“Anne” by Gordon Thomas Frank

DEL RAY ARTISANS - CALL FOR ENTRY
OPEN TO ALL AREA ARTISTS

BLUE
at Del Ray Artisans Gallery

January 8–30, 2027

Entry Deadline: Sunday, December 13, 2026 by Midnight

Curator: Gordon Thomas Frank (gordonfrank666@gmail.com)

Inviting all artists to explore the diverse meanings of the color BLUE and channel the varied meanings of the color. With both positive and negative, it is a color that evokes a range of emotions. BLUE is more than a color. The use of various shades of blue is encouraged. Mix it up! Black and white colors can be included, but blue should be the primary focus. Any medium works. If you’re doing photos, just tint them BLUE. Think of BLUE as more than just a color, but as an idea, a memory, a mood, or even a whole state of mind.

BLUE is open to all area artists. Del Ray Artisans members pay a lower entry fee. If you are not a member, you may join Del Ray Artisans now.

Please read the following requirements carefully before submitting your work.

SECTION I - PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

Community Standards & Conduct

Del Ray Artisans (DRA) is committed to maintaining a welcoming, respectful, and professional environment for artists, members, staff, volunteers, visitors, and community partners.

By submitting artwork, all exhibition participants agree to follow the terms set forth in this call for entry and to communicate respectfully and professionally with DRA staff, curators, volunteers, fellow artists, and visitors.

SECTION II - ACCEPTED ARTIST RESPONSIBILITIES

Volunteer Commitment & Other Acknowledgements

Del Ray Artisans is volunteer-run. Every participating artist is required to volunteer for three (3) hours in support of this specific exhibition. Artists are responsible for signing up for volunteer shifts communicated by the curator(s) and accurately reporting completed hours. Failure to complete required volunteer hours may affect eligibility to participate in future DRA exhibitions, markets, or other programs. If circumstances prevent an artist from completing a volunteer commitment, the artist should contact the curator(s) as soon as possible.

For Del Ray Artisans members: These volunteer hours are separate from the general annual membership volunteer requirement. DRA members are reminded to report all volunteer hours monthly.

Accepted artists acknowledge the following:

• Each artist must volunteer for 3 hours towards support of this specific exhibition. 
• All artists must follow exhibition deadlines and artwork receiving/pickup procedures.
• 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.
• The information collected in the Entry Form will be used to create the wall tags and added to the sales system. No changes may be made to this data after the Artwork Receiving date.
• 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.
• After artwork drop-off, the artist must not remove the artwork from the exhibit nor alter it in appearance or price.
• Del Ray Artisans cannot be held responsible for any artwork left after the pickup deadline. Any art left over 30 days after the close of the show will become the property of Del Ray Artisans.

SECTION III - ARTWORK & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Original Artwork Requirement (No Generative AI)

All submitted artwork must be the artist's own original work.

Artwork created in whole or in part using generative artificial intelligence (AI) is not eligible for submission. This includes AI-generated imagery or other generative AI content incorporated into the submitted artwork.

Photography, original digital art created by the artist without generative AI, and traditional hand-printed fine art processes—including block prints, woodcuts, relief prints, monoprints, lithographs, intaglios, etchings, and engravings—are welcome.

Artists may be asked to provide additional information about their process if questions arise regarding eligibility.

Entry Requirements

• This call for entry is open to all area artists.
• Deadline for online submission of your art is Sunday, December 13, 2026 by midnight.
• Each artist may submit up to three (3) artworks:
  • Artwork previously shown at Del Ray Artisans gallery is eligible as long as it fits the blue theme.
  • All artwork must be for sale.
  • All artwork must be original and comply with DRA's prohibition on generative AI.
  • Artwork must be professionally presented and ready to hang or display. (Review Artwork Presentation Guidelines)
  • Two-dimensional work must have an appropriate and secure hanging system.
  • Giclée prints are not permitted, with the exception of original digital artwork.
  • Oversized work and multi-piece works, such as diptychs or triptychs which must be presented as a single work, must be approved with the curator(s) before entry.
• The entry fee is $5 per entry for Del Ray Artisans members and $10 per entry for non-members. (Patron-Platinum members are exempt from exhibit entry fees as a membership benefit.)
• Entry fees are due upon submission and are non-refundable. Pay by credit card online or with cash, check, or credit card at the gallery.
• 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".
• Artwork acceptance is at the curator’s discretion. Final acceptance into the exhibit will happen when the curator views the artwork in person.

SECTION IV - IMPORTANT DATES

• Deadline for entry to the exhibit and entry fees is by midnight on Sunday, December 13, 2026.
  
• Artists will be notified of artwork acceptance by Sunday, December 20, 2026.
• Artwork Receiving for accepted exhibit entries will be on Sunday, January 3 from 12-4pm 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, January 8 from 7-9pm.
• The exhibit runs January 8–30, 2027. 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, January 31, 2027 from 12-3pm by appointment. 

 

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Entry Form

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.

Name your files as follows: YourLastName-FirstName-ArtworkTitle. Acceptable file types are: pdf, jpg, jpeg, png,and gif; up to 5MB in file size. Smart phone photos are acceptable.

Any questions or concerns about this application, contact the curator: Gordon Thomas Frank (gordonfrank666@gmail.com)

Entry 1

Entry 2

Entry 3

Acknowledgements

Carefully review all the sections in this Call for Entry. You must acknowledge all the terms and conditions before submitting.

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

This program is supported in part by a grant from the City of Alexandria through the FY2027 Annual Arts Program. Special thanks to the City of Alexandria and Virginia Commission for the Arts for their continued support of Del Ray Artisans, a 501(c)(3) organization.