Student & Emerging Artist Competition
The City of Ocala and the Magnolia Art Xchange present the 2023 Student and Emerging Artist Competition, “Metamorphosis.” Discover the creative talent of students and emerging artists. Immerse yourself in artworks inspired by the theme of Metamorphosis.
All artworks will be available for purchase unless otherwise noted. “Metamorphosis” will be on display Tuesday, April 4 through Thursday, October 12 at City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala, FL 34471. City Hall is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon. – Fri.
CALL TO ARTISTS
Join the "Metamorphosis" 2023 Student and Emerging Artist Competition, hosted by the City of Ocala and the Magnolia Art Xchange. Artists with up to ten years of experience, including High School students with less than one year of experience, are welcome to submit entries for the exhibit.
The 2023 Student and Emerging Artist Competition "Metamorphosis" will feature artists competing in three divisions: High School Students, 1 to 5 Years of Active Experience, and 6 to 10 Years of Active Experience. Entries must have been completed within the past two years. Early submissions will receive priority placement and the juror will select winners for each division, including Best of Show.
The awards ceremony will take place on April 24, 2023 at City Hall, with scholarships for the College of Central Florida offered to the High School division winner. The Best of Show winner will receive a feature in The Ocala Gazette, professional art framing at Cartigliano Arts, a free class at Picasso's Palette, and an Artist Affiliate Membership to Magnolia Art Xchange. All winners will receive annual memberships to the Appleton Museum of Art and Marion Cultural Alliance and a registration fee waiver for the 2023-24 First Friday Art Walk season.
Deadline for entry submissions: Sunday, March 12th at 11:59PM
For entry procedures and to apply, click the link below:
2023 Student and Emerging Artist Competition Application
For helpful information about writing artist statements and preparing artwork for hanging and display, click the link below:
Helpful Information for Artists
All artworks will be available for purchase unless otherwise noted. “Metamorphosis” will be on display Tuesday, April 4 through Thursday, October 12 at City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave., Ocala, FL 34471. City Hall is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon. – Fri.
CALL TO ARTISTS
Join the "Metamorphosis" 2023 Student and Emerging Artist Competition, hosted by the City of Ocala and the Magnolia Art Xchange. Artists with up to ten years of experience, including High School students with less than one year of experience, are welcome to submit entries for the exhibit.
The 2023 Student and Emerging Artist Competition "Metamorphosis" will feature artists competing in three divisions: High School Students, 1 to 5 Years of Active Experience, and 6 to 10 Years of Active Experience. Entries must have been completed within the past two years. Early submissions will receive priority placement and the juror will select winners for each division, including Best of Show.
The awards ceremony will take place on April 24, 2023 at City Hall, with scholarships for the College of Central Florida offered to the High School division winner. The Best of Show winner will receive a feature in The Ocala Gazette, professional art framing at Cartigliano Arts, a free class at Picasso's Palette, and an Artist Affiliate Membership to Magnolia Art Xchange. All winners will receive annual memberships to the Appleton Museum of Art and Marion Cultural Alliance and a registration fee waiver for the 2023-24 First Friday Art Walk season.
Deadline for entry submissions: Sunday, March 12th at 11:59PM
For entry procedures and to apply, click the link below:
2023 Student and Emerging Artist Competition Application
For helpful information about writing artist statements and preparing artwork for hanging and display, click the link below:
Helpful Information for Artists
Student and Emerging Artist Competition 2021
The City of Ocala and the Magnolia Art Xchange invite artists in High School up to the age of 10 years of active expirence to submit entries for the 2021 Student and Emerging Artists competition and exhibit.
Artists are to create work inspired by the theme Spectrum of Creativity. Work will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. The juror will award winners in each division and Best of Show. Judge’s decisions will be final. Awards will be given at the discretion of the judge and presented at the reception on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.
Artists are to create work inspired by the theme Spectrum of Creativity. Work will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. The juror will award winners in each division and Best of Show. Judge’s decisions will be final. Awards will be given at the discretion of the judge and presented at the reception on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.
Awards
AWARD LEVELS: Best of Show, PLUS 1st – 3rd in each division
AWARDS = $2,000 VALUE:
• Feature Artist Profile in Ocala Magazine (Best of Show)
• Feature Artist Profile in Ocala Style (Best of Show)
• Professional Artwork Scan provided by Grafito Advertising (1st Place each Division and Best of Show)
• Scholarships to College of Central Florida (High School Division)
• Appleton Museum of Art Memberships, Art Walk Memberships, Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA) memberships, Magnolia Art Xchange Affiliate Artist memberships
AWARDS = $2,000 VALUE:
• Feature Artist Profile in Ocala Magazine (Best of Show)
• Feature Artist Profile in Ocala Style (Best of Show)
• Professional Artwork Scan provided by Grafito Advertising (1st Place each Division and Best of Show)
• Scholarships to College of Central Florida (High School Division)
• Appleton Museum of Art Memberships, Art Walk Memberships, Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA) memberships, Magnolia Art Xchange Affiliate Artist memberships
Entry Instructions
Each artist may submit one piece for exhibition and judging. Work must fit the exhibition theme, Spectrum of Creativity. Artist must submit their work under one of three active experience divisions: High School, 1-5 Years of Active Experience and 5-10 Years of Active Experience
All entries must be accompanied by:
All entries must be accompanied by:
- Entry Form (located below)
- Artist Statement
- Photograph of artwork in .jpg file format with a resolution of at least 1900 pixels in the widest dimension. Photos can be emailed, or artists can mail printed photos, a CD, or USB thumb drive with digital images.
