Call for Entry
THE BOTANICAL VESSEL
A national juried exhibition of Utilitarian works
that reflect the beauty, complexity, and vitality of plant life
juried by brenda quinn
May 9 – June 13, 2026
Call opens October 1, 2025
Deadline for Entry: January 15, 2026
CALL FOR ENTRY
For millennia, ceramic artists across cultures have looked to the natural world as a source of inspiration—drawing from the beauty, symbolism, and life-giving qualities of plants. From ancient storage jars adorned with leaf motifs to contemporary vessels echoing organic growth and structure, botanicals have remained a vital wellspring of creativity in clay.
For this exhibition, The Botanical Vessel, New York potter Brenda Quinn invites submissions of ceramic artwork that reflect the beauty, complexity, and vitality of plant life. She states, “While the emphasis is on functional vessels, both functional and decorative works will be considered. I am especially interested in pieces that thoughtfully explore plant-inspired form, surface, texture, or concept in innovative ways. This might include work that celebrates the rhythms of nature, evokes botanical imagery, or reimagines how clay can embody the essence of growth, bloom, and regeneration. Whether your practice leans toward tradition or experimentation, I welcome interpretations that highlight the enduring dialogue between clay and the natural world.”
JUROR
Brenda Quinn grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She attended Tyler School of Art, Temple University, where she received a BFA (2000) and went on to earn her MFA from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (2003). She currently lives with her husband and two children in a suburb of New York City where she also maintains a studio. She teaches ceramics at a private high school in the Bronx. Though she attended undergraduate school to pursue her interests in painting, she quickly changed her focus after taking a ceramics class as a sophomore. Her fondness for functional and domestic objects goes back to her childhood.
ELIGIBILITY The Botanical Vessel is open to all artists over 18 residing within the United States and Canada. Works must be primarily ceramic.
FEES $30 per entry (for up to 3 works)
PRIZES There are two monetary prizes. Juror's Choice ($300) and Director's Choice ($100). Winners will be chosen and revealed at the opening reception and on social media.
ENTRY PROCEDURES Applications will be accepted online only; www.callforentry.com Submission begins October 1, 2025 and ends January 15, 2026
Applicants are asked to provide a biography, artist statement, and for each work, title, description (medium/process), and dimensions.
NOTIFICATION will be sent through callforentry.com after February 1, 2026. Accepted artists will also receive follow up communication from leigh@saratogaclayarts.org after acceptance letters have been emailed from Café.
SHIPPING Artists are responsible for shipping or delivery of their work to Saratoga Clay Arts Center and for ensuring that their works are packed to safely travel to and from the gallery. Saratoga Clay Arts Center will pay for return shipping if the piece is not sold. Shipped/delivered work will be sent to: Saratoga Clay Arts Center, 167 Hayes Road, Schuylerville, NY 12871. Works that are dropped off must be picked up.
INSURANCE SCAC will provide insurance coverage of work while on their premises for market value as confirmed by SCAC or for the amount available. Artists will be responsible for insurance of work in transit to SCAC.
SALES All works must be available for sale. Using the images that were submitted with the application, SCAC will create a digital catalog and make the works available for sale online for the duration of the exhibition via their website as well as on site in the Schacht Gallery. A 50% commission will be retained by SCAC. Checks for works sold will be mailed before the end of May 2024.
PHOTOGRAPHY Participating artists must agree to allow SCAC and gallery visitors to photograph work while on display for educational and publicity purposes. Images of accepted works will be retained by SCAC for promotional purposes, posting on the SCAC website and sharing with media related publications.