Nature's Canvas (SAQA Global Exhibition) - Call for Entry

Fine Craft in Textiles and Turned Wood

EXHIBITION THEME

This is a joint exhibition with the American Association of Woodturners.

Please note: This is a no theme exhibition. Pieces do not have to mimic or include wood or even be nature related.

Join us in paying homage to the age-old tradition of artistic expression through wood and fibers. From the dawn of prehistoric creativity to the present day, humans have harnessed the beauty of wood and the versatility of fibers to craft extraordinary works of art.

Now, we invite artists specializing in wood turning and fiber art to submit their finest pieces for consideration in a collaborative exhibition that seeks to showcase the timeless synergy between these two mediums.

EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

Windgate Museum of Art, Conway, Arkansas: May - August 2026

This exhibition will travel until December 2028

ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS

Wall-hung (2D and 3D), freestanding, and ceiling suspended artwork are eligible.

• Pieces may not exceed 96” (8 ft / 243cm) in height, width, or depth. There is NO minimum size.
• All artwork must fit through a standard 34” doorway. Ceiling suspended pieces cannot exceed 20 lbs.
• Wall-hung pieces (2D and 3D) must hang without distortion. Traditional quilt sleeves, stretcher bars, framed or mounted work, and other hanging mechanisms are acceptable. 
• Artwork must SAQA’s definition of an art quilt: "a creative visual work that is layered and stitched or that references this form of stitched layered structure." 

IMAGE REQUIREMENTS

It is critical that submitted images be of the best possible quality: in focus, with clear details, and following SAQA's digital image requirements. Read Tips for Successful Art Quilt Photography and  Submitting Digital Images first!  

• For each wall-hung 2D entry (depth is less than 2 inches), submit one full view front digital image and one detail digital image. 
• For each 3D artwork (wall-hung or freestanding), submit one overall front image and two detail images  
• Full-view images MUST show all the edges along with a small amount of background.  
• Detail images should preferably be in portrait orientation. Do not simply crop your full-view image.
• Digital images must be saved as a high-quality JPEG or JPG file (No TIFF files). Do not use your name or initials in the filename (title is fine). 
• Finished images should be at least 2100 pixels on the longest side (no maximum).   

Common errors include:

• Images that are out of focus or too small
• Cropping images too closely on the full-view image. All edges of the artwork  must be visible along with a small amount of contrasting background. Do NOT crop your photo into any part of the artwork as this may disqualify your entry.
• Your background should be neutral and not include distracting elements such as hands, floors, studio, pets, pins, etc.

ELIGIBILITY / FEE
Artists must be a current SAQA member to enter this call. $50 USD for up to 3 entries. $40 ($10 Early Bird Discount) if all entries submitted by March 15, 2025. Entry fee must be paid online before the entry deadline via a credit card or PayPal at www.saqa.com/fees.

Note: AAW artists will submit their entries via the AAW website.

QUESTIONS?
If you have questions about this exhibition, please refer to SAQA’s Exhibition Guidelines and FAQs where many exhibition related questions are answered. If you have any further questions, please contact us at calls@saqa.art.