The Art of Play

Sebastopol Center for the Arts invites artists to explore the theme of play in its many forms for the juried exhibition Art of Play, running August 9 – September 7, 2025. This exhibition seeks to celebrate the freedom, creativity, and personal growth that play inspires. Artists are encouraged to respond to questions such as: How does play influence art making? How do artists interpret the concept of play in their work? Submissions may explore playfulness, wonder, joy, freedom, and laughter through diverse mediums including 2D art (paintings, drawings, photography, prints, mixed media), 3D art (sculpture, assemblages), pop-up playgrounds, installations, interactive art, video, digital, film, and experiential works. The exhibition welcomes both gallery-based work and site-specific pieces that activate SebArts' exterior and lobby spaces.

Eligibility: Open to artists worldwide. Maximum of 3 pieces per artist. Wall-hung work may not exceed 5' height x 4' width; 3D work can be larger. All work must not have been previously shown at SebArts Gallery and must have been completed in the last 3 years. Entry fee is $35 per entry plus $5 CaFE charge for additional entries. Submissions must include 1-3 high-quality JPEG images (5MB or less), dimensions, and weight. For site-based, installation, or tech-based pieces, include equipment needs and related work documentation. Video submissions should be limited to 1:30 minutes of documentation or a 2-minute excerpt with a link to the full piece.

Shipped work must arrive by July 21, 2025. Hand delivery is available Monday, July 21, 10am-5pm or by prior arrangement. Artists are responsible for all shipping costs and must include prepaid return shipping labels. Notifications to artists: July 11, 2025. Opening reception: August 9, 2025, 4-6pm. Awards: 1st place $500, 2nd place $300, 3rd place $100, two $50 coordinator awards. Artists receive 60% of sales price for sold work. Juror: Cas Holman, founder and chief designer of Heroes Will Rise toy company and former Professor of Industrial Design at RISD. Contact: Damian Estrella at [email protected] or 707-829-4797 x 1003.