Call for Entries
Exhibit: April 4 - June 5, 2025
Art Barn School of Art announces its 31st annual Juried Art Exhibition, a long-standing exhibition, with a purpose to promote the creation and recognition of original, quality, 2-dimensional works of art, as well as ceramic arts. The exhibition attracts entries from established and aspiring artists from Northwest Indiana, Chicago suburbs and Southwest Michigan and beyond.
We have assembled a diverse team of jurors who will bring expertise to the selection process and ensure the highest standards and integrity. All jurors are working and teaching artists, and whose experiences align directly with our educational mission:
Betty Carr, an upcoming Guest Artist and master painter in the American Impressionist Society.
Sarah Rehmer, a previous Guest Artist and Chicago-based encaustic artist.
Amy Palatnick (Amy the Potter), a California-based potter and online instructor.
Deadline: February 26, 2025
Awards
Art Barn provides numerous purchase and merit awards totaling $5,000. We wish to thank the many individuals and businesses who sponsor or contribute to these cash awards. Their generosity directly supports working artists, such as yourself.
Best of Show - $500
Merit Awards - in various values from $20 - $300
Purchase Awards - in amounts of $300, $400 or $500
Jan Sullivan Emerging Artist Award - $200 (artists between the ages of 18-25 are eligible)
All proceeds generated from this exhibition, aside from awards, support Art Barn School of Art educational programs and exhibitions.
About Art Barn School of Art
The Art Barn fosters art education and cultural access for residents, businesses, and partners in the community. The mission of the Art Barn School of Art is to inspire creativity across generations by providing an inclusive, nature-based space where artists of all skill levels can explore, experiment and grow through the arts. Our vision is to become a renowned destination for arts education and creative exploration in Northwest Indiana and beyond, where people of all ages and skill levels can immerse themselves in art and nature. Visit artbarnschool.org
Our 2025 Team of Jurors
Betty Carr - 2D (Painting)
Sarah Rehmer - 2D (Drawing, Printmaking, Pastel, Mixed Media, Paper/Fiber, Photography, Other Media)
Amy Palatnick - Ceramic Arts
Bios
Betty Carr earned an MA from San Jose State University, CA. She instructs painting, drawing and sculpture at primary, secondary and college levels and has developed a following through both private and workshop instruction, including at Art Barn School of Art. Her work is collected by individuals and corporations, and has been selected for numerous juried exhibitions. Betty was recently selected as a master painter in the American Impressionist Society and she is a signature member of Arizona Plein Air Painters Association. Carr returns to teach "Luminous Paintings in Watercolor", a 3-day guest artist workshop June 20-22 at Art Barn (Register).
Sarah Rehmer earned her BA in Graphic Design and Photography from Dominican University in River Forest, IL. Her work is held in private collections internationally. Rehmer is based in the Chicago area and teaches classes and workshops around the Midwest. Her ongoing body of encaustic work uses photography and pages from dismantled and decaying antique books. Rehmer is a 2012 Illinois Arts Council Professional Development Grant recipient and her work is held in private collections in around the United States, Canada, Italy, and Norway, as well as Institutional and Corporate collections in Illinois and New York. Rehmer teaches classes and workshops around the Midwest and on occasion a little further away. In 2024 Rehmer taught a 2-day eco-dye workshop at the Art Barn that utilized natural materials found on our campus, incorporating the natural world into art-making. Her eco-dye process is an increasingly popular art technique as people look to inspiration from nature, and uses everyday found materials to create a pleasing result.
Amy Palatnick (aka "Amy the Potter") began her wheel-throwing journey in 1989 and fell in love with clay so quickly and completely that she chose pottery over medical school. She moved to Texas for an apprenticeship at a production pottery, where she was blessed to work under a group of Master Potters.
Specializing in high-quality, functional pottery, Amy moved to the Northwest and established a thriving business at a local Saturday Market, where her colorful, sophisticated work has been enjoyed widely for decades. Recently relocated to Santa Cruz, California, Amy has become a passionate online teacher, sharing invaluable tips and techniques while emphasizing body awareness to help prevent injuries and prioritize joy in the studio.
