Delicate Expressions: An Open Call for Contemporary Art Jewelry

Delicate Expressions is an exhibition that pairs the finely detailed paintings of Karen Tucker Kuykendall with contemporary art jewelry selected from this open call.

Delicate Expressions is an exhibition that pairs the finely detailed paintings of Karen Tucker Kuykendall with contemporary art jewelry selected from this open call.

Kuykendall explores the formal intricacies of Florida’s native plant life with a sensibility that is both scientifically precise and playfully irreverent. Close-up views of leaves and flowers serve as stages for unexpected intrusions, while collaged elements are seamlessly woven into naturalistic forms. Whether it’s the deep blue eyes of a Siamese cat or a spontaneously doodled cartoon hiding among the leaves, every detail and effect of light is rendered with meticulous care. Grounded in close observation and shaped by the artist’s deep-rooted connection to Florida’s landscape, Kuykendall’s work sets photorealistic illusion against overtly handmade and collaged elements, blurring the line between studied realism and imaginative invention.

In addition to Kuykendall’s paintings, the exhibition includes jewelry artists selected through an open call. These artists explore the idea of Delicate Expressions through intricate craft, careful observation, and unexpected details, qualities that resonate with Kuykendall’s layered approach to painting. The jewelry pieces in this show reflect a shared interest in intimacy, close looking, and the interplay between natural beauty and personal meaning. Each work invites viewers to consider adornment not only as decoration, but as a form of storytelling and quiet complexity. Artists are equally encouraged to interpret the show title “Delicate Expressions” through the lens of their own artistic practice.

The exhibition runs from September 11 - November 15.  Awards will be announced on Thursday, October 16, 2025.

First Place $1,000

Second Place $750

Third Place $500

Honorable Mention $250

Honorable Mention $250

Lighthouse ArtCenter (LAC) in Tequesta, Florida, is the oldest and largest visual arts organization serving northern Palm Beach and Martin Counties. The three-building campus features two state-of-the-art galleries with 5,000 square feet of exhibition space, and a School of Art with 35 faculty members and master artists .  LAC serves over 2,200 adult students, 700 children, and offers outreach to underserved members of the community.  Over 22,000 guests attend the world-class art exhibits and special events. Lighthouse ArtCenter is a nonprofit 501c(3) charitable organization which has provided uninterrupted arts and cultural programming since 1964.

Important Dates:

• Exhibition Dates:  September 11- November 15, 2024

• Online application deadline: 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time, Thursday, August 7, 2025

• Notification of Acceptance:  August 8, 2025

• Artwork to arrive at Lighthouse ArtCenter during the week of August 25-August 29. *no artwork can arrive earlier than August 25. 

• Unsold works packed and shipped or picked up by November 21, 2025.

Digital Image submission guidelines:  Failure to comply with the digital image submission guidelines may result in the rejection of your submission.

•Submit up to 5 pieces, one photo per piece

•File format: JPEG or JPG only

•File dimensions: 1200 pixels or greater on the longest side.

•File size: under 5 MB

Checklist of what you will need to provide:

Artist information:  The name you list is the name by which your work will be labeled for the exhibition.  Spelling and capitalization will be reproduced in the same manner you enter them on your application and all correspondence will be directed to the address, phone.

Artist statement or bio: 1000 characters max (LAC reserves the right to edit statements as necessary.)

• Information about each piece:

     - Artist name

     - Title

     - Dimensions of the piece

     - Description of materials and techniques used

     - Price of each piece (there is a 60/40 artist/gallery split for sales)

     - Photo credit: if photo is not by the artist

Special Note:  Lighthouse ArtCenter encourages you to send the best quality photos you can.  Remember, the images you send are the only representations of your work the jurors will see when considering your entry.  These photos are also the ones used in advertising and printed materials.  Photos should be in sharp focus, showing all edges, well lit, with correct color and no distortions.

• $40 Non-refundable application fee covers up to 4 unique items we will provide to the jury.

• Consideration by digital images submitted through the CaFE (Call for Entry) website only.

• Jewelry must be delivered in pristine condition, ready to install.

• Jewelry will be displayed on the wall with displays installed in frames, as well as standard jewelry displays on pedestals. Artists may provide their own preferred display materials (e.g., stands, busts, trays) 

• All pieces must be for sale.

• Jewelry must not have been previously displayed at Lighthouse ArtCenter in Tequesta, Florida.

• All work must have been created within the last two years.

• Artists are responsible for shipping and insurance of accepted works, both to and from the exhibition.  Details for shipping will be provided once the jurying process is complete.

• Lighthouse ArtCenter will collect and file all sales tax.