Love Is ...

Northern California Arts, Inc. invites submissions to its 2027 national exhibition at Sacramento Fine Arts Center in Carmichael, California, January 26–February 13. The theme is love, broadly interpreted, but the show is open to all artworks within its eligible media. Both two- and three-dimensional original work are accepted, including painting, drawing, photography, collage, mixed media, and sculpture. Judge Suzy Goodwin will select awards; Best of Show and category awards are to be announced.

Love, broadly interpreted; the show is also open to all artworks.

Eligibility: Artists must reside in the USA and be at least 18. NCA members and non-members may enter; membership does not affect acceptance. Submit 1–3 works, all at the same time; up to two may be accepted. Works must be original, created by the entering artist, and no more than three years old from completion. Works created in a class or workshop, previously shown at Sacramento Fine Arts, or created using AI are ineligible. Photo references should be the artist's own; references from others' copyrighted materials are prohibited, although the rules also state that derivative works are allowed. Both 2D and 3D works are eligible, including watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastels, ink, pencil, colored pencil, photography, collage, and mixed media. Printed media is allowed only for photography; printed copies of other artwork are prohibited. The NCA board may deny unacceptable subject matter, such as graphic violence; consult the curator if uncertain.

Application: Complete the entire online Entrythingy application. Entry is a contract committing accepted artists to participate. Check spelling, errors, and image orientation. The submission summary lists JPG files and a 50MB maximum per image, but the detailed instructions specify JPEG/JPG, RGB color, 500KB minimum and 5MB maximum; these limits conflict. Submit one image per 2D entry showing only the artwork, without its frame; up to three images per 3D entry. Fees are due upon submission and are nonrefundable: NCA members pay $20 each for one or two entries, or $50 for three; non-members pay $25 each for one or two entries, or $60 for three.

Accepted work: The judge's acceptance decisions are final. No substitutions; delivered work must exactly match the submitted entry. Accepted works cannot be displayed or sold elsewhere from submission through the end of the show and must remain on view for the full exhibition. All accepted pieces must be ready to install. 2D work, including frame and matting, must not exceed 48 inches wide by 72 inches tall; hanging pieces must not exceed 30 pounds. Works at least 1 inch deep need not be framed, but their edges must be neatly painted; cradle boards at least 1-1/4 inches deep need not be painted. Other 2D works must be framed with glass or plexiglass; pieces measuring 36 inches or more on their longest side require plexiglass rather than glass. Hanging must use braided wire or strong plastic line with D-rings, with wire ends covered or taped; nails, eyelets, and sawtooth hardware are prohibited. Pedestal sculptures must fit safely on a base no larger than 24 by 24 inches; freestanding sculptures must fit within 36 by 36 inches. Artists must install pieces over 40 pounds, meeting fire and safety requirements. All 3D work must be stable and safe for gallery visitors; consult curator Paul Dessau about limitations before applying.

Receiving and sales: Attach the artwork title, artist's name and telephone number or email, price, and artwork type/category to the back. The receiving instructions say all pieces must be for sale, but the sales rules also allow works marked Not for sale (NFS); the source is inconsistent. Sacramento Fine Arts handles sales and collects a 30% commission for members and 50% for non-members. Work not picked up within one week of the show incurs $5 per day; work left one month after closing becomes NCA property. NCA and Sacramento Fine Arts disclaim responsibility for damage or loss; insurance is the artist's responsibility.

Shipping: Artists shipping work must initiate and pay all shipping charges to the venue and return shipping for unsold work, plus crating fees, and provide a prepaid return label. Ship to Northern California Arts Inc (NCA), c/o Sac Arts, 5330-B Gibbons Drive, Carmichael, CA 95608. Minimum crating charges are $25 for one piece per crate or $30 for two pieces in the same crate. USPS, FedEx, or UPS are preferred. Artists will be contacted about damaged arrivals or return-shipping delays. Shipping and size questions: Paul Dessau, paul@nccn.net, 530-346-6078.

Awards: Judge Suzy Goodwin assigns awards, and award decisions are final. Each artist may receive at most one award. Best of Show and category awards are to be announced.