Call for Art – Seen & Whole

👉 IMPORTANT: After completing your registration and payment, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to the Artist Intake Form. This is where you must upload images of your artwork and provide your artist details. If you don’t see the email within 10 minutes, check your spam/junk folder.

CALL FOR ART – SEEN & WHOLE

Feel radically seen and welcomed in a historical building featuring curated, contemporary art.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Mattering, Inclusivity, Mental Wellness

Seen & Whole is centered on mattering, inclusivity, and mental wellness, essential conditions for both artistic innovation and a thriving cultural landscape. Presented at the Congregational Church of La Jolla (CCLJ), La Jolla’s oldest faith community, the exhibition situates contemporary work within a space defined by openness and care. The church is also the area’s only explicitly LGBTQIA+ affirming Christian congregation, led by an openly queer minister.

Seen & Whole is part of Activated Spaces, a program by San Diego Art Directory that places original artwork by local artists in meaningful community spaces and businesses throughout San Diego County.

Opening Reception

Seen & Whole opens on June 5 during the First Friday La Jolla Art Walk, honoring National Pride Month. Hear welcoming remarks from Reverend Tim Seery (www.revtimseery.com) and SDAD founder, Galina Marcus, then enjoy: free culinary bites, artwork-inspired music, a Create and Exhibit Space, a Relaxation Room, and a curator-led tour of the exhibition.

Visibility, Connection, Growth

A series of community events will follow through the summer, creating space for visibility, connection, and growth.

About the Space

CCLJ is a congregation of the United Church of Christ, the first Christian denomination in history to ordain a person of color, a woman, and an openly LGBTQ+ person to ministry. The UCC continues that legacy today through active advocacy for trans and non-binary rights, interfaith engagement, and racial justice. CCLJ brings that same spirit to La Jolla as a community grounded in anti-racism, queer liberation, and intersectional justice. The church is non-creedal, meaning its members include Christians and atheists, Jewish members and agnostics, skeptics and seekers of all kinds. Their guiding principle is both simple and profound: no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.

About the Lead Curator

Blanca Lucia Bergman, MBA, is a San Diego-based art curator and business consultant recognized for producing innovative exhibitions and spearheading cross-industry collaborations. She has curated shows with leading local institutions including the Mingei International Museum, Sparks Gallery, and the San Diego International Airport, as well as alternative art spaces throughout the region. In addition to her curatorial practice, Blanca has served as a juror for both youth and adult art exhibitions at local galleries and museums, bringing a thoughtful and inclusive eye to the evaluation of diverse artistic voices. Her work is defined by a commitment to championing dialogue, cultural growth, and mental wellness.

ART SUBMISSION DETAILS

Artists across all visual disciplines and career stages are invited to apply. We especially encourage mid-career and established artists with lived experience in historically marginalized communities to submit their work, including those who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled, immigrant, formerly incarcerated, neurodivergent, or living with mental health conditions.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Artist must be 18 years of age or older
• Artist must be a resident of San Diego County, CA

Submission Requirements:

• Entries must be original and entirely created by
  the artist
• All mediums are welcome, including but not limited to painting, photography,
  digital work (church’s VA system requires flash drive to display work), and sculpture
• Works on paper must be matted, framed, and ready to hang
• Wall-hanging artwork:
  – Minimum size: no side smaller than 17 inches
  – Maximum size: 60 inches in any direction
  – Must be professionally wired and ready to hang
  – Unwired work and sawtooth hangers will not be accepted
• Sculpture
  – Maximum height: 15 inches
• Maximum weight (all work): 35 pounds

Important Dates:

• Call for Submissions: April 15 – May 14
• Submission Deadline: May 14, 11:59 pm
• Artist Notifications: May 18 (all applicants will be notified)
• Artwork Delivery (Drop Off): May 28, 10 am – 1 pm
• Opening Reception: June 5, 4 pm – 7 pm

Additional Information:

• All artwork must be for sale
• Art must be ready to hang/display when it arrives at the Congregational Church of La Jolla
• Art that is damaged, not wired (wall art), not ready to display, not consistent with the image submitted, or not delivered by the deadline will be disqualified
• San Diego Art Directory, Congregational Church of La Jolla, and the exhibition collaborators of both organizations are not liable for loss or damage to any work of art submitted to the exhibition
• Insurance, if desired, is the sole responsibility of the individual artist
• Unsold artwork left at the Congregational Church of La Jolla on August 31, 2026 will be donated
• Images of selected work may be used for publicity at the discretion of San Diego Art Directory and the Congregational Church of La Jolla

Entry Fee:

• $35 – up to five pieces

(Entry fees cover organization and curation costs and do not guarantee inclusion in the exhibition.)

Sales Model:

• Artists retain 90% of artwork sales. The remaining 10% supports San Diego Art Directory programs.
• San Diego Art Directory will handle all sales.

Recommended, Not Required (Tips):

• Submit high-resolution, clear images (max 1 MB).
• Include a solid-color background, such as white, for each piece for context.
• Read all submission guidelines carefully. Attention to detail reflects professionalism and strengthens your application.

How to Enter:

1) Register and pay your entry fee through Eventbrite.

2a) Check your confirmation email. Inside, you will find the link to the Artist Intake Form.

2b) If you don’t see a confirmation email within 10 minutes, check your spam/junk folder. The subject line will include “Event Registration Confirmation.”

3) Complete the Artist Intake Form by the submission deadline. (Upload your artwork images and provide artist details via this form.)

Location:

• 1216 Cave St, La Jolla, CA 92037

Questions:

Please email questions to Blanca Lucia Bergman at blancaluciabergman@gmail.com.