- Entries must be submitted no later than Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 11:59 pm. Entries are to be submitted via email to artinfo@ocalafl.org or mailed to City of Ocala Cultural Arts Office, 828 NE 8th Ave., Ocala, FL, 34470. Mailed items will not be returned.
- Artists whose entries are accepted will be notified no later than Tuesday, April 6, 2021.
Specifications and Restrictions
By entering this competition, you agree to the following:
- Only original drawings, oils, watercolors, acrylics, graphics, photography, mixed media, fiber and sculpture completed within the last two years may be submitted.
- All work must be properly prepared for display. Pieces to be hung must be framed and wired for hanging. Hanging pieces have a weight limit of 75 lbs.
- Sculpture must be able to be displayed on a stand no larger than 16”w x 16”d x 48”h. Stands required for sculpture must be provided by the artist.*
- Unacceptable work includes: crafts, jewelry, copies of published work, pieces requiring electricity, pieces more than 60 inches in width, or pieces with copyrighted material.
- Work must be appropriate for an exhibit that will be viewed by individuals of all ages. The City of Ocala and Magnolia Art Xchange reserve the right to refuse art work of questionable subject matter.
- Sale of art work is encouraged and work will be offered for sale at the price originally stated by the artist on the entry form. There is no commission on sales.
- The City of Ocala reserves the right to reproduce accepted work in newsletters, news media, on their websites, and in other promotional uses. The City of Ocala will insure all entries. All entries must be accompanied by a Hold Harmless and Indemnification Agreement.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Instructions
Accepted artwork must be dropped off at Ocala City Hall on Tuesday, April 7, 2021 between 3:30pm and 5:00pm. All artwork must be accompanied by an Identification Card, which can be found inside the Call to Artists - Entry Form document.
Accepted artwork must remain in the gallery through the end of the show and must be picked up Friday, July 8, 2020
between 3:00pm – 5:00pm at Ocala City Hall. All artwork left after the close of the exhibition will become property of the City of Ocala.
Accepted artwork must remain in the gallery through the end of the show and must be picked up Friday, July 8, 2020
between 3:00pm – 5:00pm at Ocala City Hall. All artwork left after the close of the exhibition will become property of the City of Ocala.
Resources for Artists
Not sure how to write an Artist Statement? Need to know how to make sure your artwork is "ready for display"? Open the Helpful Info document below for need-to-know information.
The City of Ocala and the Magnolia Art Xchange are inviting the public to view the “Momentum” Student and Emerging Artist Competition online at Ocala.Oncell.com.
To view the exhibition, go to “Select a Tour,” then “Art in City Spaces | 2020 Student and Emerging Artist Exhibition.” Viewers can experience the work of local student and emerging artists, through the theme of “MOMENTUM.” All artwork is available for purchase unless otherwise noted.
High school artist Alaena MacKenzie completed this acrylic work, which is titled ‘Momentum Carries.’The juror for the exhibition is Curator Mary Childs, who has more than 25 years of experience in gallery management and artistic direction. Childs awarded first through third places in each division and selected a Best of Show.
The winners are as follows:
Best of Show
Emily Ferguson, Walk as Children of Light
High School Division
First Place – Shannon O’Leary, Tokei no Seikai
Second Place – Taima Aviando, Cycle
Third Place – Gabriela Cortez, Relatively Powerful
18-24 Division
First Place – Gabrielle Zuniga, Crossing A Florida Street
Second Place – Codi Hodson, On the Road Again
Third Place – Althea Rapeo, Puppet Pond
25-30 Division
First Place – Cristina Quezada, Mental Exposure
Second Place – Rae Grand, The Waters of Life
Third Place – Kyle Corley, Cyanescens
The prizes for this competition include more than $2,000 in awards, including scholarships to the College of Central Florida (high school division), a professional artwork scan (first place in each division), annual memberships to the Appleton Museum of Art and Marion Cultural Alliance, and a registration fee waiver for the 2020-21 season of First Friday Art Walk (all winners).
For more information please contact the Cultural Arts Office at artinfo@ocalafl.org
To view the exhibition, go to “Select a Tour,” then “Art in City Spaces | 2020 Student and Emerging Artist Exhibition.” Viewers can experience the work of local student and emerging artists, through the theme of “MOMENTUM.” All artwork is available for purchase unless otherwise noted.
High school artist Alaena MacKenzie completed this acrylic work, which is titled ‘Momentum Carries.’The juror for the exhibition is Curator Mary Childs, who has more than 25 years of experience in gallery management and artistic direction. Childs awarded first through third places in each division and selected a Best of Show.
The winners are as follows:
Best of Show
Emily Ferguson, Walk as Children of Light
High School Division
First Place – Shannon O’Leary, Tokei no Seikai
Second Place – Taima Aviando, Cycle
Third Place – Gabriela Cortez, Relatively Powerful
18-24 Division
First Place – Gabrielle Zuniga, Crossing A Florida Street
Second Place – Codi Hodson, On the Road Again
Third Place – Althea Rapeo, Puppet Pond
25-30 Division
First Place – Cristina Quezada, Mental Exposure
Second Place – Rae Grand, The Waters of Life
Third Place – Kyle Corley, Cyanescens
The prizes for this competition include more than $2,000 in awards, including scholarships to the College of Central Florida (high school division), a professional artwork scan (first place in each division), annual memberships to the Appleton Museum of Art and Marion Cultural Alliance, and a registration fee waiver for the 2020-21 season of First Friday Art Walk (all winners).
For more information please contact the Cultural Arts Office at artinfo@ocalafl.org
High school artist Alaena MacKenzie completed this acrylic work, which is titled ‘Momentum Carries.’
