IMPORTANT INFO:

Deadline to Enter:

April 19, 2025

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Exhibition Fee:

$25 for up to three (3) artworks is due upon submission of work.

*This non-refundable fee covers the cost of the exhibition which includes printing, reception, juror, and other expenses.

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Artist Notification:

No later than April 22, 2025. Notification is by email whether entries are accepted or not accepted.

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Delivery of Works:

Saturday, May 3, and Monday, May 5, 11 am-4 pm

*Deliveries after April 1 will have a late fee of $25

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Exhibition Dates:

Monday, May 12 through

Saturday, June 7, 2025

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Artist Reception:

Friday, May 16, 6-8 pm

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Pick-up of Work:

Monday, June 9, or Tuesday,

June 10, 11 am-4 pm

EXHIBITION DATES: May 12-June 7, 2025

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We invite artists to submit works to our open call for entries, “My Kind of Town,” a juried exhibition. This exhibition celebrates the unique essence of communities as seen through your eyes. Whether it’s your hometown, a serene village, or a hidden gem, we want to see what kind of town inspires you. What makes it special to you?

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Eligible work: Artists may submit up to 3 works for consideration for both the in-gallery exhibit and virtual gallery of works on our website. All submissions within our guidelines will be considered. All styles and aesthetics are accepted, from traditional to contemporary. McCord Gallery selections are based on creativity, quality of artistry and originality as represented in the images submitted.

• We accept only original works, created by the artist/entrant.

• Artworks must be of original design completed after January 1, 2022.

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Guidelines: All 2-D mediums are acceptable: acrylic, charcoal, collage, colored pencil, encaustic, gouache, graphite, ink, mixed media, oil, pastels, watercolor (excluding photography and reproductions of original works). No works generated by artificial intelligence (AI), will be accepted. Relief artwork is allowed as long as there is a wire that allows it to hang on the wall. No free-standing 3-D artwork or sculptures. All artworks must remain on exhibit in the gallery for the duration of the exhibit. Entrants must be 18 years or older and living within the United States. All work must be ready to hang for the show. Non-framed art must have a hanging sleeve and board with wire to hang the piece of work. Framed work must have a wire across the back to hang the work.​​

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Fees: The application fee of $25 for up to three (3) artworks is due upon submission of work. This non-refundable fee covers the cost of the exhibition which includes printing, reception, juror, and other expenses.

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Awards: First Place: $300, Second Place: $200, Third place: $100. Awards announced at Reception on Friday, May 16, 2025.

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Juror: Nancie King Mertz

Nancie has spent her lifetime painting in oil & pastel. She was awarded the Master Circle by Int’l Assoc. of Pastel Societies, Eminent Pastelist in 2018, and is a Master Signature member of Pastel Society of America, Degas Pastel Society & Chicago Pastel Painters.  She has been a member of The Palette & Chisel of Fine Arts since 1988 and Plein air Painters since 2003--both based in Chicago.  

Nancie juries, demos & teaches numerous workshops across the US, Italy, France & Croatia.  She is on the faculty for the Plein Air Convention, Plein Air South, and the IAPS Convention. IAPS awarded her the Prix de Pastel in 2018. She was the lead juror for the 2019 IAPS Masters’ Show, and juried the 2022 PSA Enduring Brilliance Exhibition. 

Her work has been featured in Plein Air Magazine, Southwest Art, American Artist, French & Chinese magazines, as well as the cover and several articles in Pastel Journal.  She has traveled to over 20 countries to paint.

Nancie was a 3 year Instructor of Art at Eastern IL University where she received her MA in Painting two years after completing her BFA in Painting at the University of IL.  She currently serves on their Graduate Advisory Board and received their Distinguished Alum Award as well as their Distinguished Graduate Alum Award.

She and her husband owned  a gallery for 19 years in Chicago’s Lincoln Park/Lakeview. Nancie has owned a framing company since college, and they recently opened a Learning Center & Gallery, Art DeTriumph, in their home in Rockford, IL for pastel immersion, where artists can stay. She travels across the US and to Europe to conduct workshops for various Pastel organizations.