She runs a unique 9-month online cohort to help potters elevate their skills through production-style work, and also offers a self-guided program for those who prefer to learn at their own pace. Join Amy for a workshop, follow her on social media, or consider enrolling in one of her programs to tap into this treasure trove of insights, hacks, and pure inspiration!
Eligibility
The exhibition is open to artists 18 years of age and up and living in the United States.
All entries must be of original design and personal execution.
2-Dimensional Media: May include, but not limited to, drawing, fiber, mixed media, painting, pastels, photography and/or printmaking.
Ceramic Arts Media: Works must be primarily composed of ceramic, may be 2 or 3-Dimensional and be functional or non-functional. Only single pieces of artwork accepted (no sets).
Entry Specifications
All entries must be the original work and executed solely by the artist within the last two years.
Work must not have been previously exhibited in Art Barn’s Annual Juried Art Exhibitions.
Accepted work must be labeled as specified and be ready to display or hang upon delivery.
Selected work must remain during the entire exhibition.
2-D Media:
Maximum size 40”x 44” including frame; depth max 4”
Work must be appropriately framed and wired to hang, no sawtooth hangers.
Unframed stretched canvas must be finished in gallery wrap.
2-D Media (items that hang flat against the wall, framed work) include subcategories:
— Drawing
— Mixed Media
— Painting
— Paper/Fiber
— Pastel
— Photography
— Printmaking
— Other Media
Ceramic Arts:
Maximum size 16”x12”x12”
Freestanding ceramic pieces must be accompanied by a substantial base. Limited shelving available upon request on a first-come-first-served basis.
2-D ceramic media will be designated under the Ceramic Arts.
Ceramic Arts (CA) include the following subcategories:
— Functional
— Non-Functional
For tips on photographing your work for use in an online call visit https://artcall.org/pages/tips-for-photographing-artwork-for-digital-submissions
For tips on resizing your images visit https://youtu.be/1cLfrF2x_OA
Entry Fee: Non-refundable entry fee of $40 includes up to 2 entries.
Notification: Selection notification emails sent by March 14, 2025. Artists may also login to view thier status.
Sales: All Purchase and Merit Award funds go solely to the artist. For other sales, Art Barn receives a 30% commission. A payment check will be issued within 30 days of the exhibition closing. Art not picked up within 30 days becomes property of the Art Barn unless prior special arrangements are made.
Photography Waiver: By submitting your entry you give Art Barn School of Art permission to use images of you or your artwork for the purposes of promotion in connection with Art Barn.
Delivery of Accepted Work
Selected works are to be hand delivered or shipped to:
Art Barn School of Art, 695 N 400 E, Valparaiso, IN 46383
Hand-delivered work will be accepted at Art Barn on the following dates:
Friday, March 28 from 11:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday, March 29 from 10:00am – 1:00pm
Shipped work must arrive no later than 1:00pm on March 29.
Carefully package artwork in sturdy, reusable packaging to prevent damage. We encourage using Plexiglass for shipped work. No packing peanuts please. Artists are encouraged to and responsible for insuring their work, as Art Barn is not liable for damages or theft during transit. Damaged work will not be exhibited.
Artists are responsible for all shipping costs of accepted work using FedEx, UPS or USPS. Include a paid return shipping label in the package (do not include stamps). Confirm that your shipping provider will refund the return shipping label in the event your work is sold.
All delivered work MUST reflect entry submissions. Any work not matching the submission will be disqualified and will not be exhibited (no refunds).
Return of Work
Unsold work must be picked up:
Friday, June 6 from 11:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday, June 7 from 10:00am - 2:00pm
Unsold shipped work will be delivered to the shipper in its original packaging by June 12.
Liability
The Art Barn shall, upon possession of the artist’s work(s), exercise due care in handling. The Art Barn shall not be responsible for any loss or damage to the artist’s artwork while in the Art Barn’s possession unless loss or damage is, or can be, directly attributable to intentional or negligent acts by Art Barn and its employees or volunteers.
Schedule Summary
Feb. 26 Entry deadline
March 14 Selection notification (by email)
March 28 & 29 Delivery of accepted works
April 4 Exhibit opens
April 11 Reception & Awards
June 5 Exhibit closes
June 6 & 7 Pick-up exhibited work
June 12 Return shipments complete
Activities are made possible in part by the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
