Artist Mentor Project (AMP) of San Diego is pleased to announce its first juried exhibition SoCal's Best- Upstarts and Innovators open to artists living in Southern and Baja California working in 2-D visual media. We are looking for exceptional emerging and mid-career artists who bring a fresh and innovative work to the conversation. We invite all, including established artists, on both sides of "our no borders border" to impress our juror with their ingenuity. The exhibition will be on display August 13 - September 2, 2021 at the Expressions Gallery at the Escondido Municipal Gallery 262 E. Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025 with a reception  and announcement of winners on August 14th 5:30-8:00 pm.  This is NOT a virtual exhibit.  It will be on the gallery walls!  This show has been generous sponser by a grant from the Negri Foundation.

 ELIGIBILITY:
This opportunity is open to artists residing in Southern and Baja California over the age of 18.  Each artist may submit a minimum of 2 paintings for consideration for $35. Entry fees are not refundable. All entries must be original without teacher assistance.  Selected artists must bring their work to the gallery during the set drop off times.  The venue is unable to receive shipments of artwork outside these hours.  The minimum size for this call is 8" x 10" and the maximum size is 48" w x 60" h. Submission fee: $35/min, $10 for each additional entry.

JUROR:
AMP is pleased to announce that Dr. Deborah Williams, owner & curator of Fresh Paint Gallery in La Jolla, CA will serve as the juror.
Dr. Williams has over fifteen years’ experience curating emerging and midcareer artists in India and U.S.  Her area of expertise is visual rhetoric, an academic cross-discipline that draws on semantics, psychology, discourse theory, and contemporary rhetorical theory.  One of the major tenets of visual rhetoric is that visual artifacts belong to systems of meaning that operate similarly to a language or discourse.  They "speak" according to the rules of a particular discourse and the discourse determines what "counts" as legitimate speech.  Dr. Williams has this to say about her selection process, "I look for art that adds something fresh to the conversation, preferring work that feels necessary over that which is merely decorative.  I am always looking for art that pushes against the limits of a discourse or breaks its rules.  I like to be surprised."

JURY PROCESS AND AWARDS:
Dr. Williams will make her selections based solely from the submitted entries.  Selected artworks that do not meet the expectations set forth in their applications may be removed from the exhibition at the juror's discretion.  If an award-winning artist is unable to bring the piece to the exhibition the prize will be forfeit and an alternate selection will be made by the juror.

JURY NOTIFICATION:
Juror's selections will be communicated to all applicants via CAFE during the week of 7/26/21.

AWARDS:
The awards will be selected by the juror from all accepted entries.
First Place:         $350
Second Place:    $200
Third Place:        $100
3 Honorable Mention Awards $25

DROP OFF OF WORK: Selected artists must bring their work to the gallery on Saturday August 7 11:00 am - 3:45 or Tuesday August 10th between 11:00 am -4:45 pm.  Selected winners who do not bring their work to the exhibition will forfeit their prize monies.  Please bring artwork through the front door off Grand Ave.

 We strive to protect your work.  To prevent possible damage, artwork must be appropriately prepared for exhibition when delivered. Two-dimensional work must be wired with sufficient gauge to support the weight of the work and be ready to hang.  If your work requires atypical hanging, please contact the Gallery prior to delivery for clearance.  Special hanging, display and/lighting requirement will be at the discretion of the EAP staff.  Multiple piece works must include a simple diagram showing installation positions. 

Artwork that fails to comply with entry requirements will be disqualified

AGREEMENT:
Submission of an entry form shall constitute agreement with all the conditions outlined in this prospectus.  AMP reserves the right to photograph and reproduce art for use in promotional material.  Artworks must be on view for the duration of the exhibition.

SALES AND LOAN AGREEMENT:
Escondido Municipal Gallery will retain 20% commission on any work sold during the exhibition. Commissions are paid out 30 days after the close of the exhibition.  All selected artists must submit a signed agreement and a W9 with Escondido Municipal Gallery at the time of delivery of their work.  See the legal agreement for more details.

SUBMISSIONS:
Accepted through July 14, 2021 until midnight MDT (Mountain Time).

CONTACT EMAIL: info@lisabebi.com/mail@escondidoarts.org

The gallery is free and open to the public.  The EAP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts agency established in December 1995. The Escondido Arts Partnership Municipal Gallery (EAPMG) provides a destination for visitors in downtown Escondido and is home to over 400 local artists. We offer free ongoing arts education, monthly exhibitions with free entry, and performance space. The venue is in a historically registered main street building close to public transportation and ADA compliant. As we border with Mexico, and being a military town San Diego is one of the most racially diverse regions in the United States of America.

 Public in-person access to the galleries will be contingent on COVID-19 health and safety regulations set forth by state guidelines.

AMP's mission is to promote and cultivate artistic excellence through inclusive arts education and coaching empowering artists and the art curious to find their authentic voice. At AMP we believe that creativity is our human birthright.  It renews our spirits, soothes our wounds, provides a vessel of communication, provides safe passage for our shadow worlds, and knows no borders.  www.artisteducation.org


Gallery address and hours:
262 East Grand Ave, Escondido, CA 92025
760.480.4101
mail@escondidoarts.org
Tuesday, 11:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday to Saturday, 11:00am - 4:00pm

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria