Bristol Art Museum Announces

2025 National Call for Art

A JURIED EXHIBIT

Rock – Paper – Scissors

An Exhibition Focused Paper

On View: Sunday, February 9 – Friday, April 4, 2025
Artist Reception: Sunday, February 16, 2025 | 2:00 - 4:00 PM

DESCRIPTION:
This national call invites artists to explore materials and artistic processes that reflect the hard, the composite, and the delicate. Works may incorporate paper as a medium or subject and engage with broader themes of strength, fragility, and transformation. Playful experimentation and innovative approaches will unify the exhibit, welcoming all styles—from non-objective to abstracted realism.

* The exhibition will also feature an installation by interdisciplinary artist Lisa Abbatomarco, whose work is a celebration of paper as art.

CASH AWARDS - $1000

Juror:

Toby Sisson earned her M.F.A. from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and is an Associate Professor and Director of the Studio Art Program at Clark University in Massachusetts. In addition to her studio practice in drawing, painting and printmaking, Sisson’s areas of specialization incorporate community-based service learning, collaborative public art, and curatorial projects. Her creative research explores themes at the intersection of history and race in America. She has exhibited widely, including the Tianjin Art Museum in China, Provincetown Art Association and Museum, Hunterdon Museum of Art, the John D. O’Bryant African American Institute, Louisiana State University, Rhode Island College, and St. Thomas University. Her work is in numerous public and private collections, among them Brown University, the Worcester Art Museum, and the Newport Historical Society. Toby Sisson’s home and studio are located in Providence, Rhode Island.

SUBMISSION CRITERIA

• Up to three pieces may be submitted:
o $30 for the first entry
o $40 for two entries
o $50 for three entries
• Entry fees are non refundable, acceptance is not guaranteed.
• Accepted artwork must ship work via UPS from mainland USA and artists must be at least 18 years old.
• The deadline for online submissions is midnight, Friday, December 20, 2024.
• Image files must be jpg, under 4 mb, and in sRGB colorspace. For best results, images should be at least 1920 pixels on the lonest side @ 72 dpi. For help with your submissions, contact onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or 888-666-1351.
• Work accepted will be announced sometime in the middle of January. This will depend on the number of submissions and the juror’s time.
• Artists will be emailed when the results are available to view in their artist profiles.
• Include a short artwork statement in the description field on your entry form.
• All shipped work must arrive at the Museum by Friday, January 31, 2025.
• All hand-delivered work must arrive on Monday, January 27, and Tuesday, January 28, from 12:30 - 3:30 PM.
• Exhibit is on view from Sunday, February 9 – Friday, April 4, 2025.

ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS

• Original Work: All submissions must be original works of art created by the artist.
• Size Considerations: Artwork must fit through a standard doorway. However, we encourage artists to be mindful of the cost of shipping and to size their work in a way that fits their budget. It’s always unfortunate when a piece is accepted by the juror, but the artist has to withdraw due to shipping costs, so please plan accordingly.
• Framing and Shipping Materials: NO glass; framed work must use plexiglass or other lightweight, shatterproof materials for safety during shipping.
• Accurate Representation: Artwork received must closely match the images submitted online for review.
• All work will be submitted and juried online.
• Installation-Ready: All artwork must arrive ready for installation. If your piece requires special installation instructions, please include them with your shipment.
• Sales: Artists may choose to make their works available for sale but it is not required. All sales are handled directly between the artist and the collector. The Museum does not take any commission and will provide interested collectors with the artist’s contact information.

SHIPPING OR IN-PERSON DELIVERY & DROP-OFF

• SHIPPED option - All accepted artworks that are shipped must arrive at the Museum via the UPS Service by Friday, January 31.
• SHIP TO: The Bristol Art Museum, 10 Wardwell Street, Bristol RI 02809
• RETURN LABEL REQUIRED- Return of Work: Artists MUST include a prepaid return label with their original packaging.
• If you do not include a prepaid label, we will not be able to return the work to you.
• HAND DELIVERED option -All accepted artworks being hand-delivered must arrive on Monday, January 27, or Tuesday, January 28, from 12:30 - 3:30 PM.

JURY PROCESS

• All work will be juried using the online images submitted by artists.
• All juror’s selections are final.
• The Museum carries insurance for artwork while in the building, not while in transit. Insurance during transit is not required but if preferred it is the responsibility of the artist.

CLOSE OF EXHIBIT - IN-PERSON PICK-UP OF ARTWORK

• April, Monday April 7 & Tuesday April 8 – 12:30 -3:00pm
• Hand-delivered artwork must be picked up at the Museum. Artwork cannot be stored at the Museum beyond the end of the exhibit.
• Artwork that was mailed to the Museum will be returned by mail with the artist’s prepaid label. Artwork will be processed for return during the first week of April.