OPEN CALLS
Our theme for the 2025 season is EXPLORE.
What does that mean?
Our 2025 "Explore" season invites you to dive deep into the many facets of art, creativity, and self-expression. It’s about exploring what it means to be an artist, delving into the natural world, and discovering your own identity through creative practice. At the same time, we’ll reflect on how the arts have shaped and enriched our community, sparking connection and dialogue across generations and cultures. This season is all about curiosity, creativity, and the endless possibilities that come with exploration.
Come on a journey with us!
The "Discovering Beauty" exhibit invites artists to explore the concept of beauty in unexpected places and forms. In a world that often rushes past, this theme asks both artists and viewers to pause and look deeper—where can beauty be found in moments, objects, or experiences we often overlook?
This exhibit is about exploring beauty beyond the obvious, whether in nature, human connections, or even imperfections. It could be the quiet elegance of a fleeting moment, the raw beauty of nature’s cycles, or the grace in something unconventional or broken. Artists are encouraged to reflect on how beauty can emerge from discovery, inviting viewers to see the world through fresh, curious eyes.
Looking for ideas for this exhibit? Check out our blog post on discovering beauty here.
Submission Guidelines:
All mediums are welcome! Whether you work in painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, metalsmithing, textiles, mixed media, or any other form of artistic expression, we invite you to share your unique vision of beauty.
Artists are encouraged to think beyond traditional concepts and explore innovative, unconventional approaches to the theme.
Submissions can range from literal depictions of beauty to abstract interpretations that challenge and redefine what beauty means. We welcome everything from quiet, understated works to bold, thought-provoking creations.
Artwork must have been created within the last 3 years and be the artist’s original work.
Art321 members receive a 70/30 Commission split. Non-Art321 Members receive a 60/40 rate.
Artwork submissions must be filled out, in person or online by Tuesday, February 18th.
Artwork must arrive at the Art 321 Gallery no later than Saturday, February 22nd.
No late arrivals will be accepted.
DATES TO REMEMBER: Late arrivals will not be accepted.
Submission Deadline: Tuesday, February 18th, 2025
Delivery Deadline: Saturday, February 22nd, 2025
DUE TO STORAGE CONSTRAINTS, PLEASE AVOID DROPPING SUBMISSIONS FOR THIS SHOW OFF PRIOR TO FEBRUARY 4TH. THANK YOU.
Artist Reception: Thursday, March 6th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
Show Dates: March 5th - March 29th
Artists will be contacted to pick up unsold artwork the first week of April
Art in Bloom
Wild Flowers
This exhibit invites artists and viewers to EXPLORE the vibrant, untamed beauty of wildflowers, uncovering their stories of growth, resilience, and natural cycles. This exhibit celebrates the spirit of discovery and finding inspiration in nature’s spontaneous elegance.
We’re seeking submissions from artists who can channel the free-spirited nature of wildflowers into their work—breaking boundaries, playing with new mediums, and pushing their craft to flourish in unexpected ways.
This will be a juried show, and a small entrance fee will apply for submissions. Prizes will be awarded to selected works, offering artists the chance to be recognized.
This is not your average floral show. We’re looking for bold interpretations and fresh perspectives that go beyond the traditional. Think of how wildflowers thrive—unruly, uncontainable, surprising—and let that energy fuel your art.
Can you turn fabric into petals that defy gravity?
Does metal or ceramic tell the story of growth and resilience?
What does a wildflower look like in a new medium you’ve never tried before?
We want to see how you translate the beauty, chaos, and diversity of wildflowers into something fresh. Play with scale, texture, abstraction—anything that breathes new life into the concept of "bloom."
Submission Guidelines:
All mediums are welcome—the more creative, the better.
Feel free to go wild with the concept. Your work can be inspired by actual wildflowers, or it can capture the feeling of wildness, growth, and beauty in completely unexpected ways.
Think outside the canvas—experiments with form, materials, and presentation are encouraged.
Eligibility:
This call is open to artists of all levels—emerging or established, traditional or avant-garde. If your work is blooming with creativity, we want to see it.
It’s time to break the mold, challenge your process, and let your art grow wild.
Travel
Where does your art take you?
This exhibit encourages artists to EXPLORE the spirit of adventure, whether through faraway destinations or personal journeys. This show invites viewers to discover new perspectives and experiences that come from wandering through both physical and imagined landscapes.
We invite artists to explore the theme of "Travel"—whether that means a journey across distant lands, a trek into the wilderness, or a voyage through time, memory, and imagination. We want to see where your creativity goes when it’s free to roam.
What inspires you when you’re on the move?
A faraway destination?
A simple road trip?
The landscapes of your mind?
We’re looking for works that capture the spirit of travel in all its forms. Whether your journey is real or metaphorical, we want to see it through your eyes. From depictions of breathtaking places to reflections on the journey itself—adventure, escape, exploration, or homecoming—let your art take flight.
Submission Guidelines:
All mediums are welcome: photography, painting, sculpture, mixed media, digital art, textiles, and more. Let your creative process wander!
Works can be literal representations of travel or more abstract, focusing on the feelings, moments, or experiences along the way.
We encourage artists to think beyond the typical postcard imagery. What’s the most unexpected journey you’ve taken? How does your art reflect the road less traveled?
Eligibility: This call is open to artists of all experience levels and disciplines. Whether your journey is across the world or across your mind, we want to see where it leads.
CLAYFEST
National Park Road Trip
Art 321 is calling all ceramic artists to join ClayFest 2025 and bring their own creative twist to this year’s gallery show theme:
“National Park Road Trip.”
We’re looking for works that:
Reflect the landscapes, architecture, textures, and emotions tied to America’s national parks and public lands.
