, fears, hopes, feelings, values, or other concepts.

All media will be considered, including painting, printmaking, photography, drawing, sculpture, book art, and video. 

JUROR

Asya Abdrahman is an Oakland and San Francisco artist/curator, world builder and multi-disciplinary artist who considers the intersection of cultural identity, human rights and the environment in her work. Of Somali, Eritrean, and Ethiopian heritages, she fled her East African homeland during a time of regional wars. Abdrahman’s work promotes cultural and ecological survival, advanced through her use of human, technological, natural, found, and recycled resources.

In addition to exhibiting her art, Abdrahman is the founder of Sun Village Artisan Corner, Wisdom's Exchange, POST11NINE, Pay It Forward (PIF) Cafe in collaboration with The Exploratorium and SF Coffee Cruiser. Abdrahman produces and curates exhibitions at Pro Arts Gallery and Alena Museum. Her work was featured at Museum of African Diaspora. In 2019/2020 her artwork will be featured at Ashara Ekundayo Gallery, Marin County Civic Center and Root Division Gallery. She is currently an XIR (Explorer In Residence) for CalCEF at New Energy Nexus where she offers clean energy and zero-waste micro-business classes at a local mobile urban art and economic project, Sun Village Artisan Corner, to overcome the barriers to clean energy in underserved communities.
 

ENTRY PROCESS
Artists may submit one application. One application allows you to submit up to 6 artworks with appropriate payment of entry fees.

IMAGES TO SUBMIT
Up to 6 images may be uploaded...and a maximum of 6 artworks may be submitted. For optimal juror viewing, submit the highest quality images. For each image file, 1 MB is the minimum size; maximum file size for each still image is 5 MB. If your photo software specifies quality levels instead of pixels (i.e., you are submitting an image directly from a cell phone), choose "actual size" or “very high quality.”

The exhibition is planned as an online, virtual exhibition. Good lighting, color, and cropping are essential for the best appearance of your artwork.

Do not include your name in any of your file titles. Use the artwork title to name the files. For technical questions or assistance with your image files, and for video/audio file guidelines, visit https://www.callforentry.org/image_prep.phtml.

CONCEPT STATEMENT, OPTIONAL
A brief explanation describing your concept to the juror may be submitted during the application process. This statement will be seen by the juror. Omit your name from this statement. This is not your artist statement which can be submitted upon invitation to the exhibition.

FEES AND PAYMENT
Entry fee is $35 (or $25 for current Arts Benicia members; selected at checkout) for up to 3 artworks; an additional $5 fee is required for any additional entries, up to a maximum of 6. For example, to submit 5 entries, a non-member artist will pay $35 for the first three entries, plus an additional $10 ($5 each for two additional), for a total of $45.

PLEASE NOTE: This call on CaFE is set up to REQUIRE a minimum of THREE IMAGES (entries). If you wish to enter only one work, please include the same work three times to meet the minimum. If you wish to enter only two works, please include one of the two entries twice to meet the minimum of three. UNLESS YOU ENTER THREE IMAGES, YOUR ENTRY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. THIS IS BECAUSE CAFE IS NOT SET UP TO ALLOW A MINIMUM OF ONE ENTRY WHILE ALSO PERMITTING UP TO THREE ENTRIES FOR THE $35 ENTRY FEE. Questions about this? send me an email -- jean@artsbenicia.org
 

Fee may be paid through CaFE using a credit card or Paypal.

Entry fees are not refundable for any reason, in whole or in part. Arts Benicia members receive a discount on the entry fee, by selecting member at checkout. To review other benefits of becoming an Arts Benicia member, including NARM benefits, or to join online before submitting your entry, visit artsbenicia.org.

NOTIFICATION OF JURY RESULTS
The deadline is April 30, at 10:59 PM, PDT. An email will be sent via CaFE to all submitting artists by May 12 with jury results. Additionally, the results will be available in CaFE artist accounts after May 12. Arts Benicia will produce and distribute promotional materials in digital formats and make them available to exhibiting artists at no cost.

TECHNICAL ISSUES AND SUPPORT
If you have never used CaFE before, you will need to register your name and email address with them. This is free and allows us to communicate with applicants more easily.

Be aware that your “portfolio” in CaFE is not the same as your application in CaFE. You can save your application in CaFE at any time, and return to it later, before the deadline. For technical CaFE issues, please see CaFE‘s help page. CaFE also provides telephone assistance, M-F, during Mountain Time business hours.

CONTRACT
All artists with accepted artwork must provide a signed exhibition contract to participate.

ART SALES
Artwork must be available and for sale. Arts Benicia will retain 40% of art sales during this exhibition and mail a check to the Artist at the postal address the Artist provides above, in the amount equal to 60% of the sales price declared by the Artist in this contract or CaFE application (and either confirmed or amended on the Inventory Form, after selection to the exhibition), within 30 days of the exhibition closing date. The Artist agrees Arts Benicia is not responsible for any commission, division of sales, or financial obligation between the Artist and any other gallery, organization, or person. Arts Benicia handles all art sales, including sales tax. Artists are responsible to arrange with the buyer for the shipping, delivery, or pick-up of sold work in a timely fashion. The buyer is responsible for any shipping cost.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Selected artists juried into the exhibition will be asked to submit their bio, artist statement, and resume, to be linked to the Arts Benicia exhibition website and/or made available within the gallery. These materials are not required until after artist selection into the exhibition.

CONTACTING ARTS BENICIA
The Arts Benicia gallery and office are currently closed due to the shelter-in-place restrictions in Benicia and Solano County; however, staff work remotely from their homes and will respond to emails and phone messages (see contact information elsewhere in this prospectus) during business days, generally Wednesday through Friday. 

ABOUT ARTS BENICIA
Arts Benicia is a community-based non-profit organization offering diverse and relevant exhibitions in its gallery and at other venues in Benicia, and provides engaging public programs, creative workshops for adults, and inspiring youth arts educational programming. Located in the historic Arsenal, Arts Benicia has been a vital part of the Bay Area regional art scene for over 34 years, supporting artistic development and enriching the larger community.

POLICIES
Arts Benicia has a history of selling artworks at every exhibition. Upon sale, a check and purchaser information will be mailed to the artist within 30 days after exhibition closure, to the address provided in the Exhibition and Consignment Agreement. Artists receive 60% on the sale of their work. Arts Benicia, a non-profit organization, receives 40%. Arts Benicia also bears all the sales transaction fees and collects and reports sales tax on artwork sales.

Entry fees are not refundable. Only use the member entry price if you are a current member, otherwise your entry will not be juried.

RELEASES AND WARRANTIES
Artists agree to release Arts Benicia for damages in shipping or delivery. 

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria