“Backyard Beauty” by Robyn Seaton McGarry

DEL RAY ARTISANS - CALL FOR ENTRY
OPEN TO DEL RAY ARTISANS MEMBERS ONLY

Lovely As A Tree
at Del Ray Artisans Gallery

August 1-30, 2025

Extended Entry Deadline: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 by Midnight

Curator: Robyn Seaton McGarry (robynmcgarry15@gmail.com)

This exhibit, Lovely As A Tree, was inspired by Joyce Kilmer’s poem “Trees”, a framed copy of which hung on the living room wall when I was growing up. This exhibit invites you to explore all the ways in which trees impact our lives and the earth.

Humans and animals depend on the shade, shelter, food provided, the beauty of and environmental impact of trees. Bring aspects of this natural phenomenon to life through paintings, photography, ceramics, items created from wood and other mediums that flow from your creative imaginations.

Original creations only - no AI generated pieces. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Contact the curator, Robyn Seaton McGarry, at robynmcgarry15@gmail.com.

 

Lovely As A Tree is a Del Ray Artisans members-only exhibit; however, Del Ray Artisans members pay a lower entry fee. If you are not a member, you may join Del Ray Artisans now.

Entry to this exhibit is by online submission. Art may be two- or three-dimensional, and in any medium. No strict size limits, but please be considerate of other artists and the physical limits of the gallery before entering oversized pieces. Oversized pieces of merit will be accepted if space permits. If submitting a multi-piece 2D artwork (such as a diptych or triptych), all parts must be framed together into one piece unless cleared in advance with the curator. Art should be ready to hang or display with wire and screw eyes, mounting and/or display stand, framed, matted, or with edges finished.  We cannot show work that is not ready for exhibition. Example of a professionally framed artwork with flat screw eyes and wire:

If your artwork hanging system varies greatly from this example, contact the curators. See DelRayArtisans.org/exhibits/art-guidelines for additional details.

Entry Details

• Open to Del Ray Artisans members only.
• Artists may submit up to three (3) pieces of artwork.
• The entry fee is $5 per entry. (Patron-Platinum and Patron-Gold members are exempt from entry fees for Members-only exhibits as a membership benefit.)
• Extended deadline for online submission of your art is Tuesday, July 15, 2025 by midnight.
• Entry fees are due upon submission and are non-refundable - pay with cash, check, or credit card at the gallery or by credit card online. 
• You must provide one photo for each entry. Acceptable file types are: jpg, jpeg, pdf, and png; up to 5MB in file size. Smart phone photos are acceptable. You must name your files as follows: "YourLastName-FirstName-ArtworkTitle". You may also choose to provide one additional photograph per entry (not required). If you provide a second photo for an entry, add a "-2" to the end - e.g. "YourLastName-FirstName-ArtworkTitle-2".
• All artwork must be original work and not a digital reproduction print. Giclée prints are not allowed. Art that relies on generated AI (artificial intelligence) content is discouraged, and may not be accepted. Photography, digital art, and hand-printed fine art prints (block prints, woodcuts, relief prints, monoprints, lithographs, intaglios, etchings, engravings, etc.) are welcome for entry. Contact the curator for more information.
• All artwork must be for sale.
• Work previously shown at Del Ray Artisans gallery is eligible.
• Artwork acceptance is at the curators' discretion. Final acceptance into the exhibit will happen when the curator views the artwork in person. Artwork, once accepted into the exhibit at the drop-off time must not be removed from the gallery or be altered in appearance or in price.

Accepted Artist Requirements

• All taxes, including sales tax, are the responsibility of the artist. Factor your tax burden into the price of your artwork. Del Ray Artisans does not collect taxes separately.
• When art sells, Del Ray Artisans retains a 20% commission.
• Even if the artist's work has sold, artists are not allowed to bring in new entries after Artwork Receiving.
• Del Ray Artisans and the City of Alexandria cannot be held liable for any loss or damage to artwork at any time. Insurance for artwork is the sole responsibility of the artist.
• Permission to photograph any artwork for Del Ray Artisans publicity and archival purposes is automatically granted by the artist as a requisite for entering the exhibit. The photos you provide in the entry form below may also be used to post this exhibit online. Anyone not agreeing must contact the Curating Director at Curating@DelRayArtisans.org.
• All artists participating in this exhibit are required to volunteer a minimum of 3 hours towards managing the show. Those hours can be filled by gallery hosting during the month of exhibit, assisting with show hanging or take down, and volunteering to help with other show-specific activities as needed by the curators. Any hours in excess of 3 hours will count towards the membership requirement. DRA members are reminded to report their volunteer hours monthly.
• Unsold artwork pickup is on Sunday, August 31, 2025 from 12-3 pm by appointment. No early pickup. All art must remain for the entire length of the exhibit unless sold or arrangements have been made in advance with the curator.
• Del Ray Artisans cannot be held responsible for any artwork left after the pickup deadline. The gallery has limited space and artwork could get lost, misplaced, or damaged. Any art left over 30 days after the close of the show will become the property of Del Ray Artisans.

Important Dates

• Extended deadline for Digital Submissions to the exhibit and Entry Fees is by midnight on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
• Artists will be notified of artwork acceptance by July 17, 2025.
• Artwork Receiving for accepted exhibit entries will be on Sunday, July 27, 2025 from 12-4 pm by appointment at Del Ray Artisans gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301. (The curator will contact you to schedule your appointment.)
• The Opening Reception is Friday, August 1, 2025 from 7-9 pm.
• The exhibit runs August 1-30, 2025. Gallery hours are Thursday 12-6pm, Friday 12-9pm, Saturday & Sunday 12-6pm. (Closed the last Sunday of the month.)
• Unsold artwork pickup is on Sunday, August 31, 2025 from 12-3 pm by appointment. 

 

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Entry Form

TIP: Your membership expiration date is shown on the mailing label of Del Ray Artisans exhibit postcards. If your membership has expired, please renew now.

REMINDER: Please record your volunteers hours in the online form (found on Volunteer page by selecting "Enter Volunteer Hours Now"). If you have not yet completed your annual volunteer time, please review the current volunteer needs.

The above information is for Del Ray Artisans use only.

Artwork Entries

You may provide up to three (3) entries. 

Please provide one photo for each entry.  Acceptable file types are: pdf, jpg, jpeg, png,and gif; up to 5MB in file size.  Smart phone photos are acceptable.  You may also provide an additional photograph per entry if you wish (not required). 

Name your files as follows: YourLastName-FirstName-ArtworkTitle. If you provide a second photo for the entry, add a “-2” to the end, e.g. YourLastName-FirstName-ArtworkTitle-2.

Any questions or concerns about this application, contact the curator: Robyn Seaton McGarry, at robynmcgarry15@gmail.com.

Entry 1

Entry 2

Entry 3

Terms and Conditions

Carefully review all the terms and conditions in this Call for Entry; especially note the Accepted Artist Requirements section and Important Dates section. You must also check the following acknowledgements:

After clicking "Submit Entry Form" below you will be taken directly to the payment page for your entry(s). Your submission is NOT complete until payment is remitted.

Special thanks to the City of Alexandria, Alexandria Commission for the Arts, and Virginia Commission for the Arts for their continued support of Del Ray Artisans, a 501(c)(3) organization.