Celebrate the sense of adventure, discovery, and awe that road trips through these places can evoke.
Explore the intersection of nature, culture, and the personal experiences that come with visiting these iconic destinations.
Whether your work is functional pottery or sculptural art, we invite you to contribute to this exciting exhibit. Let your hands and clay explore how Americas public lands have inspired you —capturing the grandeur of towering peaks, the serenity of quiet forests, the drama of wildlife, of the rhythm of rivers, or the connection between the traveler and the road.
Submission Guidelines:
All forms of FIRED clay work are welcome.
Pieces can be inspired by specific parks, road trip experiences, photos, memories… connect it to a National Park!
This will be a juried show, and a small entrance fee will apply for submissions. Prizes will be awarded to selected works, offering artists the chance to be recognized
Eligibility: Open to ceramic artists at all levels, from emerging to established, who are ready to embark on this creative journey.
Join us for ClayFest 2025 and let your art become part of the adventure!
Please include a short artist statement that explains how your piece ties into the "National Park Road Trip" theme.
Add a photo of the area that inspires you. This part is MANDATORY and pieces will not be accepted with both of these requirements.
Weaving the Fabric of Time
Time is a thread that binds us all—woven into the fabric of our experiences, cultures, and lives. For our upcoming exhibit, "Weaving the Fabric of Time," Art 321 invites artists to explore fabric in all its forms, pushing the boundaries of what it means to work with textiles. This is your chance to think far beyond traditional quilting—what can you create with fabric that challenges conventions and stretches the imagination?
We’re looking for works that use fabric as a medium of expression, not just a material. This exhibit is an open call to artists who dare to innovate and experiment, transforming fabric into something entirely new. Think beyond the quilt—how can fabric tell stories, represent history, or speak to the future?
Here are a few ideas to spark your creativity:
Sweaters and Socks: Knit or crochet your memories into wearable art.
Jewelry: Can fabric be transformed into something delicate, precious, or adorned?
Painting on Fabric: Merge the worlds of fine art and textiles with mixed media techniques.
Textile Sculptures: How can fabric be shaped into forms we’ve never seen before?
Installation Art: Can fabric fill a space and immerse viewers in a tangible experience of time?
Fashion as Art: What stories can be told through clothing that stretches beyond functionality?
While we’re looking for artists who can weave together ideas, emotions, and time itself into something bold, innovative, and unexpected - we will always love traditional fabric arts and encourage you to submit them also!
Submission Guidelines:
All mediums of fabric art are welcome. Whether you work with traditional textiles, knitting, sewing, mixed media, or fabric manipulation—show us what’s possible.
Artists are encouraged to experiment with scale, material, and form. Think WAY outside the box—we want to see new perspectives on fabric as an art form.
Works can be conceptual, abstract, or narrative, interpreting the theme of "Weaving the Fabric of Time" in any way you choose.
Eligibility: Open to artists of all experience levels who are ready to stretch the limits of fabric art.
Let your imagination unravel, and let’s weave something unforgettable together.
Under the Moon
Exploring the Lunar Phases in Art
The moon has long inspired awe, mystery, and meaning, influencing not only the tides but the rhythms of life itself. For our upcoming exhibit, "Under the Moon," Art 321 invites artists to explore the beauty, cycles, and symbolism of the moon in all its forms. We’re looking for creative interpretations of the moon’s phases and its impact on the natural world, human emotions, and spiritual journeys.
How does the moon inspire you?
Phases of the Moon: The waxing and waning moon, new beginnings, growth, reflection—how can you capture the movement through time and change?
Triple Moon Goddess: Explore the archetypes of the Crone, Mother, and Maiden, symbolizing the moon’s influence on the cycles of life, wisdom, and femininity.
Moonlight: How can you represent the moon’s luminous glow, its quiet beauty, or the stillness it brings to the night?
Cultural and Spiritual Significance: The moon has deep connections in mythology, astrology, and spirituality. How do you interpret its meanings across cultures and beliefs?
Moon and Nature: From the tides to the pull of gravity, the moon has a profound effect on the earth. Let this inspire your work in unexpected ways.
We encourage artists to think deeply about the connection between the moon, cycles, and human experience—whether through literal representations, abstract interpretations, or symbolic storytelling.
Submission Guidelines:
All mediums are welcome: painting, sculpture, mixed media, photography, textiles, and more. Let your imagination roam the night sky.
Artists are encouraged to explore the moon as a metaphor for change, reflection, and transformation.
Eligibility:
This call is open to all artists, whether emerging or established, who feel drawn to the moon’s mysterious allure.
Let’s explore the cycles of life, art, and the lunar influence together.
Our theme for the 2026 season is METAMORPHOSIS.
What does that mean?
In our 2026 season, themed "Metamorphosis," we invite you to explore the captivating transformations that shape our lives, memories, and identities. This season’s exhibits delve into how we evolve, change, and rediscover ourselves through the lens of nostalgia and personal growth. Shows like "Faded Polaroids" evoke the gentle fading of memories, capturing moments that feel suspended in time, while "Through the Rearview Mirror" offers a reflective journey through life’s pivotal moments and the echoes they leave behind.
Join us as we celebrate the beauty of change, honoring the past while embracing the continuous process of becoming.
We’re looking for featured and upcoming artists to place for these months.
Exhibits will be announced soon!
COMMUNITY OPEN CALLS
WAC Professional Development Grant
This grant is specifically designed to help grow the capacity of organizations and individuals that work in, and support the arts. Projects can include but are not limited to: board development, leadership development, conference attendance, professional development training, fundraising development, strategic planning, creation of marketing plans, equipment purchases, etc.