Momentum

Momentum: The impetus and driving force gained by the development of a process or course of events.

Momentum seeks to capture a moment in the evolving landscape of the Northern California Art Scene. Artists are invited to contribute to this unique snapshot of the broader artistic community. Momentum invites diverse artistic perspectives and encourages all genres and media. Open to Northern Californian Artists over the age of 21.

Momentum will be juried by Demetri Broxton, executive director of Root Division in San Francisco, independent curator and artist.

A GearBox Gallery juried show is more than just a group exhibition. Two artists will be awarded future exhibition opportunities; one as a featured artist in a two-person show in our Main Gallery, the other, a solo exhibition/installation in our smaller Inner Room Gallery. Juried show artists are also added to our roster of regional artists and may be selected as guest artists for future exhibitions.

Momentum: The impetus and driving force gained by the development of a process or course of events.

Momentum seeks to capture a moment in the evolving landscape of the Northern California Art Scene. It encourages all eligible artists to contribute to this unique snapshot of the broader artistic community. Momentum invites diverse artistic perspectives and encourages all genres and media. Open to Northern Californian Artists, over the age of 21. We ask that all work must be completed within the last four years.

Momentum will be juried by Demetri Broxton, executive director of Root Division in San Francisco, independent curator and artist.

A GearBox Gallery juried show is more than just a group exhibition. Two artists will be awarded future exhibition opportunities; one as a featured artist in a two-person show in our Main Gallery, the other, a solo exhibition/installation in our smaller Inner Room Gallery. Artists in our juried shows are also added to our roster of regional artists and may be selected as guest artists for future exhibitions, aiding the artist's trajectory.

This year’s Juror, Demetri Broxton, was born and raised in Oakland, California. He is currently the Executive Director at Root Division in San Francisco, as well as an independent curator, and an artist himself. He has over 20 years of experience working in the fields of education and the arts. Recently, he worked as the Senior Director of Education at the Museum of the African Diaspora. He served as a curator for the City of Berkeley and guest curated the 2023 Excellence in Fibers exhibition at the San José Museum of Quilts & Textiles. Broxton holds an M.A. in Museum Studies from San Francisco State University and a BFA from UC Berkeley in Art Practice. His artwork has been exhibited internationally and is held in several private and public collections. He is represented by Patricia Sweetow Gallery in Los Angeles, CA.

ENTRIES: All entries will be conducted through the artist platform CaFÉ. Open to all media and created between 2022 and 2026.  Each artist may submit 1 to 3 total images and/or media files for an entry fee of $35.00.  You may submit a statement about the work as it relates to the exhibit theme.  All entries must include title, medium, year and specific dimensions. All work must be for sale.  Works must be able to be delivered through a standard size doorway. Artwork must be framed, if applicable, and ready to hang (wire, d-rings, or cleat). Non-glare glass or plex is strongly encouraged for works under glass/plex. Free standing work must be stable. Artist may be requested to install complex pieces.

Please note, artwork must be delivered in person Sunday, August 16th, between noon and 4 pm. Unsold artwork to be picked up on Sunday, September 20th from noon to 4pm.

AWARDS:

1.     Juror’s Award: One artist will be awarded the opportunity to be featured as a guest artist in a two-person exhibition at GearBox Gallery in the following year. See our website for information on past winners and their featured exhibitions at gearboxgallery.com.

2.     GearBox Gallery Award: Another artist will be given the opportunity to exhibit in the Inner Room at GearBox Gallery in the following year. The Inner Room is an intimate exhibition space within the gallery. See our website for past Inner Room exhibitions at gearboxgallery.com.

CALENDAR

Open Call Entry Deadline: 6/21/2026
Notifications:  7/15/2026
In Person Delivery: Sunday, 8/16/2026, noon – 4 pm (do not mail work to the gallery)
Event Dates: 8/20/2026 - 9/19/2026
Artists’ Reception: Saturday, 8/22/2026, 1 - 4pm
Juror’s Curatorial Talk: TBA
In-Person Pickup of unsold artwork: Sunday, 9/20/2026, noon - 4pm

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2026, 11:59 PM (PACIFIC TIME ZONE) IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE EXHIBITION.

