UpCycled 4: Reclaimed & Remembered

Marion Cultural Alliance invites local and regional artists to participate in UpCycled 4: Reclaimed & Remembered, a special exhibition celebrating America's 250th Anniversary through sustainable art and patriotic storytelling. Artists are encouraged to create original works using repurposed, recycled, and/or found materials that reflect themes of patriotism, service, resilience, remembrance, and the American spirit. This one-month exhibition honors veterans while highlighting the transformative power of creative reuse.

Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, transforms waste materials, unwanted items, and discarded objects into new creations of higher artistic and environmental value. All artwork must incorporate reusable, repurposed, recycled, or reclaimed materials—human-made or organic—including wood, metal, stone, glass, paper, fabric, and plastic. Work may be 2D or 3D, including painting, drawing, photography, mixed media, textiles, sculpture, assemblage, pottery, collage, metalwork, installation, or functional art. All work must be structurally sound and suitable for public gallery display. Suggested size per piece is up to 48" in any direction. All 2D work must be gallery-ready, properly wired, framed, or on gallery-wrapped canvas. All 3D work must be fully assembled prior to acceptance.

Eligibility is open to MCA Artist Members (new members may join online at mcaocala.org/membership). Veterans, military families, and underserved artists are especially encouraged to apply. Each artist may submit up to two original pieces. No giclée prints or reproductions will be accepted. All entries must be submitted digitally by Monday, March 23, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. through the online application portal. Submissions must include artist contact information, a brief statement for each piece describing materials used and how the work relates to the exhibit theme, and high-resolution images in JPG, PNG, or PDF format. Status notification will be sent Friday, March 27 by 6 p.m. All accepted work must be for sale, with sales split 70% to the artist and 30% to MCA. Exhibition dates are April 3–28, 2026 at Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St., Downtown Ocala. Drop-off is Monday, March 30 (10 a.m.–4 p.m.). Opening reception is Friday, April 3 (5–6 p.m. artists' reception; 6–7 p.m. open gallery). Pick-up dates are Saturday, April 25 (11 a.m.–4 p.m.) and Monday, April 27 (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).