Art League of Baytown Juried Upcycle Art Challenge 2025

Description

September 19 - October 17, 2025

Location: Art League of Baytown110 W. Texas Ave.Baytown, TX 77520

281-427-2222www.artleagueofbaytown.org

The Art League of Baytown is pleased to host its fifth annual Upcycle Art Challenge September 19 - October 17, 2025 with co-sponsor Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. The goal of the Upcycling challenge is to raise environmental awareness by promoting action through reusing, recycling and salvaging materials to create art.

Awards:Best of Show $800

Functional Category:
1st Place $600        2nd Place $400        3rd Place $300         Honorable Mention $100

Decorative Category:
1st Place $600        2nd Place $400        3rd Place $300         Honorable Mention $100

Wearable Plastic Fashion:
1st Place $600        2nd Place $400        3rd Place $300         Honorable Mention $100

Honoree Choice Award $400

Entry Fees:  Entry fee is $35 for the first entry, $17.50 for the second and $17.50 for the third entry.
Show Judge: Elena Lopez-PoirotHonoree Judge: Thomas Reeves

Show Chairs:Aileen Harding                                                           Jan Strubbe                                                Email: upcycle@artleagueofbaytown.org                   Email: upcycle@artleagueofbaytown.org

The contest categories are
1) Decorative art refers to aesthetic objects that serve no other purpose than to be pleasing to the eye.
2) Functional art refers to an aesthetic object that serves a utilitarian purpose.
3) Wearable Plastic Fashion art refers to wearable items made from plastic products. i.e. dress, skirt. coat, jewelry, apron, vest

Each piece must feature 80 percent material recycled from some previous use. Glue, screws and other fastening devices are NOT included in the remaining 20 percent. 100% of the artwork must be created by the artist.

Artists must submit a list of recycled materials used. A brief artist’s statement must be included with the work to explain what the artist is conveying. (May be edited for display purposes.) This is part of the judging process and will be displayed with accepted art.

Entries will be judged on:

visual impact
- overall impression and emotional impact of the artwork, including its ability to evoke feelings, thoughts, and responses from the viewer.
creativity/originality - The creativity and originality of the artwork, including the artist's unique vision and approach to their work
composition/design – The harmonious arrangement of elements within the piece. The effective use of color and texture to enhance the visual experience.
craftsmanship and technical skill - technical skill demonstrated by the artists in their work, including their use of materials, craftsmanship, and attention to detail.
material usage
– resourcefulness, diversity, sustainability - The degree to which the artwork promotes environmental awareness and responsible consumption.

Applications for the juried art show must be submitted online through Art Call July 5 - Aug. 30, 2025.

Eligibility
Open to residents of Harris, Chambers and Galveston counties.

Submission
Creators may submit up to three works. The fee will be $35 for the first entry, $17.50 each for the second and third entry. Titles and prices must be included on your entry forms and cannot be changed thereafter. Paying an entry fee does not ensure the artwork will be juried into the show. There are no refunds. All entries must be original in concept, design and execution and may not have been entered previously in the Upcycle Art Challenge.Art submitted is not eligible for entry if:It is a copy of someone else's art.It is a copy of a previous winning image.It was created from a photo that was copyright protected.It was created from a photo someone else took and you do not have written permission to use the image for these purposes.It was created as part of an art class, DVD or other instruction.

Incomplete or late entries will not be accepted after the deadline.
It is important that your digital images submitted to Art Call accurately reflect your work. Works which are found not to be accurately represented by the image submitted may be disqualified at the discretion of the juror.

Entries featuring violent, political or sexual content will not be displayed. Art League of Baytown and the juror reserve the right to reject any work deemed inappropriate for this exhibition for any reason.

Notification and Delivery to Gallery
All artists will be notified if their work has been accepted for the show via email on Sept. 6, 2025 (Saturday).

Selected works must be hand delivered to the Art League of Baytown Gallery,10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sept. 12 (Friday), Sept. 13 (Saturday) or from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., Sept. 14, (Sunday) at 110 W. Texas Avenue, Baytown.

Entry Details
All works must be safe to handle (no hazards, toxic material. etc.), fit through a standard doorway and weigh less than 40 pounds. All 3-D work must be easily moved by two people and not exceed 34 by 34 by 72 inches. All 2D work must be wired and/or ready to hang. No saw tooth hangers. No live plants or animals.

All work must be installation ready. Artists will not be allowed to install their own work. For Wearable Plastic Fashion the artist must supply a mannequin or other hardware to display their creations.Wearable Plastic Fashion has to be made from 80% plastic, ex. trash bags, retail bags, bottles, bottle caps, etc. The remaining 20% can be new or recycled materials to complete the fashion statement. Artists are required to bring their own mannequin or display materials. All entries in this category MUST be wearable.

Reception and Awards
The invitation-only reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. September 19 (Friday). Each juried artist will receive two invitations for friends and family.

Best of Show is an award of $800. Awards in the Decorative, Functional and Wearable Plastic Fashion categories are: First Place ($600), Second Place ($400), Third Place ($300), Honorable Mention ($100), and Honoree Choice Award ($400). All prize-winning works will be labeled as such throughout the exhibition. Awards will be presented at the Opening Reception.

Sales
All works in the show must be listed for sale (no NFS). All sales will be transacted through the Art League of Baytown Gallery. ALB will retain a 20 percent commission on every piece sold. The Art League of Baytown, a non-profit organization, appreciates your support and welcomes new members. You may join at Art League of Baytown.

Sold artwork will remain on display until the close of the show but will be marked “sold” after the purchase has been transacted.

We encourage participants to promote the show via social media. The show will be publicized through our website and social media, email blasts, gallery street signage, our members’ social media activities, and other opportunities.

Agreement
Submission of this application and the piece(s) represented shall constitute an agreement on the part of the artist to comply with the conditions set forth in this prospectus, including the following:
While I understand that great care and all steps will be taken to mitigate the possibility of loss or damage, in submitting this application, I hereby release Art League of Baytown, members, jurors, staff, volunteers, associates and boards from any and all claims occasioned by injury, illness, damage or loss of artwork while on the gallery premises. Permission to photograph and/or reproduce the work for publicity, documentary or educational purposes is hereby granted.
An agreement will be signed on the day entries are presented.

Calendar 2025
July 5: Open date for entries
Aug. 30: Last day to apply to show through https://albuac2025.artcall.org
Sept. 1-5: Review and selection of works by juror
Sept. 6 : Notification of acceptance or nonacceptance.
Sept. 12-14: Accepted works should be hand delivered to ALB gallery, 110 W. Texas Ave., Baytown, TX. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 12 (Friday) & Sept. 13 (Saturday), or 1p.m. – 4 p.m. or Sept. 14 (Sunday) 1p.m. -4 p.m.
Sept. 18: In-house Judging
Sept. 19: Reception and awards presentation from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Oct. 17: Final day of exhibition
Oct. 17-18: Unsold artwork to be picked up at ALB Gallery, 110 W. Texas Ave., Baytown, TX. from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Please call 281-814-4669 or 281-639-9688 if you need to make special arrangements to pick up your artwork.

Any work not picked up by 4 p.m., October 30, will be considered a donation to the Art League of Baytown