The Acrylic International Biennial Juried Exhibition will spotlight 45 outstanding paintings that demonstrate the variety of subjects, styles, and techniques possible in the acrylic medium, and the diversity and skill of artists working in acrylic today.

Kenosha Public Museum (KPM) is excited to carry on the legacy of the International Society of Acrylic Painters (ISAP), who have generously supported this new biennial exhibition through an endowment to the museum. This year only, KPM will honor ISAP Signature Status for Qualifying artists and those eligible for Signature Master Status.

Selections and Awards Juror: John Jude Palencar.

Entry and payment will only be accepted through CaFÉ (Call for Entries).

Artist's entries will be blind-scored for exhibition using the callforentry.org jurying system. Selected artists will be notified May 2nd – please watch your email inbox!

Paintings on exhibition will be judged for awards in the gallery on September 23rd. The gallery will be closed during judging.

• Best of Show — The ISAP Legacy Award: $2,000
• First Place: $1,000
• Second Place: $750
• Third Place: $500
• Honorable Mentions: Merchandise and gift certificates from our sponsors.

SCHEDULE

CaFÉ Deadlines (online entry, selections judging) are in the Mountain Time Zone/Colorado. Kenosha Public Museum is in the Central Time Zone/Chicago. 

• Open for Entries on CaFÉ: January 17th, 2022
• Entry Deadline: April 17th at 11:59pm Mountain Time/Colorado
• Notice of Acceptance: May 2nd – Please watch your email!
• Paintings due at KPM: July 11th – July 17th
• Dates of Exhibition: August 20th – November 6th, 2022 (Live and Online)
• Awards Judging: September 23rd (in the gallery)
• Award Winners Announced: September 23rd/24th
• Palencar Workshop & Public Reception: September 24th at KPM
• Exhibition Closes: November 6th, 5pm Central Time
• Return of Paintings: The week of November 7th

ABOUT THE VENUE

Kenosha Public Museum—Natural History and Art (KPM) is one of the City of Kenosha’s three Smithsonian Affiliate museums accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Located on the harbor in Kenosha’s Downtown Historic District, KPM welcomes thousands of visitors every year. Admission is free, with suggested donation.

Kenosha, Wisconsin is located midway between Chicago and Milwaukee on the shore of Lake Michigan, offering outstanding local and regional amenities, transportation, public parks and beaches, cultural attractions, and events.

Please visit the museum website for complete information on scheduled programs, workshops, current hours, and updates. KPM is in the Central Time Zone/Chicago. Click this link to visit our website https://museums.kenosha.org/public/

ABOUT THE 2022 SELECTIONS AND AWARDS JUROR

John Jude Palencar, is an American artist and instructor whose award-winning acrylic paintings are filled with visual allegories, symbols and archetypes. His hauntingly surrealist and fantastical works have been exhibited in the U.S. and Europe, including the Canton Museum of Art, Butler Institute of American Art, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and featured in a solo exhibition at the National Museum, Dublin, Ireland. His countless honors include recent awards from the National Society of Painters in Casein & Acrylic, and American Watercolor Society.

Palencar has also been recognized by numerous societies for nearly half-a-century of outstanding contributions to the field of illustration. His book cover art for such authors as H.P. Lovecraft, J.R.R. Tolkien, Ursula LeGuin, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Octavia Butler, George R.R. Martin, and Stephen King--to name just a few--has been published in over 30 countries. His clients include Time Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, National Geographic, Nat. Geo. Television, Lucas Arts, Paramount Pictures, and Vivendi Universal. 

John Jude Palencar lives in Medina, Ohio, with his wife Lee, who is also an artist and teacher.

Application Requirements

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

For full details of Prospectus, please click VIEW LEGAL AGREEMENT at the bottom of this call page.

Adult artists age 18 and older painting in acrylic are invited to participate in this International exhibition.

Submitted media/digital images must be a minimum of 1200 pixels on the longest side, jpeg format only, 72 ppi/dpi resolutions, 5 MB maximum file size.

Entry Fees are $35 for 1 entry, $5 for each additional entry up to 5 total entries. Only 1 entry may be chosen per artist. Entry fees are non-refundable. If you have any questions, please contact KPM by email or phone before submitting your entry on CaFÉ. 

Accepted entries must be shipped or hand-delivered, to be received at KPM from July 11th through July 17th, 2022. Complete shipping instructions will be provided to selected artists. KPM will only contact artists whose entries have not arrived, whose received entries must be returned, or to resolve an issue that can be corrected in time for exhibition.

Artists should contact KPM immediately with any change of address or contact information, if they have questions about their entry, shipping, or are experiencing unexpected difficulties meeting the schedule.  

Received Paintings must include a pre-paid return shipping label and art handling fee of $35, reduced to $20 for hand delivery or using a professional art shipping box (heavy cardboard with plastic and foam liners). 

Hand-delivered paintings will be received during regular museum hours at the KPM Gift Shop/Reception Desk.

Artists should insure paintings in transit. KPM insures paintings while at the museum. 

The emphasis of this exhibition is acrylic painting. We welcome traditional as well as innovative approaches which explore and expand the creative limits of the acrylic medium. While choosing your best works to enter, please give consideration to the broad age range and diversity of KPM visitors.

Received paintings must pass final screening; rejected entries will be returned immediately. KPM reserves the right to utilize non-damaging methods to authenticate artist’s entries.

REQUIREMENTS OF ART ENTRIES:

• Painting was completed within the past 3 years and is the artist's own work.
• Imagery is not derivative of an existing work by another artist.
• The visible surface layer (image) is at least 80% acrylic paint.
• Finished work is less than 40" (about 1 meter) in height & width.
• Is framed or unframed in appropriate style and materials.
• Is NOT framed with glass. Only acrylic (i.e. Plexiglass) may be used.
• Is ready to hang with hardware attached, and weighs less than 25lb (12kg).
• Is labeled securely on back with the CaFÉ entry information.
• Will arrive between July 11th – July 17th, shipped or hand-delivered.
• Will include a pre-paid return shipping label and art handling fee/check.
• Will remain on display for the duration of the exhibition.

Acceptable materials used as a painting substrate/structure must be easily wall-hung, and include traditional and contemporary natural or synthetic materials that meet the terms of the Prospectus (weight, size, safety, etc.)

Collage or mixed media is acceptable if it comprises LESS THAN 20% of the work. Added design elements/materials are allowed if safe and secure, and protected if needed.

Accepted works may be posted online and used to publicize this or future KPM exhibitions, and must therefore be free of copyright restrictions.

Gallery sales are handled by KPM with a 35% commission. Artists receive payment by check within one month from the close of exhibition.

RECEIPT AND RETURN OF SELECTED PAINTINGS

Shipping to KPM is by air or ground carrier (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.). Accepted artists will receive detailed shipping information. 

All shipped paintings must be protected with clean shipping materials (bubble wrap, foam, etc.) and packed in a purchased art shipping box, or a sturdy or reinforced cardboard box. NO wooden crates. NO packing peanuts. 

Artists are responsible for shipping and customs fees, scheduling, tracking, insurance in-transit, and resolving possible issues. KPM insures paintings while they are at the museum for exhibition.

Art sent from outside the USA must be shipped ‘Free Domicile’.

Eligibility Criteria

International exhibition open to all adult artists painting in acrylic. Artists must be age 18 or older.