PORTALS AND PASSAGES (2026)

"PORTALS AND PASSAGES (2026)'' EXHIBIT AT MVA GALLERY

National Call For Entries:     Portals -- including doors, entranceways and windows --  function as physical, conceptual and psychological points of arrival and departure. Doors may be admired for their architectural features, but they also can be symbolic. Windows reveal perspective and atmospheric views, but they can  be rich with metaphorical meaning. 

Portals and passages are also associated with corridors, streets, tunnels, bridges, and trails. They can serve as symbolic entrances into other realms, real or imaginary. They can signify freedom, or present the concept of crossing over to a mysterious or spiritual experience. 

All these themes and subthemes are appropriate for your artwork for this exhibition. Whether you wish to submit a straightforward image of a portal or passageway, or whether you wish  to offer an image layered with symbolic associations, we are excited to see your interpretations.

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''PORTALS AND PASSAGES (2026)''  EXHIBIT AT  MVA  GALLERY  --  MODERN  VISUAL  ARTS  

THEMES   AND  TECHNIQUES  

The MVA Gallery (Modern Visual Arts) invites artists, photographers, printmakers and sculptors of all levels (emerging to established) to submit original artwork to this exhibition. 

National Call For Entries:       Portals -- including doors, entranceways and windows -- function as physical, conceptual and psychological points of arrival and departure. Doors may be admired for their architectural features, but they also can be symbolic. Windows reveal perspective and atmospheric views, but window imagery can be rich with metaphorical meaning.

Portals and passages also are associated with corridors, streets, tunnels, bridges, trails and other natural and man-made structures. They can serve as symbolic entrances into other realms, real or imaginary. They can signify freedom, or present the concept of crossing over to a mysterious experience, or evoke settings for seeking a spiritual path. Portals are frequently referenced in literary and visual descriptions of life-cycle events, such as birth and death.

All these themes and subthemes are appropriate for your artwork for this exhibition. Whether you wish to submit a straightforward image of a portal or passageway, or whether you wish to offer an image layered with symbolic associations, we are excited to see your interpretations. Your artwork can de direct or complex, lucid or mysterious, restrained or dramatic. 

 No restrictions on style exist. All genres and techniques are welcome -- including representational, abstract, expressionistic, surreal or your personal synthesis. Pass through your Creative Portal and release the power of your Art. Please join us!

Mediums:       The MVA Gallery accepts painting, watercolor, printmaking, mixed media, digital, pastel, encaustic, ink, sculpture, fiber, drawing and photography.   

THE  GALLERY

The MVA Gallery (Modern Visual Arts) is located in historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. 

Bethlehem, along with its neighboring cities Allentown and Easton, comprise the third largest metropolitan area in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh). Bethlehem has a vibrant arts and cultural life -- numerous active art galleries and nationally acclaimed festivals including Musikfest and the legendary Christmas celebration Christkindlmarkt. Bethlehem's 18th century historic district has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

 Located one hour from New York City, Bethlehem has become an art destination for informed collectors and prominent art professionals. Gallery website:  https://www.mvaartgallery.com.             Instagram:     @mvaartgallery

SUBMISSIONS  AND  FEES 

Submission is exclusively through CAFE  -- CallForEntry. The website is https://www.callforentry.org. Then select "Find Calls" and enter MVA Gallery into the search field to apply to a Call. OR SIMPLY CLICK THE ''APPLY NOW'' BOX.  Artists new to CAFE can also click "Artist Sign Up" (free and easy) at the top of that  page to begin the submission process.  NOTE: The CAFE format may be different if you are using a smartphone.

 Entry fee is $35.00 for 3 different images. You may include additional files for $5.00 each up to a total of 9 maximum. The fee will not be refunded, in part or in whole, for any reason. In addition, the application and fee do not guarantee acceptance into the exhibit or event. Payment is by credit card or Pay Pal only. No checks are accepted.

ENTRY  FORMAT   

 Please see the detailed instructions on the CAFE website. All images must be JPEG. Under 5 MB with a minimum of 1200 pixels on the longest side. In addition, you should enter the following information: title, medium, size, price and year of completion. (The MVA Gallery has no cutoff date or time restriction for the artwork creation year.) These digital images are viewed by Jurors and Curators during the selection process.  

