Art of the Spectacle

Art of the Spectacle

This exhibition explores the intersection of fashion, circus, and stagecraft, capturing the drama, elegance, and eccentricity of the performing arts. Art of the Spectacle creates a visual celebration of performance, where costume, movement, and theatrics take center stage.

Artists are invited to submit works that embrace the bold, the theatrical, and the extraordinary. Whether inspired by vintage vaudeville, avant-garde fashion, or the magic of the circus, this show seeks artwork that transforms the gallery into a stage, where every piece tells a story.

Meet the Juror, Maria Schaedler-Luera

Maria Schaedler-Luera is a Brazilian-born educator, artist, and cultural strategist working at the intersection of theater, mindfulness, and community engagement. Her work blends performance, storytelling, and healing practices to foster connection, expression, and collective transformation. Maria is a certified meditation teacher, an Ayurvedic Health Counselor, and a facilitator of applied theater techniques including Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed. She has worked with institutions such as Harvard Art Museums, the Sarasota Performing Arts Center Foundation, and The Patterson Foundation. Maria is currently the Co-Executive Director of Lifeline Productions and the Program Officer at the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, where she leads initiatives rooted in civic engagement, arts education, and creative wellness. She is passionate about supporting artists and communities in telling their stories with authenticity, imagination, and purpose.

• Submissions are welcome in all media including painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, mixed media, digital arts, sculpture and video. 
• AI generated art is not allowed.  
• All artworks must be submitted ONLINE for jurying.  Awards will be chosen by the juror in person when all works are installed at Art Center Sarasota. 

 IMPORTANT DATES 

• Exhibition Dates: Thursday, March 5 - Saturday, April 18, 2026
• Online Submissions: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 - Sun. Feb. 1, 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: Artists will be notified by email of their submission status no later than Wednesday, February 11 by 5pm.
• In Person Receiving Days for Accepted Work:  Tuesday, February 24 - Wednesday, February 25, 10am-5pm.
• Shipping Accepted Work: Mailed Artwork must arrive between Monday, February 23 - Wednesday, February 25.  Any work that is delivered after this date will not be included in the exhibition.
• Award Winners Notified: no later than Wednesday, March 4 at 5pm.  
• Opening Reception: Thursday, March 5, 5-7pm.
• Artwork Pickup In Person: Monday, April 20 & Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 10am-5pm

JURIED EXHIBITION RULES & REGULATIONS - READ THIS DOCUMENT FULLY!
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION 

This exhibition is open to all artists to showcase their work at Art Center Sarasota (ACS). This show is open to all media types. The juror will see all requested information except the artist’s name and the price of artwork. The ACS Exhibition Department asks jurors to make all selections based solely on artistic merit with the exhibition theme in mind. In an effort to maintain best gallery practices, ACS implements the following rules and regulations for this juried exhibition. Observing the following points ensures your artwork is exhibited in the best way possible. We appreciate your support.        

SUBMISSION FEES 

All juried exhibitions require a NON-REFUNDABLE entry fee for each submission. 

• One Piece: $30 Members, $40 Non-members, $10 Student Members, $20 Student Non- Members
• Two Pieces: $40 Members, $55 Non-members, $20 Student Members, $30 Student Non- Members
• Three Pieces: $45 Members, $65 Non-members, $25 Student Members, $35 Student Non- Members

AWARDS: 

Awards will be selected by the juror in-person after the exhibition has been hung. All checks for awards will be mailed out to the artists at the close of the exhibition.

• 1st place: $500
• 2nd Place: $300
• 3rd Place: $200
• Merit (2) & Honorable Mention (4)

SIZE

• Maximum size for 2D artwork is 65" x 65" AFTER framing.
• Maximum size for 3D artwork is 60" x 36" x 36". (HxWxD)