Hosted by the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center (PAFAC)• Rolling proposal review & notifications; deadline February 15th, 2026 •
You may submit up to 3 pieces
Exhibit Dates: April 10th, 2026 - June 28th, 2026
Installation: Begins April 1st, 2026
Exhibit Overview:
Artists are invited to submit work for Field Notes, an upcoming group exhibition inspired by the legacy of John James Audubon and the vibrant birdlife of the Pacific Northwest. This show seeks to blend the spirit of Audubon’s detailed natural studies with contemporary interpretations of regional avian life—focusing on both artistic beauty and ecological awareness.
From the stoic herons of coastal inlets to the darting movements of hummingbirds in backyard gardens, the birds of the PNW are as diverse and dramatic as the landscapes they inhabit. This exhibition will celebrate their presence through artwork that explores identity, environment, habitat, and the intricate connections between birds, humans, and place.
We encourage a wide range of approaches—from scientifically inspired illustration to abstract meditations on flight, movement, and migration. Works that highlight conservation, capture movement and habitats, or imaginative reinventions of the "field guide" are especially encouraged.
Media Accepted: Visual media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, mixed media, printmaking, and textiles.
The Artwork:
The artwork must connect to the theme in some way. For works that might have a more interpretive impression, please explain the connection in the forms section.
Artwork must:
- Have a hanging mechanism or else the piece will not be considered
- Be framed if necessary for display of work(s)
- Be completed by the time of submission
- Be suitable for viewers of all ages
- Be the artists own original work
The artist is responsible for getting the artwork to the gallery and picking up after the show.
Exhibit Timeline:
Rolling Review & Acceptance begins once the call is live
Finale entry Deadline: February 15th, 2026
Final Notifications Sent: March 1st, 2026
Installation Time Frame: April 1st - April 9th, 2026
Exhibit Dates: April 10th - June 28th, 2026
Port Angeles Fine Arts Center Wintertide Light Art Instillation
Exhibit Dates: November 28, 2025 - January 1, 2026
Festival: December 13th, 2025
Theme: Nature After Dark- Illuminating the darkness through connection
When the sun falls below the horizon and the sky goes dark, what aspects of the forest come alive?
This year, for our Wintertide Light Art Experience, we are asking artists to construct installations that interpret animals, plants, organisms, or human connections that light up in the darkness. This can include flowers that bloom at night, plants or animals that glow when UV light is shined upon them, insects which emit light, or the use of light to bring humans or animals together in connection.
All sculptures must have a light element to them, be bright enough to be seen in a dark forest, and be able to withstand being outside for up to two months.
The selected works will be exhibited alongside more than 100 existing sculptures throughout Webster's Woods, a 5 acres of forested parkland, transforming the park with light and color through the darkest nights of the year. Light Art Sculptures will be lit nightly from 4-8pm. Participating artists are encouraged to join us for live outdoor performances and a community celebration of light at our annual Wintertide Festival on December 13, 2025.
Applicants are encouraged to visit Webster’s Woods Sculpture Park to experience firsthand the park’s terrain and second-growth Olympic forest environment, which presents unique challenges and incredible opportunities for lighted art.
Eligibility:
Open to all artists and artist teams located within the United States. Artist teams please designate one primary contact person for your group.
Artwork must:
- Make use of light as a primary design element
- Be the artist or artist team’s own original work
- Be suitable for viewers of all ages
- Be designed to withstand dramatic Pacific Northwest winter weather including high winds, freezing temperatures, and significant rainfall or heavy wet snow
- Be soundly constructed and firmly anchored to prevent vandalism, theft, or injury
- Artwork must have minimal impact on natural surroundings
Terms & Conditions:
- Artists are solely responsible for transportation and installation of their work, to be ready for display no later than November 23rd, 2025. Artists will provide a minimum of 25' extension cord and all materials will be labeled with artists name.
- Final location and installation details will be determined by the Gallery & Program Director, whose decisions are final. Artwork that differs substantially from submitted image(s) or project proposals may not be installed.
- Selected sculptures must be installed between November 10-23, 2025, and must remain in place through January 6th, 2025.
- Work not de-installed by January 18, 2026 will become the property of PAFAC.
- Participating artists will receive a stipend ranging from $200-$1,200 for loan of the work, based on the individual needs of each piece and the artist’s indicated funding request in the application form. Stipend funds will be presented at the time of successful installation.
- PAFAC charges a 40% commission on all sales.
- Artists will hold harmless the PAFAC and the City of Port Angeles from any claim of damage or loss of artworks from any cause whatsoever, during the period the sculpture is displayed.
- Any images submitted or photographs taken of the artwork may be used by PAFAC to promote or advertise the exhibit.
Technical Details:
- We have greatly expanded our A/C power access throughout the park and we anticipate being able to connect standard 110v A/C power to artworks throughout much of the park's 5 acre property, including main paths, open meadow spaces, and dense woodland.
- Unless otherwise specified, PAFAC will supply a timer and extension cord to ensure that our staff can troubleshoot any electrical issues not directly related to your artwork.
- All electrical components provided by the artist must be rated for outdoor use and all connections must be sealed with an appropriate waterproof sleeve or cover.
- Artworks making use of wireless [solar, battery-powered, glow-in-the-dark, etc.] technology may be installed anywhere throughout the 5-acre park; however, our past experience suggests that A/C powered pieces tend to be brighter, more reliable, and easier for staff to troubleshoot.
- PAFAC staff are not able to provide ongoing routine maintenance such as recharging batteries or turning works on/off on a daily basis.
Timeline:
Application Deadline: Sept 26, 2025 at 11:59PM
Email Notifications: October 3, 2025
Installation Dates: November 10 - 23, 2025
Opening Day: Friday, November 28, 2025
Wintertide Festival: Saturday, December 13, 2025
De-installation: January 5 - January 17, 2026