Join The Morris Arboretum & Gardens in celebrating the beauty and importance of pollinators through art! We are excited to announce a unique opportunity for local artists to participate in our upcoming exhibition, Bees, Butterflies & Blooms: A Pollinator Paradise. We invite talented artists to showcase their creativity by decorating large butterfly forms that will be featured prominently in the exhibition.
About the Exhibition:
Bees, Butterflies & Blooms: A Pollinator Paradise is an all-ages exhibition that aims to raise awareness about the vital role pollinators play in our ecosystem. The exhibition will highlight the beauty and importance of butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. We anticipate more than 65,000 people will visit the exhibition during its run.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Eligibility: Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible: Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
Submissions are welcome from: Emerging artists, career artists, mid-career artists, commercial, craft, hobby, and retired artists.
Theme: Designs should reflect the theme of butterflies as pollinators and their significance. Wing designs should be whimsical, colorful, and family-friendly. They can be either realistic or fanciful but should be mirrored from one wing to the other so that it looks similar to a real butterfly as well as underneath each wing.
Medium: Artists are free to use any medium (paint, mosaic, mixed media, etc.) to decorate the front and back of butterfly forms. Please note: these will be an outdoor-only exhibition, and these pieces will be exposed to weather in the summer. Butterflies will come pre-primed with water based, flat white exterior latex paint.
Size: There are three different butterfly forms that will be provided randomly. Each butterfly is cut from a 4-foot by 4-foot piece of ¼ inch, marine-grade plywood. The bodies are 3 to 4 inches in diameter and roughly 24 inches long. Forms can be taken apart and are approximately 8lbs. Artists will be responsible for picking up and returning the butterfly forms.
Submission Deadline: March 31, 2025
How to Apply: Submit your portfolio and a brief proposal outlining your design concept to Clara Reyes at clarey@upenn.edu.
Selection Process: A panel of judges chosen by the Morris Arboretum & Gardens will review all submissions and select artists based on creativity, originality, and relevance to the theme. Selected artists will be provided with the butterfly forms to decorate. Each artist chosen will receive $750.
Important Dates:
Submission Deadline: March 31, 2025
Notification of Selection: April 21, 2025
Artwork Delivery by Artists: June 9, 2025
Exhibition Opening: June 28, 2025
Exhibition Closing: September 30, 2025
Contact Information:
For more information, assistance, or any questions, please contact Clara Reyes at clarey@upenn.edu.
