Prospectus
The Visual Arts Center's
11th Biennial National Art Exhibition
Held in Historic Punta Gorda, FL
February 2 – March 20, 2018
Sponsored by the Mary Ellen Byrd Legacy for the Arts
Best of Show: $2,000
Total Prize Money Over $7,000
2018 NATIONAL ART EXHIBITION (NAE) AT A GLANCE
Entry into the 2018 NAE will begin June 12, 2017 and continue through midnight on December 10, 2017. All entries must be entered digitally via Juried Art Services (JAS). Use of JAS is free for applicants. JAS provides a comprehensive “help” menu as well as telephone and email support. Artist notification will be made by email in late December. If accepted into the 2018 NAE, you will receive further instructions by email regarding receiving and other important information.
THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER
One of the nation’s most prestigious juried exhibitions of two-dimensional media, this show is hosted by the Visual Arts Center, located in the heart of Punta Gorda along beautiful Charlotte Harbor. Punta Gorda is geographically situated in Southwest Florida between Sarasota and Naples, an affluent art-buying market. The show’s dates coincide with our greatest population of seasonal residents. The nearly 1,000-member Visual Arts Center brings art and culture to its community through multi-media classes, state-of-the-art jewelry and pottery studios, workshops, lectures, and art festivals. The Visual Arts Center also boasts an outstanding gift shop and art library and displays exhibits in two galleries year-round.
IMPORTANT DATES IN 2017
· June 12: Online entry begins
· December 10: Online entry closes at midnight
· Notification by email will occur in late December.
IMPORTANT DATES IN 2018
· January 26, 27 & 29: Receiving for shipped and hand-delivered work from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Visual Arts Center
· February 2: Exhibit opens to the public
· February 8: Awards Reception at the Visual Arts Center
· March 20: Last day of Exhibit
· March 21 & 22: Pick up hand-delivered work from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Visual Arts Center; return shipping begins.
AWARDS
The works selected for the show will be determined on the basis of digital images. Awards are based upon actual artwork.
Best of Show: $2,000
Second Prize: $1,000
Third Prize: $750
Bowles Award for Portrait Excellence: $750 (Eligibility for the Bowles Award is limited to paintings, drawings and pastels)
People’s Choice Award: $1 per vote (50/50 split between Visual Arts Center and winning artist)
Additional monetary awards for excellence and merit will be given at the discretion of the judge. Total prize money will be in excess of $7,000.
JUROR STEVEN J. LEVIN
Steven J. Levin is a classically trained oil painter working in the realist tradition. He is associated with the group of artists known as Classical Realists who trace their artistic lineage back to the Boston School of painters working at the turn of the 20th century. Mr. Levin’s work displays a thorough understanding of light and form, a deep reverence for beauty, and a decided respect for the works of the Old Masters. Mr. Levin cites the works of Edward Hopper and Jan Vermeer as his main artistic influences. His evocative works offer a unique interpretation of traditional and contemporary themes.
Mr. Levin has been an Art Renewal Center (ARC) recognized living master for over 15 years. He is the recipient of many national awards, including first place in the 2016 ARC Salon in the still life category. Mr. Levin has exhibited widely and has been featured in group shows in New York, Chicago, Beijing, and Barcelona. He has held numerous solo exhibitions at San Francisco’s John Pence Gallery, the premier realist gallery on the West Coast. He is also represented by Tree’s Place Gallery on Cape Cod.
JUROR'S STATEMENT
“I believe that, first and foremost, painting is a craft. It requires skills, knowledge, and ability. But painting is, of course, more than that. An artist takes those abilities and imbues them with personality and emotion in an attempt to capture an intangible thing that speaks in a language unavailable to any other mode of expression.”
Juror Steven J. Levin at work on "Peonies and Butterfly".
STILL LIFE DEMO
Mr. Levin will give a still life demo February 1 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Cost is $30 for VAC members and $40 for non-members. Please visit our website for further information.
