How to Become a Resident Artist
Pelican Art Gallery (“the Gallery”) is dedicated to providing a high quality space to showcase the fine art of resident and visiting artists. A Resident Artist at the Gallery will have a collection of artwork stored/displayed at the gallery year round. As an artist, you realize how important it is to have your work showcased in a quality art gallery. We also believe that quality is very important. Hence, we offer some guidelines to make the artist – gallery interaction an effective and productive one, yielding high quality exhibits for our collectors. Resident Artists Program submissions are reviewed quarterly. Resident artists will have distinctive placement in the Gallery and on the website. See Submission Guidelines below. At least one work from each Resident Artist will be displayed in the Gallery at all times.
Resident Artists will enjoy knowing their art is available for viewing at an award winning gallery. Awards include:
- Business of the Year 2009- 2010 in the 3rd State Senate District by Mark Leno
- Best Gallery in Petaluma 2008 & 2009
- Best Framer in Sonoma County 2009 & 2010
- Honorable Mention for Best Gallery in Sonoma County 2009 & 2010
The Gallery Website (www.pelicanart.com) is updated frequently. As Resident Artists finish a new accepted work of art and provide prescribed images, the Gallery will make the work available at a special location on the site, giving collectors fast access to new works as often as once a week. Resident Artists will be required to provide the Gallery with at least 2 new accepted works per quarter.
The Gallery is a believer in leveraging technology in reaching a world wide audience. Each Resident Artist will have a dedicated web page with information provided in the Resident Artist Submission package.
Commission structure for the first year the artist is included in the RAP is 50% Gallery, 50% Artist.
The Gallery/Resident Artist Agreements are between 12 – 18 months
Each Resident Artist will be featured in an exhibit no less then once every 2 years. Resident Artists will be able to participate in joint marketing, leveraging the Gallery momentum.
Resident Artist Submission Guidelines:
Who should submit for the Resident Artist Program at Pelican Art Gallery: Only currently working/producing artists who do not have gallery representation (including coops) in the North Bay (Marin, Sonoma, Napa) are invited to submit. Pelican Art Resident Artists may participate in open studio events and, with the authorization of the Gallery, in North Bay festivals and special exhibits in the North Bay. Electronic submissions are preferred. If you wish to submit but do not have the ability to produce clear electronic images, the Gallery will take hard copy submissions and, if accepted, will charge for creating web ready images for online viewing. The Gallery will have exclusive rights to sell works in its possession both in the Gallery and online. Though Resident Artists may have their own website, works in the Gallery possession or on the Gallery website will be exclusively for sale by the Gallery.
Submission Package
For initial consideration, you must provide the following in electronic format by email or on CD/flash drive:
1. Your resume: Heading with Name, Address, Phone Number & Email. List all accomplishments worth mentioning including awards, publications, major exhibits (both solo and group shows), and current/past gallery representation. Include education and related work experience. It is best to limit this to one page if possible. Select the truly special aspects of your career.
2. Artist’s statement: Heading with your Name. This statement is written in the first person, and should express the motivation for your art. Your artist’s statement should point out the idiosyncratic qualities of the works to be submitted to the Gallery specifically.
3. Biography: Heading with your Name. This is similar to the resume, but in a prose writing style and should be written in the third person. Please include stories of how and when you became an artist, who your mentors have been and why you believe your art is right for the current collector.
4. Portfolio of works to be considered by the Gallery (minimum of 12 cohesive works): All works must be original. 5 of the 12 works must not have been shown in any North Bay gallery and must be available for sale. Photographers may submit with limited edition works only. For each work, please list the:
a. artwork title
b. medium
c. date of completion
d. price
e. Shown in the North Bay or Not
f. Available for sale or not
g. dimensions (artwork size and outer frame size)
h. description of the piece and how it fits the portfolio
5. Photos of works to be considered: Photos must be titled to match the Portfolio of works to be considered. Email submissions are preferred. If accepted, hardcopy submissions will processed for a fee.
a. For CD or Email submission, each piece of artwork should have two JPG files provided:
i. 72 dpi, 5 inch horizontal (vertical dimension to scale) JPG
ii. 72 dpi, 3 inch horizontal (vertical dimension to scale) JPG
b. Note that each JPG file name should be of the format “ArtPieceName-5in.jpg” and “ArtPieceName-3in.jpg” respectively. No spaces or punctuation, and named the same as the name to be displayed on the wall label. (EXCEPTION: if the name is greater than 20 characters long, use the first 20 characters of the name. Untitled works must include a unique number)
c. Each JPG should have whatever copyright (c) or watermark information you wish for the website: none will be added.
6. Photo of the Artist: 72 dpi, 3″ wide x 5″ high photo of yourself.
Email submissions to info@PelicanArt.com, and put the Resident Artist Program in the Subject line. Send CDs and hardcopy submissions to the Pelican Art Gallery, Resident Artist Program, 143 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952. For additional information, send questions to Residents@PelicanArt.com or call 707-773-3393.
