CALL FOR ART: In the Company of Animals at Clark County Wetlands Park
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SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Tuesday, July 15, 2025, by 11:59 PM PST
Clark County Wetlands Park is seeking submissions for its 4th Annual Juried Exhibition, titled In the Company of Animals. This show celebrates the presence animals bring to the wetlands and other environments: their natural grace, wisdom, and connection to place. Whether capturing the patient stillness of a great blue heron or the quiet intelligence behind a coyote's gaze, this show invites artists to explore what animals teach us simply by being themselves. Artists are encouraged to examine their relationship with the animal world through direct observation, memory, or reimagined work. All traditional media are acceptable: drawing, painting, printmaking, fabric, photography, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, etc. Framed digital work will also qualify for this exhibition, but AI-assisted images are not allowed.
This opportunity is open to all Clark County residents aged 8 years or older. Artists may submit up to three works of art and will be notified via email regarding the status of their submission by Thursday, July 24. Accepted artwork must be hand-delivered to Clark County Wetlands Park, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV, 89122, on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, July 29-31, between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
Juried by Sean Russell, who earned his M.F.A. in Painting from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2005 and has been a Professor at the College of Southern Nevada since 2008. At CSN, Russell teaches various art and art history courses as well as serves as the Program Coordinator for the Art Program. He has taken part in a variety of regional and national art exhibits and created numerous public art projects. Russell has been visiting the Clark County Wetlands Park for over 15 years, and the creatures of the Las Vegas Wash system are often subject matter in his artwork. Currently, his work can be seen touring the United States as part of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum’s Birds in Art 2024 traveling exhibition. He currently lives in Las Vegas, NV, not far from the Clark County Wetlands Park. Website: https://www.seandavidrussell.com/ | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chili_river/
*Note: Please carefully read the Requirements for Artists section below for additional important information.
BACKGROUND:
About Clark County Wetlands Park:
Wetlands Park spans 2,900 acres on the eastern edge of the Las Vegas Valley. With a 210-acre Nature Preserve and four Trailheads, the park provides recreation opportunities and wildlife habitat as well as an outdoor classroom for scientific studies and educational programs for all ages.
Wetlands Park is shaped by urban runoff, shallow groundwater, stormwater, and reclaimed water that flows through the Las Vegas Wash and into Lake Mead.
More than 300 species of birds and 70 species of mammals and reptiles have been identified in the park, including beavers, coyotes, bobcats, and snakes. The park offers a wide variety of programs to the public, including walks led by Certified Interpretive Guides, art, children’s crafts and stories, and group and individual volunteer opportunities.
Wetlands Park Mission:
“Clark County Wetlands Park preserves and enhances natural and cultural resources, and provides educational, recreational, and research opportunities to the public.”
Clark County Parks & Recreation Mission:
“Creating fulfilling opportunities for the community through diverse experiences.”
AWARDS:
The juror will select 15-30 works for the exhibition and choose awards for Best in Show and three Honorable Mentions. Awards will be announced at the exhibition’s reception: Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ARTISTS:
- Must be currently residing within Clark County, including residents of City of Las Vegas, City of Henderson, etc.
- Open to any Clark County residents aged 8 and older; applications for artists under age 18 must include a signature and contact information of a parent or guardian.
- Must be original artwork medium; digital art, photography, and printmaking are acceptable; no replica prints shall be accepted.
- Images included in applications must be of actual artwork, not conceptual images.
- Artist MUST be available for pick-up and drop-off dates to sign in and sign out their work. Artwork must be hand delivered to the Clark County Wetlands Park Nature Center, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV, 89122. The artist agrees to leave their work up through the end of the exhibit date. No artist may drop off or remove their artwork without the consent of the Clark County Public Arts.
- Artwork that contains offensive language, smoking, drugs, alcohol, overtly political, religious, and/or sexual content, or imagery, including nudity, shall not be considered.
- Submission of AI-assisted artwork will disqualify the artist from this exhibition. The artist may be restricted from future exhibitions at Wetlands Park.
- All 2D flat work (on paper or similar) must be framed with a hanging point on the back. Canvas and larger 2D work must have D-rings, a wire, or an existing hanging point secured to the back, and be ready to hang. See our Gallery Artwork Preparation Guide for more details.
- 2D artwork dimensions may not exceed 48" wide or 48" high; weight cannot exceed 40lbs.
- Perishable artwork shall not be considered.
- All parts of the artwork must be secured and stable. For example, sculptures must be securely glued or welded together.
- 3D artwork dimensions may not exceed 20" L x 20" W x 35" H; weight cannot exceed 50lbs.
- A pedestal will be provided for selected three-dimensional works.
- Non-traditional video projection and installation work may be considered on a case-by-case basis, dependent upon the gallery's limitations. No holes may be placed in the walls or ceiling. All equipment must be provided by the artist.
- Clark County Public Arts reserves the right to disqualify and remove any artwork that poses a threat to fall, break, or cause harm to the public, the facility, or the artwork itself.
- Please note that Clark County does not secure insurance on exhibited artwork. Artist will exhibit at their own risk. We encourage you to purchase your own insurance during the exhibit to recover any loss from broken or stolen artwork.
- Artist agrees to hold harmless the County, its officers, employees, and agents from all liability for any injury or damage that may occur to artwork as a result of the negligent acts or omissions of its members, employees, officers and/or agents and to sign a waiver that will be provided if accepted into the exhibit.
- Artist acknowledges that the gallery is a public space. Art that is exhibited in the gallery may be photographed by visitors, members of the press, and County staff for promotional and educational purposes. This includes social media postings before, during, and after the exhibit.
- Artist is responsible for delivering art to and from the exhibit space.
- Artist acknowledges that if art is not picked up at the agreed-upon date set forth in this agreement, County will have the art removed immediately from the exhibit space at artist's expense. Any art that is left longer than 10 days will be considered abandoned property and will be subject to $100.00/day storage fee.
- Sale of goods is facilitated solely by the Artist; no County staff will take payment. If a purchaser is interested, County staff will put them in touch with the artist with the artist's consent. All proceeds of any sale go to the Artist.
- Artist agrees to drop-off to the Clark County Wetlands Park Nature Center, 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, NV, 89122 between the hours of 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, July 29 - 31, 2025, and to pick-up artwork between the hours of 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. on Saturday, November 2, 2025. Artist must bring ID.
TIMELINE OVERVIEW:
- Submission Deadline: Tuesday, July 15, 2025, by 11:59 PM PST
- Artwork Drop-Off: Tues - Thurs, July 29 - 31, 2025, from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Artwork Pick-up: Sunday, November 2, 2025, from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Exhibit: Saturday, August 2, 2025 - Sunday, November 1, 2025
- Reception: Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
If you have additional application questions, please email Wetlands Park per instructions below:
TO: wetlandsart@clarkcountynv.gov
CC: daniel.ogletree@gmail.com
Subject: In the Company of Animals: Call for Submissions