Elemental

Earth. Water. Air. Fire. Artspiration Frederick is pleased to announce a call for artists for Elemental, a juried exhibition where artists explore these powerful forces of nature and the ways they intersect with materiality, imagination, and the human experience.

Artists are encouraged to interpret these elements literally, symbolically, or abstractly, exploring themes of transformation, resilience, movement, balance, and change. Working across all mediums and artistic disciplines, artists may consider not only the elements themselves, but also the physical properties of their materials and the processes through which their work takes shape.

• Exhibition dates: April 2-25, 2027
• Deadline for entries: March 12, 2027
• Juror’s Notification emailed: March 18, 2027
• Opening Reception:  April 10, 2027 3:00-5:00
• Drop off accepted works dates: 
  • Mar 28, noon-5:00
  • Mar. 29-30, 10:00-4:00
• Shipped works must arrive by: March 30, 2027 (Shipping is at the cost of the artist; return shipping label must be includ...

Earth. Water. Air. Fire. Artspiration Frederick is pleased to announce a call for artists for Elemental, a juried exhibition where artists explore these powerful forces of nature and the ways they intersect with materiality, imagination, and the human experience.

Artists are encouraged to interpret these elements literally, symbolically, or abstractly, exploring themes of transformation, resilience, movement, balance, and change. Working across all mediums and artistic disciplines, artists may consider not only the elements themselves, but also the physical properties of their materials and the processes through which their work takes shape.

Elemental welcomes innovative and thought-provoking interpretations that reveal the extraordinary possibilities found within nature's most fundamental forces.

• Exhibition dates: April 2-25, 2027
• Deadline for entries: March 12, 2027
• Juror’s Notification emailed: March 17, 2027
• Opening Reception:  April 10, 2027 3:00-5:00
• Drop off accepted works dates: 
  • Mar 28, noon-5:00
  • Mar. 29-30, 10:00-4:00
• Shipped works must arrive by: March 30, 2027 (Shipping is at the cost of the artist; return shipping label must be included)
• Shipping/dropoff address: Artspiration Frederick, 915 Toll House Ave., Frederick, MD 21701
• Pick up dates after the close of the exhibit:
  • April 25, 2026 from 4:00-5:00 pm
  • April 26-27 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • (unsold shipped work will be shipped back to the artist at this time at artist expense)
• The gallery admission is free and open to the public, and handicap accessible.

Juror: Lisa Sheirer: Lisa Sheirer lives and works in the DMV area. She has a BFA in painting and printmaking from West Virginia University and an MFA in sculpture from the University of Notre Dame. Her studio is located in downtown Frederick, where she is an artist in residence at the Ausherman Y Arts Center.

Sheirer works in a variety of media. Pixels, clay, ink, paint, wood, and sound are among her materials. Native flora, fauna, and mycoflora of the Catoctin Mountains have been the basis for recent series. Lisa has an active social media account that showcases plant life throughout the seasons in the Catoctin Mountains. Lisa's creative efforts aim to educate people about the importance of sustaining wild places.

Sheirer’s public art projects include a ceramic mural at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, commissioned by the Maryland Department of Transportation, and a glass mural installation in the lobby of UPMC Western Maryland Hospital.

In the fall of 2023, Lisa self-published the artist book “WaterShed” with the help of a generous NEA/Frederick Arts Council grant. In 2025, Lisa was accepted into a month-long artist residency in Montegiovi, Italy, through La Baldi Residency/Cultivate. Recently, Lisa was awarded the Jean Royer Kohr Memorial Lectureship, awarded to women who merge the sciences with art.

Procedures & Requirements:

• All entries must be completed online by 11:59 EST on  through CaFÈ. You will need to set up a free account at callforentry.org
• A nonrefundable $35 entry fee is required at the time of application. Member fee for this exhibition is $25.
• All artwork must be for sale.
• All 2-dimensional works must be properly framed, and a wire for hanging must be attached securely to the back. Absolutely no sawtooth hangers. We encourage you to frame your work simply.
• ARTWORK IDENTIFICATION
  All accepted work must have a label SECURELY attached to the back (2D) or base (3D) of the artwork, with the following information:
  - Artist Name / Title of Art / Price
• Please make sure that your prices are correct in your CaFE portfolio. We will not accept price changes once a piece is entered for application to this exhibit.
• You must submit a high-resolution image (300 dpi) for the jury process. AF will use submitted images of accepted works for documentation, and promotional materials for this exhibit.
• Shipping materials will be kept for returning shipped work. Only boxes, crates, and bins with proper labels, including the artist’s contact information and the name of the piece, will be kept for repackaging. Boxes and such may include paper & wraps. NO PACKING PEANUTS PLEASE
• The artist agrees to retrieve all artwork no later than May 10, 2027.  Artwork not retrieved within fourteen (14) calendar days after the agreed pickup date shall incur a storage fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) until removed. The gallery reserves the right to relocate stores artwork at the Artist's expense and risk if necessary.
• Open to visual artists 18 years and older residing in the continental US..
• Artists may submit up to 3 works that have not been previously exhibited at Artspiration Frederick.
• All entries must be for sale.

All media accepted (2D, 3D, ceramics, sculpture, photography, mixed media, etc.)
Work must be original by the submitting artist
Work must be exhibition-ready
Artists residing in the continental US.
You may submit up to three (3) pieces for consideration; up to 3 may be selected.