2025 Happy Memories

January 11 to February 21, 2025 John Muir Health Auxiliary Gallery at Aspen Center 133 La Casa Via Walnut Creek, CA 94598

Theme of the Show: Happy Memories

The John Muir Health Auxiliary Gallery will host a show of CWA members. We all have happy memories of places we have been, people we know and things that have special meaning. The theme may be depicted with animals, landscapes, cityscapes, still lifes, nature, abstractions, or figures. Please submit artwork that will spread happiness.

Open to ALL CWA Members – January 11 to February 21, 2025
ENTRY OPENING: November 1, 2024
ENTRY DEADLINE: December 11, 2024

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Awards

1st Place - $150, 2nd Place - $100, 3rd Place - $75, and 4 Honorable Mentions $35

John Muir Health
Auxiliary Gallery at Aspen Center
133 La Casa Via
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
https://www.johnmuirhealth.com

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Jurors

Juror of Selection: Carol Tarzier, San Francisco artist
Juror of Awards: Glen Jarvis, CWA

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Dec 11	Entry deadline
Dec 16	Notification to accepted artists and posted on the CWA website
Jan 11	Artwork drop-off at the John Muir Gallery
Jan 11	Hang show
Jan 12	Gallery show opens
Jan 18	Awards posted on the CWA website
Feb 21	Show closes
Feb 21	Pick up paintings at the Gallery
	All shipped paintings go out by shipping carriers identified in the return shipping label provided by the artist.

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This CWA Members Show is open to ALL CWA members 18 years or older. 

Paintings must be two-dimensional and primarily watermedia on paper surfaces; Yupo, Tyvek, and Aquabord are acceptable. Pastel or collage may be used as long as watermedia is the dominant medium. Digital media, photography, prints, or reproductions are not acceptable. The source material and composition of submitted work must be wholly original and not derived from any published images. Entries must be entirely the work of the artist and not shown previously in a CWA Members Show. The work must not be shown in another show (i.e., online) while this show is open.  No workshop or class work allowed. All paintings must be for sale and priced framed. All work submitted to this show must have been completed in the past two years. Subject matter that may be objectionable to the public (e.g., nudity, obscenity, and extreme political/religious views) will be disqualified.

Important Eligibility Notes:

• Artists that fail to provide the accepted entry will be disqualified for one year from entering a CWA Members Show.
• Paintings shown in a previous CWA Members Show or a concurrent show will be disqualified from this show, and the member will be disqualified for one year from entering Members Shows.

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Online Entry Instructions

All entries must be submitted via our website: https://www.californiawatercolor.org.  Members may enter up to three digital images in jpeg format.  The resolution must be 300 dpi, with 1200 pixels on the longest side, one painting per file. The size is for the image only.  Do not include the frame in the image or measurements.  The image must be without a mat or frame. 

• Log in using Member's Login from the CWA website homepage: https://www.californiawatercolor.org. 
• From the Members homepage, choose Shows/Exhibitions, then Member Shows, and select Happy Memories.
• Confirm your information, add your painting details, and upload your images.
• As a final step, pay for your entry.

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Entry Fees (non-refundable)

Entry fee is payable by PayPal or credit card.  It must be completed by the entry deadline of 12/11.

CWA Members: $25 for one or two images, $35 for three images.

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A maximum of 35 paintings will be chosen for this show. All accepted artists will be notified by email, and results will be posted online on 12/14. 

Accepted work must match the submitted image; paintings not consistent with the submitted image will be disqualified. The acceptance email will include all instructions for shipping or delivering the accepted painting(s) to the Gallery, including an Artist Agreement to sign and return to CWA.

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CWA welcomes artwork from ALL members, whether you are in California or out-of-state.  Ifpaintings need to be shipped, the accepted artists will be provided with the detailed shipping address and requirements.  The painting must be received by the shipping address by 1/8.  Note: the Gallery will accept only hand-delivered work on 1/11. 

Note: There will be a $20 handling fee for shipped paintings, and the artist must provide a prepaid shipping label for the return in the original shipping container. 

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The Gallery has size limitations.  Maximum outside frame can be no greater than 30 x 40 inches, and no less than 16 x 20 inches. 

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Framing

These framing guidelines are intended to help ensure your artwork's safety, the safety of its handlers and maintain a high standard of presentation for the gallery show.  Paintings considered unsafe for hanging may not be hung at the discretion of the Gallery.  Any repairs or adjustments will result in extra charges. 

• Use neat and sturdy metal or wood frames with square corners.  No ornate or rococo frames.
• Use a foam core backing on the back of the painting to protect your painting.
• Plexiglas™ (acrylic) covering is required. NO GLASS.  Floated art must not touch the plastic. 
• Watercolor paper, Yupo paper, and Tyvek paper are all accepted. 
• Paintings on Aquabord (or other similar surface) or cradled panels and varnished or finished with a protective coating may be displayed without an acrylic covering but must still be framed in simple, square-cornered frames with D-rings and wire for hanging.
• Mats, if used, shall be white or off-white, clean and neatly cut.  Thin, colored liners are acceptable. 
• Backing material should be foam board or acid-free backing materials to maintain the quality of the painting.  Do not use a cardboard backing.  Wood frames may have a paper backing (dust cover) glued to the edge of the frame.
• Picture frame hangers MUST be flush with the frames (D-rings); NO sawtooth hooks, clamps, or eye hooks. 
• The wire must be fastened securely, with the wire ends taped.  The center of the wire should reach two inches below the top of the frame.

Frames MUST have a foam core backing for paintings on paper. It must clearly show the foam core when the painting is accepted at the show. If you use the type of frame with clasps that turn to close a hardboard backer in place, the frame must have a brown paper dust cover glued to (over) the back of the frame. The Masonite and hardboard backing boards that come with many store-bought frames are not acceptable. The reason for this is that if someone buys a painting at one of our shows, we want them to get a product that will not discolor with age or affect the watercolor paper or surface. 

Additional framing details may be included in instructions to accepted artists if necessary. 

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CWA will handle all sales. All paintings must remain for the show's duration and cannot be shown in another concurrent show. CWA will retain a 20% commission on all work sold.  ALL paintings must be for sale.  Maximum price is $1,500.  Paintings must be priced as framed.  Price changes are not allowed once the show opens. 

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No work may be withdrawn before the end of the show or entered in a concurrent show. CWA and the Gallery reserve the right to photograph artwork or copy images for promotional purposes. The Gallery does not provide insurance for the artwork while it is in their possession. The submission of entries to this show shall constitute an agreement on the part of the artist to the terms and conditions as set forth in this prospectus. 

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Please email:  shows@californiawatercolor.org

Download the Prospectus

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Entering Member Shows: To enter a member show, you will first need to log in, and then you will be automatically directed to the Members' Home page. Select the show to enter on the right hand sidebar under Shows to Enter. There you will be able to find the Prospectus, enter, upload images, and pay your entry fees. (If you need a refresher on the process, click here for instructions on how to enter and upload images.)