PROSPECTUS for "Ups & Downs, Ins & Outs": MFA Gallery's Juried Spring Group Showcase
***OPEN CALL FOR ART!***
PROSPECTUS:
“Ups & Downs, Ins & Outs: A Showcase of Perspectives”
~ MFA Gallery’s Juried Late Spring Showcase ~
April 25th – June 7th 2026
EXHIBITION LOGISTIC:
THEME: “Ups & Downs, Ins & Outs: A Showcase of Perspectives”
EARLY SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Wednesday, March 11th (by midnight)
MID SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Monday, March 23rd (by midnight)
LATE SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Monday, April 6th (by midnight)
NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTED WORKS: Friday, April 10th
ART DROP-OFF: Sunday, April 19th (5-7pm) & Monday, April 20th (11am-1pm)
OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday, April 25th from 3PM – 7PM
ART PICK-UP: Sunday, June 7th (5 – 7pm) & Monday June 8th (11am -1pm)
THEME:
“Ups & Downs, Ins & Outs: A Showcase of Perspectives”
A Perspective is a way of looking at something, a point of view.
~ A successful piece of art depicts a unique perspective. ~
Artworks can portray Perspectives in a myriad of different ways, including (but not limited to):
Physical – picturing unusual angles (literally looking up, down, in, out, under or over, etc.)
Emotional – encompassing feelings of being up or down, or anywhere in between
Psychological – representing a particular state of mind
Historical – illustrating a certain time in the past
Cultural – embodying a specific region of the world
Political – rendering a viewpoint on politics / government
More broadly: We all have our own unique inner perspectives.
An artist’s challenge is to take that personal inner view and create it in physical form.
Show us how you capture what’s inside you and bring it out for the world to see!
In this Call for Art, we are looking for work that expresses perspectives in any way imaginable.
GALLERY COMMISSION:
MFA will take ZERO commission on any sales under $1000. (Artist receives FULL sale price).
For sales over $1000, MFA will receive a 15% commission.
ELIGIBILITY:
All original 2D & 3D Art is eligible to be juried, within the size restraints as follows:
Hanging Artwork:
MAXIMUM: 36” wide by 42” high (including frame, if applicable).
Freestanding artwork:
MAXIMUM: 16" wide x 10" deep x 24" high. (No pedestals are necessary.)
[If you have a larger sculpture that you'd potentially like to submit, please send us an email to discuss. Some flexibility may exist.]
NO AI-generated work will be accepted. (Digital manipulation of photography is acceptable, as long as the original image was taken by the artist, and the digital manipulation is clearly explained in the description of the piece.)
ALL work must be original.
Works in 2D should be framed and MUST be properly wired for hanging. No saw tooth hangers, brackets or holes will be accepted. Gallery wrap with finished sides (no staples showing) will be accepted.
SUBMISSION DEADLINES AND FEES:
EARLY SUBMISSION DEADLINE ($45 base fee): Wednesday, March 11th (by midnight)
MID SUBMISSION DEADLINE ($50 base fee): Monday, March 23rd (by midnight)
LATE SUBMISSION DEADLINE ($55 base fee): Monday, April 6th (by midnight)
ALL work must be submitted by midnight on Monday, April 6th. Due to the logistics involved with coordinating the hanging of the exhibition, there can be no exceptions to this rule.
Each Artist may submit up to four pieces of original art to be juried, for an entry fee of $45 (for early deadline), $50 (for mid-deadline) or $55 (for late deadline).
Each additional submitted piece is an additional $10 each. (i.e. the total early entry fee for 5 pieces is $55, for 6 pieces is $65, etc. / the total mid entry fee for 5 pieces is $60, for 6 pieces is $70, etc. / the total late entry fee for 5 pieces is $65, for 6 pieces is $75, etc. )
Entrance fees may be paid via one of the following:
1. Venmo (@ModernFossils) **PREFERRED due to zero fees**
(Judith Marchand’s name will also come up – the last four digits of her phone # are 6422)
2. Paypal (under Modern Fossils Eco-Social Art)
3. Check made out to Modern Fossils and delivered or mailed to the below address.
Modern Fossils
207 Milford Rd.
Frenchtown, NJ 08825.
SUBMISSION PROCESS:
To apply, please send an email to modernfossils@yahoo.com with the subject line “Ups & Downs”.
Include a LIST of the following (in this order please, and if something doesn't apply to you, please put N/A):
1. Your name
2. Artist group affiliation (if applicable)
3. Phone number
4. Email Address
5. Your Venmo, Zelle, Apple Pay and/or Paypal Handle, if you have them (so customers can pay you directly if your piece sells)
6. Your Website or Social Media Handles (if you have them)
7. How you will be paying the Submission Fee (Venmo, Paypal, or Check)
8. A BRIEF Artist’s Statement – Tell us about yourself / your work in a few sentences.
Also LIST the following for EACH piece:
1. Title of your work
2. *FRAMED* Dimensions
2D: height x width - (finished edges with no frame is fine too)
3D: height x width x depth
3. Medium (if mixed media, please be specific on the types of media you used)
4. Price
Please attach the IMAGE of your Piece(s):
-For 2D pieces: attach 1 image per piece
-For 3D pieces, we recommend sending at least 2 images, from different angles.