ELIGIBILITY
This exhibition is limited to two-dimensional paintings and drawings in oil, watercolor, pastel, acrylic, charcoal, colored pencil, graphite, and mixed media. Media for the Bowles Award for Portrait Excellence is limited to drawing, painting and pastel. The work must have been completed in the last three years and cannot have been accepted into the Visual Arts Center’s 2016 National Art Exhibition. Computer-generated art, photography and fiber/fabric art are not eligible. There are no size restrictions; however, work must not weigh more than 60 pounds. Artists must be at least 18 years of age to enter.
ENTRY PROCEDURES
You may enter up to three (3) entries for jurying. Entry must be made online through Juried Arts Services (www.juriedartservices.com). Your full entry (including non-refundable payment and image uploads) MUST BE COMPLETED by midnight on Sunday, December 10, 2017, in order to be considered. No entries or applications will be accepted by email, by regular mail or in person. The entry fee is $35 for one image, $50 for two images, and $65 for three images. American Express is not accepted as a form of payment.
DISPLAYING OF EXHIBIT WORKS
All works must be properly framed. Glass and gallery quality plexiglass may be used for framing. Gallery wrapped canvases will be considered properly framed so long as stapled edges are not exposed. Art must be ready to hang with securely fastened picture wire and screw eyes. The center of the wire must be at least three inches from the top of the frame when hung.
ACCEPTED WORKS
All entries will receive notification of juried results by email in late December. Artists whose work is accepted into the exhibition will then receive instructions for shipping and delivery. The Visual Arts Center reserves the right to return work that does not meet the specifications herein. Any work that differs from accepted entries will be disqualified upon receipt. No work may be withdrawn before the close of the exhibit.
ORIGINALITY POLICY
ONLY ORIGINAL WORKS MAY BE SUBMITTED TO THIS EXHIBIT. THIS MEANS THAT THE SUBJECT OF THE ENTRY MUST BE A CONCEPT ENTIRELY DEVELOPED AND EXECUTED BY THE SUBMITTING ARTIST. DUPLICATIONS OF ANOTHER’S PHOTOGRAPH OR ART, WHETHER BY MACHINE OR PAINT, ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. REPRODUCTIONS, INCLUDING GICLEES OF YOUR WORK, ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. ANY WORK FOUND TO BE DUPLICATION WILL BE REMOVED AND ANY AWARDS REVOKED.
RELEASE & AGREEMENT NOTICE
THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER WILL EXERCISE THE SAME CARE WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPERTY EXHIBITED AS IT DOES IN SAFEGUARDING ITS OWN PROPERTY, BUT DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE TO ANY WORK DURING THE EXHIBIT AND RELATED ACTIVITIES. EACH PARTICIPATING ARTIST HEREBY AGREES TO RELEASE AND HOLD THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER AND ITS AGENTS (INCLUDING STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS) HARMLESS FROM LOSS OR DAMAGE TO THE ARTIST OR THE ARTIST’S WORK ARISING IN ANY WAY FROM THE EXHIBIT OR RELATED ACTIVITIES. FOR PURPOSES HEREOF, THE PHRASE “LOSS OR DAMAGE” INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, THEFT, MISTAKEN LABELING, DAMAGE BY A GUEST, THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER OR ITS AGENTS OR DAMAGE DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
PUBLICITY
ALL PARTICIPATING ARTISTS AGREE TO ALLOW THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER TO USE THEIR ARTWORK IN ADVERTISING, IN PRESS RELEASES, ON OUR WEBSITE, AND IN ANY OTHER PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES. CARE WILL BE TAKEN TO GIVE EACH ARTIST PROPER CREDIT.
SALES OF ARTWORK
ALL ARTWORK MUST BE FOR SALE. WORK WILL BE SOLD AT THE PRICE ORIGINALLY STATED BY THE ARTIST ON THE ENTRY FORM. THERE WILL BE A 30% COMMISSION TO THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER ON ALL SALES.
THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER
The Visual Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1961 by local artists. Its mission is to inspire, explore, create and promote the visual arts. It is supported solely through membership dues, class fees, special events, annual gifts, corporate sponsorships and grants, including grants from the Visual Arts Center’s Endowment Trust. Membership is open to all.
QUESTIONS?
Please contact the Visual Arts Center at 941.639.8810 or email NAE@visualartcenter.org.