GREATER JOSHUA TREE ART EXPO
A Juried Art Exposition, Competition, and Gala produced by the Mojave Water Agency and the Hi-Desert Cultural Center.
In 2023, the Mojave Water Agency (a state water supplier for many regional desert water providers) partnered with the Hi-Desert Cultural Center (the regional arts organization of Greater Joshua Tree) to launch a premier Art Expo at the Cultural Center’s flagship gallery, the Joshua Tree Gallery of Contemporary Art. The exhibition focused on Water In The Desert. The expo was a tremendous success and is continuing in 2024 with expanded submission timeframes and a doubling of the public exhibition dates. The Art Expo invites artists to participate in this year’s highly anticipated competition and exposition.
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 6, 2024 | 6-9 PM
Public Exhibition: SEP 7-22, 2024 | Open Every Day: 2-6 PM
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 JULY 26.
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 | $20 USD for up to 3 pieces in an entry. MUST be submitted in full and paid by midnight PDT, JUN 21, 2024.
REGULAR ENTRY FEE | $30 USD for up to three pieces in an entry. MUST be submitted and paid by midnight PDT, JUL 19, 2024.
LATE ENTRY FEE | $40 USD for up to three pieces in an entry. MUST be submitted and paid by midnight PDT, JUL 26, 2024.
ENTRY FINAL DEADLINE | JUL 26, 2024, 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 fewer).
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: JUN 1, 2024
Early Bird Entry Deadline: JUN 21, 2024
Regular Entry Deadline: JUL 19, 2024
Late Entry Deadline: JUL 26, 2024
Artist Notification of Entry Selection: Not later than AUG 1, 2024
Delivery of Art: In Person—AUG 23 (FRI) & 25 (SUN), 2024 | 4-6 PM; Via Shipment—Not later than AUG 25, 2024.
Gala, Public Awards, Exhibition Opening: SEP 6, 2024 | 6-9 PM.
Continuing Public Display: SEP 7-22, 2024 | Every Day: 2-6 PM
Exhibition Closing: SEP 22, 2024 | 6 PM
Artwork Pickup: SEP 22, 2024 | 6-8 PM and SEP 23, 2024 | 11 AM – 1 PM; Return of artwork arriving via shipment must be coordinated solely by Artist and executed not later than SEP 23, 2024.
Artists who have a submission accepted for the exhibition will be notified by email not later than AUG 1, 2024 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, SEP 22, 2024 from 6-8 PM and again Monday SEP 23, 2024 from 11 AM – 1 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.
QUESTIONS? Email info@jtarts.org or call 760.366.3777