SELECTED ARTWORK: Artwork selected for exhibition will be chosen by the juror from the submitted entries using a blind jury process. 

Work differing substantially from the submitted image(s) may be rejected for exhibition. The Exhibition Committee will make the final determination whether accepted work will be included in the exhibition. 

NOTIFICATION: Notification of the juror’s selections will be made by email on July 15, 2026. GearBox Gallery, LLC bears no responsibility for incorrectly submitted email contact information or any failure of the artist's email service for any reason.

DELIVERY & PICK UP OF INVITED WORK: The artist is responsible for the delivery and pick up of accepted artwork to the gallery. No substitutions of artwork are permitted. 

Artwork must be delivered in person to GearBox Gallery at 770 West Grand Ave in Oakland, CA between noon and 4pm on Sunday, August 16, 2026, in order to be included in the exhibition. 

Do not mail work to the gallery!

Artwork must be delivered properly labeled and ready to hang or display. Exhibiting artists will sign a guest artist agreement specifying exhibit details per this prospectus.

Following the close of the exhibition, artwork must be picked up from the gallery between noon and 4pm on Sunday, September 20, 2026. Please arrange for a representative to pick up your artwork if you are unable. Artwork remaining at GearBox Gallery past specified pick-up dates and times will be subject to a $10 per day storage fee. After 15 days the work becomes the property of the gallery.

PHOTOGRAPHY and PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS:  By submitting your artwork to this Call for Entries you give Gearbox Gallery, LLC permission to use images of your artwork accepted for the exhibition as well as permission to photograph the artwork for promotional, educational, or historical purposes. Gearbox Gallery, LLC promotes exhibitions on the Oakland Art Murmur website, GearBox Gallery Instagram, and Facebook page as well as on the Gearbox Gallery website and other online listing sites as the Gallery deems appropriate.

SALES: Artwork submitted must be for sale. Artwork sold during the exhibition may not be removed from the gallery until end of exhibition. If an artwork is sold, GearBox Gallery, LLC will mail a payment of 60% of the sale price of the work to the artist within 30 days of the close of the exhibit.

AGREEMENT: Submission of work constitutes an agreement to the conditions set forth and acceptance that the decisions of the juror are final. GearBox Gallery, LLC may photograph and reproduce accepted work for promotional purposes. Artists may not withdraw accepted entries before the close of the exhibition. GearBox Gallery, LLC is not responsible for refunding entry fees or allowing artists to change submission information for artworks which do not meet above rules.

SUBMITTED ENTRIES: Entries may be of any medium and created between 2022 and 2026. Works must be able to be delivered through a standard size doorway. All entries must include title, medium, year and specific dimensions. You may submit a statement about the work as it relates to the exhibit theme if you wish. 

GearBox Gallery, LLC reserves the right not to exhibit exceptionally large, heavy, unstable, or cumbersome pieces. Work must be framed (when applicable) and ready to hang (wire, d-rings, or cleat). Non-glare glass or plex is strongly encouraged for works under glass/plex. Artist must provide means of display for audio or video works. Artists may be requested to assist with installation of large, complex or delicate artworks.

ENTRY FEES: A non-refundable fee of $35 is required for application. One application per artist only. 3 image or media files may be submitted per application for $35. Online submissions are not considered complete until payment is received. 

SUBMISSION PROCESS: GearBox Gallery, LLC will only be accepting online entries for Momentum through the online, portfolio review site CaFÉ for Artists.

ELIGIBILITY: Open to Northern California (Fresno and North) artists over the age of 21. 

Please note, selected artwork must be hand delivered to GearBox Gallery in Oakland, CA in order to be included in the exhibition.