Abstracting Nature

Description

THE BELVEDERE TIBURON LIBRARY                   ART GALLERY

1501 Tiburon BoulevardTiburon, CA  94920

Abstracting Nature

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Exhibition Dates: January 15 to March 12, 2026

This exhibition draws inspiration from the natural world--close observations, reveries that unfold, or images conjured from that peaceful place induced by time spent outdoors. But for this exhibition, artists transform: earth, wind and sky, flora and fauna, water surfaces, butterflies, etc. through their art making. Abstracting Nature will showcase paintings, drawings, and photography--all starting with nature but ending as reinterpretations or abstractions. Photography may be aerial views with patterning, close ups revealing texture, cast shadows that supersede their subjects. Paintings and drawings convey your response to nature by breaking it down for expressions in form and color.
Jurists will consider how your work re-imagined nature’s bounty. For example, how were fleeting moments of outdoor reverie captured? How does being present in the natural world and revealing its awesomeness and life-force get conveyed? Your submissions will be evaluated on engagement with the theme, technique, overall mastery, creativity, and originality. The Art Gallery at the Belvedere Tiburon Library offers 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: Saturday, October 11,  2025, 12:01 am

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE: Saturday, November 8, 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 show.

ARTIST NOTIFICATION: Monday, November 24, 2025
OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

ARTWORK DROP OFF DATES: Friday, January 9, 2026, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (preferred) or Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 9:00am to 10:30 am (earlier is preferred)

ARTWORK PICK UP DATES: Friday, March 13, 2026, 9am to 10:30am (preferred) or Saturday, March 14, 2026, 9am to 10:30am

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, fine art prints, mixed media and photography.
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 low-relief works (5 inches deep or less measured from the wall as hung).
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 72” high x 60” wide and work cannot exceed 50 pounds. Minimum dimensions allowed are 8” high x 10” wide.
For ease of our installations and to avoid tipping from our walls, D-rings must be higher up on the back of the frame but low enough that neither they nor the wire show above top of frame. In some cases, two D-rings towards the top of your frame without a wire across the back works best. Please select the option that you believe is most effective for hanging your piece flat against the wall.
For D-rings with wire, a braided stainless-steel wire or multi-filament is preferred). No sawtooth hangers are permitted.
Art work 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. This 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 (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 art work with no additional charge.
If your submission is framed, please submit the unframed size of each piece as well as the framed size.
Please submit images for each entry in JPG/Jpeg format showing the full piece. Images must be in 72 ppi resolution and between 1920 px (minimum) and 4600 px (maximum) for the longest side. Photo files must not exceed 10MB. If your signature is on the front of your artwork, please cover it when you submit images.
You are also asked to complete, as part of your submission, a short bio and a short artist statement (each 475 characters or less--roughly 70 words). The artist statement will also be included in the jurying process therefore, do not include your name please.
IMPORTANT: Please be sure your personal ArtCall photo is up to date before the end of the submission period as we cannot change it after the Call closes. Note that the photographs of the accepted artists will be featured in the ArtCall and Library Art Gallery "Meet The Participating Artists" web page and in the show’s exhibition booklet.
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.
And finally, please review all your information again (title, price, dimensions, bio, artist statement, artist photo, etc) before
the Call closes. Our group exhibitions are getting rave reviews. Please help us avoid having to make changes and fix typos late in the process as that impedes our ability to finalize this exhibition and publicize it.

DELIVERY AND DISPLAY

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 and taken with you upon Intake completion.
Accepted work will be hung in either the principal gallery or the hall gallery at the complete discretion of the exhibition committee.
Work must remain on view for the duration of the exhibition. Determination of art placement is at the discretion of the Installation team based on cohesive groupings and an overall visual rhythm re placement. (fyi to artists: more art gets sold from the hallway gallery as viewers are able to connect in more private ways there.)
In addition to the physical gallery and gallery hallway, all accepted artwork may be displayed in a Web Gallery and in an exhibition booklet that will include 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 Library Art Gallery receives a 30% commission. Please do not submit with us if you cannot honor this arrangement. 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.

Abstracting Nature Exhibition Co-Chairs: Lucy Churton, Rekha Dutt, and Elisabetta Ponti.

Thank you for sharing your artwork with us!