GREATER JOSHUA TREE ART EXPO OPENS TO THUNDERING SUCCESS!
OPEN 1-5 PM EVERY DAY THROUGH SEP 17
58325 CA-62
The Greater Joshua Tree Art Expo opened to a thundering success as hundreds of art patrons, buyers, enthusiasts, collectors, and aficionados came to celebrate the new and unique artworks now being exhibited at the Hi-Desert Cultural Center’s flagship Joshua Tree Gallery of Contemporary Art! In collaboration with the Mojave Water Agency, the new exposition, Water In The Desert, opened with a free public gala reception and awards presentation on Friday, September 8, 2023. The expo will continue through September 17, with additional free public viewing hours each day from 1-5 pm.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEAR’S 2023 AWARD WINNERS!
PHOTOGRAPHY
1ST PLACE: “Water, Right?” | Artist: Matt Cauthron
2ND PLACE: “Give Me Life” | Artist: Mitch Miller
3RD PLACE: “Boulder Oasis” | Artist: Tim Kjenstad
2D (NOT PHOTOGRAPHY)
1ST PLACE: “Surge” | Artist: Tobias Tovera
2ND PLACE: “I Shoot Back” | Artist: Steffi Sutton
3RD PLACE: “Mother Rain” | Artist: Zara Kand
3D
1ST PLACE: “Rain” | Artist: Thomas Alban
2ND PLACE: “Blue Burka” | Artist: Suzanne Ross
3RD PLACE: “Taking A Break” | Artist: Cher Townsend
MWA CHOICE AWARD
“A Flood Of Stars” | Artist: Hannah Campbell
GREATER JOSHUA TREE ART EXPO
A Juried Art Exposition, Competition, and Gala produced by the Mojave Water Agency and the Hi-Desert Cultural Center.
The Mojave Water Agency, a state water supplier for many regional desert water providers, has partnered with the Hi-Desert Cultural Center’s flagship art gallery in Greater Joshua Tree to launch a premier Art Expo focusing on Water In The Desert—Preserving Our Oasis.
With water presenting itself as the new California “gold,” this large juried exhibition invites all mediums of visual art expressions (except for video) to highlight the overarching message that WATER IS LIFE—creating inspiration and dialogue that captures the plenishing, life-giving force water brings to our quality of living.
THEME | Water In the Desert. All entries must contain elements representing water AND desert. Elements may be visually represented by, for example, monsoonal summer thunderstorms, torrential flash floods, oases, winter snowfalls, evaporating mud holes, desert virgas, lifestyles impacted by the desert aridness, or other similar desert and water-centric inspirations. All qualifying entries must contain the two key elements: water and desert.
Gala, Public Awards, Exhibition Opening: SEP 8, 2023 5-8 PM
Public Exhibition: SEP 8-17, 2023
JURIED COMPETITION – $1,500 TO BE AWARDED
THREE CATEGORIES:
█ Photography
█ 2D (oil/acrylic/pastels/pen & ink, etc.)
█ 3D (sculpture/glass/weaving/ textiles/ceramic/metal/woodwork, etc.)
10 AWARDS TOTAL
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place awards in each category, plus a special Mojave Water Agency Choice Award will be given. 1st Place receives $500, ribbon, and certificate. 2nd Place and 3rd Place each receive a ribbon and certificate. Mojave Water Agency Choice Award—chosen only by the Mojave Water Agency—is an award given to a single piece of artwork across all categories. Choice Award Winner receives a special ribbon and certificate. All winners will be featured in the Mojave Water Agency press and may also be promoted by the other desert water agencies and the Gallery.
ARTWORKS MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN AUGUST 18.
Any living artist at least 18 years of age. [Note: Employees and contractors of the Mohave Water Agency or the Hi-Desert Cultural Center are not eligible to compete for prizes, but may enter the juried exhibition.]
All artwork must be offered for sale, with a sales commission of 35% benefiting local area youth to provide financial aid awards for their participation in HDCC’s arts courses. All artwork must be original work created by the artist and must not exceed the size and hanging guidelines listed below.
2D and Photography must not exceed 52″ wide and 72” high (including any frame). All wall artwork must be ready to hang with professional hanging wire attached (no sawtooth or bracket hangers, triangles, tape, etc.). 3D freestanding work should not be more than 70 pounds and should not have a floor footprint exceeding 9 square feet.
EARLY BIRD ENTRY FEE | $15 USD for up to 3 pieces in an entry. MUST be submitted in full and paid by midnight PDT, August 1, 2023.
REGULAR ENTRY FEE | $25 USD for up to three pieces in an entry. MUST be submitted and paid by midnight PDT, August 18, 2023.
ENTRY DEADLINE | August 21, 2023, midnight PDT.
ENTRY METHOD | All entries must be fully digitally submitted online. No printed forms or emailed files will be accepted. Late entries will not be accepted.
ENTRY UPLOADS | Each entry must include:
1. An artist’s bio.
2. An artist’s statement for each submitted work (150 words or less).
3. A high-quality digital photo of each artwork submitted (300 dpi/ppi), preferably at least 1 MB size per image (no larger than 10 MB per image). No watermarks or other writing may be on the image. Sculptural items (those to be viewed from more than one vantage point) should upload photos showing several angles of the artwork.
4. All artwork information required such as size, title, year of completion, price.
Call for Art Opens: June 27, 2023
Early Bird Entry Deadline: August 1, 2023
Regular Entry Deadline: August 21, 2023
Artist Notification of Entry Selection: Not later than August 23, 2023
Delivery of Art: In Person—August 30/31, 2023 (4-6PM); Via Shipment—No later than September 1, 2023.
Gala, Public Awards, Exhibition Opening: September 8, 2023 5-8 PM.
Continuing Public Display: September 9 & 10 and 16 & 17 from 1-5 pm and also regular gallery hours September 11-15, 2023.
Exhibition Closing: September 17, 2023 5 PM.
Artwork Pickup: September 17, 2023 5-7 pm and September 18, 2023 10 am – 2 pm.
Artists who have a submission accepted for the exhibition will be notified by email not later than August 23, 2023 and will be listed on the jtgoca.com website.
Hi-Desert Cultural Center’s Joshua Tree Gallery of Contemporary Art in the Yucca Valley Visual & Performing Arts Center. 58325 SR 62, Yucca Valley, CA 92284. jtgoca.com
Artwork sold during the exhibition will be charged a 35% commission benefiting local area youth to provide financial aid awards for their participation in HDCC’s youth arts courses. Sales tax will be handled by the gallery. Artists will receive their payment for sold works via check not later than 30 days following the close of the exhibition.
Artwork may be picked up by the artist (or their agent) immediately after the close of the exhibition, Sunday, September 17, 2023 from 5-7 pm and again Monday September 18, 2023 from 10 am – 2 pm or as agreed separately. Artworks that are purchased may be picked up by the buyer during these same times or as agreed with the gallery. Artwork that needs to be shipped back to the artist must be delivered to the gallery with a prepaid shipping label and appropriate wrapping and shipping container. The artist must supply insurance if they desire to have the work insured during shipping. Neither the Mojave Water Agency nor the Hi-Desert Cultural Center/Gallery will be responsible for damage during shipping. Shipping of sold artwork that needs to be shipped to the buyer must be arranged between the buyer and the artist not later than the close of the exhibition.