Ag Art Alliance: Call for entries for unique annual Art About Ag Exhibit
June 02, 2010
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Rural landscapes, farm animals and products, rural life and art that even in abstract ways deals with issues and ideas related to agriculture are the focus of the 3rd Annual Ag Art Alliance Exhibit, where artists of all medias and styles will vie for $500 in prize money.
As the famous annual Santa Paula Art & Photographer Show, founded in 1937, the Ag Art Alliance Exhibit is strictly homegrown: the alliance was formed in 2007 by acclaimed artist Gail Pidduck and prize-winning photographer John Nichols, owner of John Nichols Gallery.
“The purpose of the exhibit,” said Nichols, “is to promote art about agriculture by exploring all the facets of agriculture from workers to water, from machinery to fields and to the food that goes on our plates.”
This year Nichols noted “How pleased and excited I am to be bringing Art About Agriculture to the newly opened Santa Paula Art Museum. I’m hoping that the Ag Art Alliance will bring the viewing public a rich visual experience that will help bring about a greater respect and appreciation for our local agriculture.”
Art about Agriculture is open to all artists over the age of 18 working in both two and three-dimensional media who create art that “In some way,” said Nichols, “draws its inspiration from our agricultural heritage and/or contemporary agriculture.”
Artists must be 18 years and older to be considered for the show, which will be presented at the new Santa Paula Art Museum.
The 2010 Ag Art Alliance Art About Agriculture Exhibit runs from August 21 - the date of the 4 to 6 p.m. opening reception - to January 30, 2011.
It promises to be some show: artists inspired by rural landscape, farm animals, farm products, rural life or art that in more abstract ways deals with issues and ideas related to agriculture is welcome in all styles -painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, mixed media, ceramics, batik, metals, even tapestry.
There will be $500 in prizes and also the chance for artists to be exhibited in the new museum (located at 117 N. 10th St.), former headquarters of Limoneira Co., an agricultural leader for more than a century.
Nichols said “Our first group exhibit of Art About Agriculture was held as part of Ag Classic 2007 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds,” when almost 50 artists participated in this two-day event to showcase Ventura County agriculture.
In 2008 the California Oil Museum hosted the group exhibit for two months and hundreds of museum visitors were exposed to the beauty of Art About Agriculture.
With the opening of the new Santa Paula Art Museum the Ag Art Alliance found a fitting venue for the 2010 Art About Agriculture exhibit.
Artists may enter a maximum of 3 works that should not exceed 150 pounds and 36” x 48”. Wall hung work must be framed and ready for hanging. Works on paper should be glazed. The Ag Art Alliance reserves the right at all times to exclude any work that presents complex exhibition challenges.
Selection will be made from digital images emailed to the Ag Art Alliance at agartalliance@gmail.com or sent by mail on a CD with 1-3 images (300 PPI, and no larger than 1600 x 1600 or 5MB). No PowerPoint or similar presentations. Include name, contact information, medium, titles, sizes, and prices.
Images must be received by July 6. Return postage must be included.
Works for the exhibition said Nichols, will be selected by a panel of Ag Art Alliance’s curatorial staff.
Work does need to be for sale to be eligible for the exhibit. The Santa Paula Art Museum and the Ag Art Alliance receive a 40% commission on all sales.
For more information email agartalliance@gmail.com
To learn more about the Santa Paula Art Museum visit the website, www.santapaulaartmuseum.org
