We are excited to invite our Bay Area artist community to submit new works or good fits from your inventory for Art Inspired by Literature, an exhibition dear to us as a Library Gallery. The printed word has and continues to inspire readers, and artists have interpreted those same words through their creative process and medium. Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, folktales and drama are all acceptable source material. And rather than artworks in dialogue with a published illustration, book cover or other representation already in the public domain, we seek original renditions of artwork inspired by your chosen words. Titles, authors, and/or specific excerpts or passages are welcomed starting places for your creative process.
Invited media are paintings, drawings, mixed media, fiber art or photography. In your submissions, please include the name of the literary work, author, and specific excerpt/passage used as inspiration when appropriate.
Submissions will be evaluated on engagement with the theme, technique, overall mastery, creativity, and originality. We hope to offer layered programming around this exhibit to introduce selected artists to a broad audience.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
OPEN TO BAY AREA ARTISTS 18 YEARS AND ABOVE
SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED: Thursday, Feb 27, 2025, 6:00pm
SUBMISSIONS CLOSE: Saturday, March 29, 2025, 11:59 pm
JURYING: Submissions are first anonymously juried by a panel. If your signature is on the front of your artwork, please cover it when you submit the images of your pieces. Exhibition Co-Chairs then curate to create a cohesive exhibition.
ARTIST NOTIFICATION: April 12, 2025
OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, May 15, 2025, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
ARTWORK DROP OFF DATES: Friday, May 9, 2025, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (preferred) or Saturday, May 10 2025, from 9:00am to 10:30 am (earlier is preferred)
ARTWORK PICK UP DATES: Friday, July 11, 2025, from 9:00 am to 10:30 am (preferred) or Saturday July 12, 2025, from 9:00 am to 10:30 am (earlier is preferred)
COMMISSIONS: 70% to the Artist, 30% to the Belvedere Tiburon Library Art Gallery
FEE: $35 for up to 3 submissions (each individual submission may include 2 additional images of detail).
ALL WORK SUBMITTED MUST BE FOR SALE – no exceptions.
WHAT TYPE OF WORK IS ACCEPTED
Two-dimensional original artworks, including but not limited to framed or stretched canvas, framed works on paper: including drawings, watercolors, pastels, photography, and fine art prints. Fiber and textile art, or mixed media are accepted. Reproductions of your art in another medium (e.g. an offset lithograph of your painting or a giclée print of your watercolor) will not be considered. Art created using artificial intelligence will not be considered.
Two-dimensional includes very low-relief works (2 inches deep or less measured from the wall as hung).
Art must have been completed within the last 5 years.
We cannot accommodate works that are suspended from the ceiling or free-standing three dimensional pieces (sculpture).
The library is a family destination and subject matter must be acceptable.
The images submitted must be the creation of and owned solely by the artist submitting. No copyright infringement of any artist, living or deceased, is permitted.
SIZE / WEIGHT / FRAMING AND FINISHING
Maximum dimensions of ready-to-hang pieces (including frame, if framed) are 60” x 60” and work cannot exceed 50 pounds. Minimum dimensions allowed are 8” x 10”.
Hanging hardware for accepted work: D-rings withwire (a braided stainless steel wire or multi-filament preferred). No sawtooth hangers are permitted. Most pieces hang well if the D-rings are placed 1/3 to 1/4 of the way down from the top of the work. Please check to assure that a) the top of the artwork does not project out from the wall at an angle when hung and b) the wire is not so long that it shows above the top edge when hung.
Pieces delivered without appropriate hardware cannot be accepted.
REGISTER ONLINE AT ARTCALL & SUBMIT YOUR ENTRIES
All entries are to be submitted digitally via ArtCall.
If you do not have an account on ArtCall.org, you will be asked to create a profile by registering online. It takes just a few minutes, and then you can upload your images of your pieces.
If you already have an account, sign on with your user name and password and click on "Add a new submission."
You may submit up to three works of art for consideration. Each submission will need to be entered into ArtCall as a separate entry entry (click on “Add new Submission” for each entry) with one fee covering all three submissions. For each submission, in addition to the primary image, you may attach two additional images showing details of your piece with no additional charge.
Please submit images for each entry in JPG/JPEG format showing the full piece. Images must be in 72dpi resolution and a minimum 1920px on longest side (maximum: 4600 pixels). Photo files must not exceed 10MB.
You will be asked to complete, as part of your submission, a short bio (475 characters or less, about 70 words). You can enter also information about your inspiration by entering the title, author, and prose This information will be used in the exhibition materials for those artists accepted into the show and will also be included in the jurying process so please do not include artist's name in your response
Please be sure your personal ArtCall photo is up to date before the end of the submission period as juried-in artists will be featured in the Artcall and Library Art Gallery "Meet The Participating Artists" web page.
If you have a website and/or Instagram address, please be sure they are up to date so that they can be included in the exhibition materials.
Accepted pieces must be labeled with the artwork’s title, the artist’s name and contact information (email and phone) securely adhered to the back of the piece in the lower right-hand corner.
Wrapping materials must be removed upon Intake completion.
Accepted work will be hung in either the gallery or the gallery hallway at the complete discretion of the exhibition committee.
Work must remain on view for the duration of the exhibition.
In addition to the physical gallery and gallery hallway, all accepted artwork may be displayed in a Web Gallery and exhibition booklet, along with your artist's statement, bio, and ArtCall Profile picture.
By submitting the images, accepted artists agree the artwork, in whole or in part, may be used by the Library for publicity in various forms including print, online and social media.
Any sales and sales tax will be handled through the Belvedere Tiburon Library Foundation. Artists retain 70% of the purchase price; the Belvedere Tiburon Library Art Gallery receives a 30% commission. The Belvedere Tiburon Library cannot guarantee sale of any artwork.
Volunteers will handle your work with utmost care. The library has insurance coverage but strongly recommends that, in addition, exhibiting artists carry their own insurance.
Please contact Brenda Bottum at art@beltiblibrary.org if you have further questions.
Art Inspired by Literature Exhibition Co-Chairs: Morag Stewart and Katie Sutton