Her pastels are included in exhibits in museums in the US, China and Europe. She was the Guest of Honor of Art Du Pastel en France with a workshop and show of her work in Giverny in May, 2022.

You may find her work occasionally on set on TV shows and commercials.  She was twice named "Chicago Artist of the Year". Contact her for a full list of awards and exhibitions.​

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Entry Instructions: To enter, go to our website: mccordgallery.org/mykindoftown. Please label the photos with artist name and name of work (Example: SueSmith_Sunshine.jpg) Images should be uploaded in jpeg format with .jpg extension and should be 1000 pixels on their longest side, with a resolution of 300 dpi. File size not to exceed 5 MB per image and cropped to show only the artwork edges. These images will also be used for the virtual gallery online. Artwork that differs markedly from the submitted image will be disqualified. Please be sure to fill out the form as directed including all artwork information in the corresponding fields. If accepted and artwork information is missing, the artwork will be automatically labeled as Untitled and Not For Sale (NFS) during the exhibition.

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Art Sales: All submissions that are available for sale in the Gallery are subject to our commission rate. The McCord Gallery retains 30% of sales and will not negotiate prices with a potential buyer. All sales are final. Sold works must be displayed for the duration of the exhibit.

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Specifications: Works must not be larger than 40” in length on either side, including frame. All wall-hung work must be properly wired with two loops and professional picture wire. Saw tooth hangers, photo frames with triangular tabs, tape, string, monofilament, crimp wires, other types of wire, or any other materials are not acceptable and will be refused, regardless of advance notification of acceptance. All works should have a corresponding label with the artist’s name, title, medium and price, if applicable. Although care and caution will be exercised in the handling of all art works, the McCord Gallery & Cultural Center is not responsible for loss or damage. Artists are responsible for insuring their work.

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Label Instructions: Artwork that has been accepted for exhibition is required to include a label on the back with the Artist's name, as well as the title, medium, and price of the work. While not required, works are preferred to be for sale. You may choose to complete the label(s) on the following page and attach to the back of your artwork when dropping off.

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Risk & Liability: Receipt of your registration fee constitutes agreement by you that there shall be no liability on the part of McCord Gallery & Cultural Center for loss, damage or destruction of any art works during the calendar period of the exhibition.

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Art Delivery: Hand-delivered artwork drop-off times are May 3, and May 5, 11 am-4 pm. Pre-paid shipped artwork must arrive on or before May 3.

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Art Pick-Up: All artwork must remain in the exhibition through June 7. Unsold artwork may be picked-up on Monday, June 9, or Tuesday, June 10, 11 am-4 pm. Artists may call or email ahead to authorize a representative to pick-up their work. Shipped artwork will be packed and returned in the same or similar material within the week following the end of the exhibition. Artwork not picked up 30 days after the exhibition will be considered abandoned and become McCord Gallery property.

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Shipping: Artists are responsible for all shipping / delivery costs (and insurance) both to and from the Gallery.

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Important: Artists who ship their work must provide a prepaid return UPS or FedEx shipping label enclosed in the box. We will not accept credit cards or checks for return shipping. Please do not submit to the Gallery an Airbill form, or any other shipping form, with a credit card number because the carrier will not process it. Send only a UPS or FedEx return prepaid shipping label that also includes the appropriate informational BAR CODES. (Do not provide a link.) Artwork must be shipped in a sturdy, reusable carton. No wood crates will be accepted. No styrofoam packing peanuts should be included. Ship your art by UPS or FedEx only. (The United States Postal Service does not provide prepaid return labels).

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Publicity: Artists retain all rights to submitted images and artwork. By submitting a work for inclusion in the exhibition, the artist agrees that the gallery is permitted to use, edit, reproduce, publish, transmit and display images or footage of the artist’s work(s), including those submitted by the artist as part of their entry, in films, video, signage, mailing, programs, online image gallery and other forms of media including social media for the promotion and display of the 2025 exhibition "My Kind of Town," and other purposes as the gallery may determine. The gallery will not be responsible for the unauthorized use of the images or footage by third parties.

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The McCord Gallery & Cultural Center is a non-profit art gallery open to everyone; as such, the content of submissions should be appropriate for all viewers.