Earthworks Call for Artists (05/06)

Call for Artists

Do you work with earth materials? For Earth Day/Month, we turn our attention to all the wonderful materials for art provided by the earth itself. We will focus on arts that use natural materials such as clay, rocks, soil, vegetation, and water, or art that is created in the landscape by directly sculpting natural materials on or in the land. SkyArtworks is seeking talented artists to showcase their work in our gallery! We invite artists of all mediums—painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, stained glass, and more—to apply for exhibition opportunities.

We welcome submissions in the following forms but not limited to:

• Land Art – Large-scale outdoor pieces using natural materials like soil, rocks, sand, and plants.
• Mud/Clay Clay Sculptures – Fired or unfired sculptures made from locally sourced clay or mud.
• Rock and Pebble Arrangements – Mandalas, cairns, or other stone compositions.
• Wood and Bark Art – Sculptures, carvings, or installations using reclaimed or natural wood.
• Pressed Flower or Leaf Art – Botanical compositions showcasing natural foliage.
• Driftwood or Found Object Sculptures – Assemblages of naturally weathered materials.
• Natural Fiber Weaving – Baskets, wall hangings, or textile works from grasses, vines, or roots.
• Earth Pigment Paintings – Works using naturally sourced pigments from minerals, soil, or plants.
• Eco-Installation Art – Interactive or immersive pieces that incorporate the landscape itself.

A collaborative mosaic project will begin the weekend of May 3rd and continue throughout the month of May. More details to come!

Eligibility:

• Open to artists working in any medium.
• Both emerging and established artists are welcome.
• Artwork must be original and suitable for display. 

Exhibition Details

The exhibition will run for the months of May and June 2025. Selected artists, teams and groups receive curatorial direction, communications/PR support, and access to other Sky Artwork production resources. Artists are responsible for the delivery, installation and deinstallation of their work. Once installed, Sky Artworks’ insurance will cover the value of the pieces in the case of damage or theft during the exhibition. Exhibiting artists are welcome (but not required) to sell their work, if so Sky Artworks takes a 40% commission (or 35% for Sky Artwork members). The gallery is open Thursday through Sunday, 12 noon to 5pm.

Schedule

• Deadline for submissions: April 3, 2025, midnight PT
• Notifications for acceptance: April 10, 2025, midnight PT
• Installation: May 1– 10, 2025
• Opening reception: Saturday, May 31, 2025, 4–8pm
• Takedown: June 26-29, 2025 12-5pm

How to Submit

Send a submission letter as an email to info [at] skyartworks[dot]org  by April 3, 2025, midnight PT, with the subject title:

“[your name] — Submission for Earthworks 

Include these bulleted queries and your responses in your email:

• Contact information
  • Full Name: 
  • Phone number:
  • Address:
  • Email:
• About you.
  • 1 to 3 sentence description of your background as an artist/artisan and your current style of work.
  • 1 to 3 sentence description of how you are engaged in the Sky Valley community.
  • Show your prior work, either as a link to an online portfolio, or attach three images of prior work.  You may also attach a resume or artists’ statement, however a resume is not required.
• About your work in this show.
  • Up to three representative images of the work you hope to include in our group show. This may be either images of the actual pieces, or images of similar work to what you will be creating in time for the show. 
  • For each piece, provide the title, size, medium/materials, and any special installation requirements. 
  • Include a brief description of how the work you hope to include in the show fits the theme.

About Sky Artworks

Sky Artworks is a non-profit community art space and gallery in the business district of Skykomish, WA. Our mission is to promote the creative community in the Upper Sky Valley by providing exhibition, educational, and production resources for artists, artisans, and other creatives. Our art exhibitions feature works by local artists and artisans.

We are a project of Third Place Technologies, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization fostering collaborative communities at the intersection of art and technology in the Pacific Northwest. We thank 4Culture, the Town of Skykomish, and Artsfund for all their support in making Sky Artworks possible.