ARTWORK  SPECIFICATIONS 

--  Artists should not submit any images of art previously included in an exhibit of the MVA Gallery. Previous acceptance into one of our shows does not constitute acceptance into future shows.
--  No reproductions, modifications or derivatives of original art (or copyrighted images) of other people's work will be accepted. The artist should be the sole owner of all rights.     
--  Artwork must look professionally finished and be ready for secure installation. All art must be equipped with stretched WIRE attached to the back. (Sawtooth hangers are not acceptable.) Artwork without a wire will not be displayed. The Gallery will consider framed  PAINTINGS or paintings with gallery wrapped (finished) edges. Of course, mixed media and digital pieces are sometimes unframed (but must have an attached wire). 
--  Shipped artwork using standard glass poses a risk and is not advisable. Plexiglass is preferred. Artwork with glass that arrives in cracked / shattered condition will be pulled from the exhibit.
--  ART should not be larger than 48 inches (framed) on the longest side and not weigh more than 45 lbs. SCULPTURE should not be larger than 28 inches on any dimension. 
--  PHOTOGRAPHS should be framed if you wish a traditional presentation. Black or white frames are preferred. Mats, when used, should be white or off-white only.  Other types of mounting (not framed) will be considered. All photographic processes are welcome.

JURYING PROCESS

A small committee of rotating Jurors of exceptional artists, gallerists, art reviewers, publishers and academics will evaluate artwork. All decisions are final. (No phone calls or messages, please.) Jurors and / or curators reserve the right not to award any or all prizes.  Artists can check the CAFE website (first page, "My CAFE Entries") to see the application's status. This is the fastest way to receive information about the jurying process although all artists will receive an email message about acceptance or non-acceptance. Applications that do not meet the submission requirements may be removed from consideration. The Jurors for this exhibit have requested anonymity.    

AWARDS 

An "ART OF DISTINCTION'' AWARD will be granted at most exhibitions.              One artist, photographer or sculptor will be selected by the Jurors and featured in a special exhibit at the MVA Gallery, Exhibition Room Two, to be scheduled at a future date. 

ANNUAL GRAND PRIZE --  One New York City Exhibition Opportunity   
One artist, photographer or sculptor will be selected from all the individuals who were accepted and displayed in an MVA Gallery exhibit during the past calendar year. This artist will be offered an exhibition opportunity in New York City and will be notified in December. 

DIRECTOR'S CHOICE AWARD -- $200 --  One optional award may be granted at the discretion of the Executive Director of the MVA Gallery.

IMPORTANT  DATES     

Entry Deadline:      February 15, 2026 (Midnight Denver, Colorado, time where CAFE is located.) 

Notification to Artists:    On or about March 3, 2026 (Midnight). Notification by email.

• NOTE:      -- Artists will receive separate email messages for "Invited" and "Not Invited" artwork entries. Therefore, some artists will receive two of these Notifications.
• --  No additional Gallery communication (including no acknowledgement of submission applications) will be sent to artists before these email Notifications on March 3, 2026.

Art Arrival Deadline:   All accepted artwork must arrive at the Gallery no later than May 5, 2026.  

Exhibition  Dates:    May 9, 2026 through June 6, 2026.

Artwork Returned:  The Gallery will start to return unsold art to the participating artists June 9 - June 15, 2026.

[Applicants may wish to keep a copy of these dates.]

SHIPPING  

--   Detailed shipping instructions will be sent with Notification of Acceptance in an email message. 
--  Artists are responsible for all shipping / delivery costs (and insurance) both to and from the Gallery.
--  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 a UPS or FedEx return prepaid shipping label that also includes the appropriate informational BAR CODES. (Do not provide a link.)  Under certain circumstances, an artist might need to use the U.S. post office (USPS) but please be sure to include a return prepaid label or equivalent. 

--   Artwork without an enclosed prepaid return shipping label will be considered abandoned and will NOT be returned. (It will be donated to a school, a hospital or a senior center after a reasonable period of time.)
--  Artwork must be shipped in a sturdy reusable carton. No wood crates will be accepted (except for sculpture). No styrofoam packing peanuts should be included.

COMMISSION  ON  SALES 

Artists can determine whether they wish to sell their artwork.  For sales, the artist must list a specific price and not indicate "Upon Request."
Commission Fees:
70% of the final sale price to the Artist.
30% of the final sale price to the Gallery.  
Artwork must remain in the Gallery for the full duration of the exhibition or event.  

COPYRIGHT  

Artists, photographers, printmakers and sculptors retain all rights to submitted images and artwork.  Artists accepted into the exhibition or event grant the MVA Gallery rights to use selected images as well as data (such as the artist's name) for publicity / marketing (print and electronic) and for archival purposes, including use on the Gallery's website and on social media.  

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:It is important to follow carefully all Guidelines above, especially those in the "ARTWORK SPECIFICATIONS" and the "SHIPPING" sections.  Please copy and keep the information that appears in "IMPORTANT DATES." Thank you.

By applying to this exhibition / event, you fully agree to all the terms and conditions described in this Call Prospectus and in the attached Legal Agreement / "Rules And Terms To Apply." 

-- IMAGE AT TOP BY LUISA MESA --

This is a National Call for Entries inviting artists, photographers and sculptors from all regions and states. Artists must be 18 years of age or older and current residents of the United States.