**ATTACH YOUR IMAGES AS SEPARATE ATTACHMENTS TO YOUR EMAIL **
*DO NOT add the images into the BODY of your email*
(i.e. Do NOT drag & drop, copy & paste, or insert the image directly into the body of the email.)
Please create the email using your computer, if possible.
**Label the image files as follows:**
LAST NAME_FIRST NAME_TITLE_DIMENSIONS_ MEDIUM_PRICE
(For example, a 10 x 15 inch acrylic painting titled “Human Touch” by John Smith, priced at $300, should be labeled as: Smith_John_Human Touch_10x15_acrylic_$300)
All requested information and images must be provided in the email, and payment received, for the submissions to be juried.
Any questions can be emailed to modernfossils@yahoo.com, or call us at 908-247-6422.
JURYING PROCESS:
Only artworks that are juried into the Exhibit will hang in the Show.
Artworks will be juried by both MFA Co-Owner David P. Horowitz and Featured Artist John Rischawy.
Presently David presides as Director of Arts, as well as Curator, Director and Artist in Residence of the Outdoor Sculpture Park at Whittemore Community, Culture, and Conservation Center in Oldwick, NJ. In addition, David is the creator of, and the lead artist at, two collaborative art studios in Frenchtown NJ: Modern Fossils Eco-Social Art and David Horowitz Studio. David also recently served as co-juror at the Tinicum Art Festival’s Art Barn 2024.
David’s background includes architectural design and build, furniture design and build, and architectural historic preservation. David is a multi-media artist: his award-winning artworks include sculptures and furniture in wood; plaster castings; mixed media pieces; and paintings. David’s artworks have been shown in gallery exhibitions both locally and world-wide.
John is an American painter working in an impressionist-representational style. His works depict everyday scenes and structures with an emphasis on light, line, repetition, and strong angles. He is inspired by the works of Edward Hopper, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, and Edgar Degas.
John began his art career as a Graphic Designer, working for a variety of clients, such as Fujifilm, and Johnson & Johnson, and later started his own design company. While his design business was successful, he found the “business” part taking more and more of his time. This lack of creativity weighed on him. When his children were still in grade school, he had an opportunity to teach an after-school art program, and loved it. He immediately began the transition to becoming a certified art teacher. This is also around the time when he began painting more frequently, and studying fine art at the Academy of Art University under William Maughan. John’s been teaching now for over 15 years, and he truly loves sharing and making art with his students.
John’s goal as an artist is to bring the often unnoticed beauty of the everyday and common to the forefront. There are so many details in life that we just don't notice. An unknown art teacher once said, “Good artists look, great artists look longer”. We need to slow down and look longer.
OPENING RECEPTION:
The Opening Reception for this Exhibition will take place on Saturday April 25th, from 3-7pm.
We will celebrate with live music, wine, & tasty treats!
AWARDS:
People’s Choice Awards will be announced on Sunday, June 7th.
(Visitors to the Gallery will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite piece throughout the duration of the Show.)
GALLERY SITTING:
All accepted artists are encouraged to gallery sit for at least part of one day during the exhibition.
Once artists are notified of acceptance, a sign-up sheet will be sent to all accepted artists.
MFA Gallery will feature each Gallery Sitter and their work in a Facebook and Instagram post on the night before / morning of the day that they are sitting.
Gallery sitters are encouraged to bring their art supplies, so they can work on a piece either inside the Gallery or on our front patio.
No artist will be sitting alone. Artists will either be paired together, or will sit with one of the Gallery Owners (Judith or David). An owner will always be present when the Gallery opens to show you all the “ropes”.
DELIVERY:
All works must be delivered to the following address by Monday, April 20th:
MFA Gallery
10 Bridge Street
Frenchtown NJ 08825
IN-PERSON ART DROP-OFF:
Sunday, April 19th (5-7pm) & Monday, April 20th (11am-1pm)
If you cannot drop off on these dates, please contact us to make other arrangements.
All works must be wired for hanging and labeled on the back with the following information:
Name, Phone #, Email Address, Title, Medium, Price.
SHIPPING:
Shipped work must be sent to the following address and ARRIVE by Monday, April 20th:
Modern Fossils Eco-Social Art
207 Milford Rd.
Frenchtown, NJ 08825
IN-PERSON ART PICK-UP:
Sunday, June 7th (6pm – 8pm) & Monday June 8th (11am -1pm)
*If you cannot pick up on these dates, please contact us to make other arrangements.*
Shipped works must contain prepaid shipping materials for the return shipment.
Artists assume all responsibility for their work if not picked up by end of pick-up time. (See “liability” below).
LIABILITY
MFA Gallery shall be held harmless in all matters except for damaged artwork, as set forth, and as more fully described on the Loan Agreement Form, to be signed by the artist at time of drop-off. MFA will insure artwork from time of delivery and acceptance through designated pick-up hours. No insurance coverage will apply after the date/time of pick-up posted above.
AGREEMENT
By submitting artwork to this event, you agree to the conditions set forth.