I’m very pleased to say that my work made it into a call for entry! It’s always exciting when I get to put my art on display. I want to go through the process that led my art from sitting in storage to the wall of the Main Street Arts gallery. I’m hoping people like it! It could be sold, but, to be honest, it is a picture of the kitchen in my childhood home, so I overpriced it to a point where if someone does buy it for that much, I’ll be happy and not just sad I sold it.

I became aware of the call for entry because my art professor, Sue Jenkins, told my web design class about it. The call is a small works art exhibition in New York. I have plenty of small works I’ve entered into other galleries (I love making miniatures), but I’d never sent my art through the mail. I asked Sue about it, and she reassured me that it wouldn’t be too bad and to follow the instructions they give me. So I went onto their website to see what I needed to do.

I was greeted with a list of parameters: piece size, frame size, wire on back for hanging. I had to make sure my pieces all fit within the parameters. Luckily, they did. I also didn’t have the pieces with me, since I’m dorming at Marywood, so my grandma popped in for a visit and dropped off the pieces I submitted, in case any were accepted. I filled in the dimensions of each piece, the names, mediums, and then I had to include two artist’s statements, one in first person, and one in third person. I also had to provide pictures of each piece, and could include a detail image, but I didn’t have zoomed in images at my disposal, and I didn’t want to try to take a picture through the frame glass… that could have been disastrous.

This all took place on a platform called Submittable, which was new to me. I don’t really have any complaints about the program. It worked well and updated me when my work was being considered. Ultimately, one of three pieces was chosen. I showed this piece in the blog reflecting on my AP art portfolio. I’ll show it again here. I wish I had a picture of it framed, but oh well. I’ll show a picture of it in progress so that it isn’t just the same old thing.

The gallery wanted me to send the piece via UPS with a return label in the package so that they could send it back in case no one purchased it. The price to do this was a little much, around 40 dollars, but it’s worth it for something I can put on my resume! I’m hopeful it arrives successfully. Maybe it’ll earn an award! I’m not holding my breath on that one, though.

I’m excited to see how it goes. I’m sure I’ll update, whatever happens. You can learn more about the gallery and this small works show at https://mainstreetartscs.org/exhibitions/small-works-2025/

• Exhibition Dates: November 8, 2025 – December 20, 2025
• Reception Date: November 8, 2025 – 2:00 PM

More to come!