This year’s theme is Field Work which could mean the conventional sense of work performed not in the office or studio—but it could also mean the artist’s area of interest or expertise, and how that interest is expressed in the work. While it often has a professional, scientific, or academic undercurrent, other phrases like “the field is wide open” or “out in left field” suggest large competitive sport arenas. “Field” can typically mean “outdoors” but could equally be a different part of one’s country (“far afield”) but also of one’s brain or soul. You can even consider field work through an agricultural lens or a spiritual one. Your field of vision is wide open.

And as in years past, you are invited to submit work inspired by the theme or by your own muse (outside the theme).

IMPORTANT DATES

Exhibition                              June 5-August 3,2025
Entry form opens                  February 14, 2025
Entry form closes                  April 1, 2025 (midnight)
Notification by                       Week of April 14th, 2025
Exhibit Catalog orders due   April 21, 2025
Art drop-off                            June 3, 2025
Opening reception                June 5, 2025
Art pick-up                            August 5, 2025

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

● Artist must be a current member of PSBA. If you are a high school or college student, your membership is free this year but you must submit a membership application.
● Submitted entries must consist of books created 2022 or later.
● Submitted entries may not have been books exhibited in a previous PSBA annual exhibit.
Questions? Send your inquiries to psba.exhibition@pugetsoundbookartists.org
Visit the PSBA website at: https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org
● Books that fall outside the theme may be submitted and will be accepted.
● The artist may submit up to two books with the guarantee that at least one book will be included in the exhibition. Space constraints will determine if more than one book by an artist will be accepted for exhibition.
● A $20 entry fee for each book entered ($20 for 1 book; $40 for 2 books) is payable upon submitting your entry form. If you are a student, this fee will be waived. Payment for the entry fee must be received by April 7, 2025. Payment for the exhibition catalog must be received by April 21, 2025.

ELIGIBLE MEDIA

Artist’s Books as defined by the artist. A variety of book concepts is encouraged.

ENTRY FORM

How to submit your books
Submissions are accepted online only. The entry form opens on February 14, 2025.
Use the following to access the PSBA Exhibition 2025 Entry Form:

ENTRY COMPLETION TIPS

• Review the information below to gather all necessary details before starting the online entry form.
• Correctly size, edit, and name your selected images. The entry form will only accept .jpg files.
• If you upload an incorrect file type, your entry will not be accepted when you click “submit.” You will be redirected to correct the error.
• Prepare your narrative responses in a word processing program to take advantage of spell-check and character count features.
• Several fields in the entry form have limited character space (this is different from word count). Note that a blank space counts as a character.
• The online entry form includes a convenient “save and resume later” feature.
• Your entry form is not submitted until you reach the “Final Step” page and click the submit button. Processing may take several minutes, and you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your entry form.

INFORMATION NEEDED FOR THE ENTRY FORM

Unless otherwise noted, information is required.

• Your contact information
•  Information for each book
• • Title of book
  • Additional contributors (if applicable)
  • Structure/Medium/Materials in list format (200-character limit - includes spaces) The suggested order for listing your materials as applicable, is as follows: book structure, paper type(s), paint/ink type and method of application (i.e. hand-painted acrylic), other embellishments (e.g. beads, metal), binding materials, box/container type, materials used for box/container
  • Number of pages in book
  • Height, width, depth
  • If this is an accordion book, length when open or stretched out
  • Year created
  • This book is - unique or edition. If this is an edition, what is the size?
  • Artist Statement about this book (600-character limit) for inclusion in the catalog and on the exhibition label.
  • Video (optional) *More information below
  • For artists whose original writing is an integral part of their book, an excerpt may be included on the submission entry form and could be integrated into the catalog if space permits. (1,000-character limit, optional)
  • Book delivery method - shipping or in-person drop-off
  • Is the book for sale?
  • Return of book - in-person pick-up, shipped back (prepaid postage required)
  • Photography attribution - name of photographer or “by artist”
  • Upload up to three images per entry. *More information below

IMAGES

• Submitted images must be high quality, high resolution, and sized for optimal reproduction.
• You may submit up to three digital photographs (JPG) of each book you are entering in the show. We recommend images at 300 dpi that are no smaller than 10 inches in the longest dimension.
• Books should be photographed against a light neutral gray or white background, free of seams or shadows. Only one view per image is allowed; composite images are not acceptable. These images will be used for curating the show and may also appear in the catalog. The catalog designer may request edits as needed.
• Each image, sized according to the guidelines above, will likely range from 1 MB to 4 MB. The maximum upload size is 25 MB per entry, not per image.
• Follow this naming convention for your digital image files:

Entry #1: yourlastname01a.jpg, yourlastname01b.jpg, yourlastname01c.jpg
Entry #2: yourlastname02a.jpg, yourlastname02b.jpg, yourlastname02c.jpg

VIDEO (optional)

We understand that some books may not be best represented in static displays or still images. If you would like to submit a video of your book, the entry form will include a space for a URL link. The video must be posted on a public platform, such as Vimeo or YouTube, and should be accessible without a password or special login. QR codes will be generated from this link. (Please note that still images of the book are still required for the catalog.)

USE OF INFORMATION AND IMAGES

Entering this exhibition constitutes agreement that Puget Sound Book Artists, Collins Memorial Library at the University of Puget Sound, and the Evans Library at Evergreen College State College may use your book details and images for publicity purposes in both electronic and print formats in their online documentation of the exhibit. Your contact information will not be included in any published material without your written permission. Physical and digital exhibit catalogs will be produced, with the form available for purchase. Appropriate attribution will be provided.

INSURANCE WAIVER

The completed insurance waiver must be submitted online by the delivery day of June 3, 2025. The artists' books will be displayed in cases at Collins Memorial Library and Evergreen Library, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon by the artist and the curators. The insurance waiver will be provided with notification of accepted work.

EXHIBITION CATALOG

A full-color exhibition catalog will be available, featuring a dedicated full page for each exhibiting artist’s work. When you complete your entry form, you'll have the opportunity to include a catalog order. This is the chance to reserve your copy of the catalog! PSBA is ordering a limited number of catalogs. Catalogs will be available for pickup at the opening reception on June 5, 2025. Catalogs can be mailed for an additional fee. Contact the curatorial team at psba.exhibition@pugetsoundbookartist.org to make arrangements. To reserve your copy, complete the catalog order section in the call for entry form and include your catalog payment with your entry fee. The catalog price will be listed in the call for entry form.

OTHER RESOURCES

Additional helpful resources can be found on the PSBA website.

This exhibition is made possible in part from membership dues, exhibition fees, generous donations, and support from the Collins Library, University of Puget Sound, and the Daniel J. Evans Library, Evergreen State College.

Questions? Send your inquiries to psba.exhibition@pugetsoundbookartists.org
Visit the PSBA website at: https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org