SUN DRUNK | Juniper Rag, a virtual exhibition

JURIED BY PAIGE ROEHRIG, DIRECTOR COPLEY SOCIETY OF ART BOSTON

Michelle May and Payal Thiffault have redefined the virtual exhibition space with in-person and virtual exhibition programming, experiential concepts, collaborations and building community—empowering artists to claim visibility, build collector relationships and successfully build new pathways.

There is a particular kind of magic that arrives with the long light of summer. After we survive months of gray skies and shortened days, sunlight returns not only to the landscape but to our human spirit. It warms us, nourishes our souls and awakens the earth. For many, it offers relief from the heaviness of seasonal darkness and reminds us that light itself can be transformative—a force capable of shifting our moods, perspectives and each ray signals possibilities.

For SUN DRUNK, Juniper Rag invites artists to explore the profound influence of sunlight and the many ways it shapes our lives. The interpretation may be literal—sunlight across a landscape, the rhythms of summer, gardens in bloom, coastal horizons, heat, color or our natural world at its peak of abundance. It may also be metaphorica. The intoxicating pull of travel, time off, love, beauty, memory, desire, hope or fleeting moments that leave us altered when the world is illuminated.

Sunlight is one of the most powerful forces on Earth. It sustains ecosystems, grows our food, regulates our bodies and has guided humanity since the beginning of time. It is both scientific and spiritual, practical and oh, so poetic. It can reveal, energize, heal, and transform. The long days of summer invite us outdoors, into community, into wonder, and into a renewed relationship with the world around us.

A Color stands abroad On Solitary Fields 

That Science cannot overtake

But Human Nature feels. 

-A Light Exists In Spring, Emily Dickinson

As artists, we are often drawn to moments of illumination—those experiences that stop us in our tracks and remind us all what it means to be fully alive. SUN DRUNK celebrates that sensation. Whether your work reflects the glow of a summer afternoon, the nostalgia of a cherished memory, the exhilaration of connection or the life-giving power of light itself, we invite you to share your interpretation of the altered, euphoric feeling people experience after long exposure to sunlight, heat and summer environments. 

SCHEDULE

• Deadline to Submit: July 8, 2026
• Jurying Begins: July 9, 2026
• Notifications by: July 16, 2026
• Virtual shop launches: est. Aug 1 st

ELIGIBILITY

You do not have to be a member to apply to this exhibition.

• Virtual Calls are open to all visual artists, over 18, globally, removing any barrier of geolocation. 
• Medium & Discipline: All mediums and disciplines are encouraged to submit.
• Size & Weight: There are no restrictions for this virtual exhibition. (see shipping info)
• Exhibition Readiness: 2D work must be completely dry, ready to hang, and wired properly with screws or D-rings (saw-toothed hangers or clip frames are not allowed)
• Availability: Submitted pieces must be available for sale during the duration of the exhibition. 
• File Formats: Digital submissions require lower-resolution files (usually JPEG, PNG at 175 DPI) and accurate metadata (Artist name, title, medium, dimensions, price)
• Originality & Date: Pieces must be original and created within a specific timeframe (usually the last 3 to 5 years). Mass reproductions (giclée prints of paintings) are not allowed. Please do not enter work that we have already seen.
• Create a free account at Submittable at the link below to submit.

PROFESSIONAL IMPACT

Selected artists receive a curatorial review on your page. We feel strongly about sharing why we think your art is significant. This review is designed to elevate your practice and in addition, for you to share as marketing materials and creative content for your website and social media.

• Add this and all of your exhibitions to your CV, website and add links to your shows, use in your bio, press kits and gallery submission applications.
• Global eyes on your work to our audience of active curators, collectors and arts professionals.
• Possible features of your work on the Juniper Rag website and our social media platforms that impact your digital footprint. We keep sharing long after the exhibition when subject matter or timing make sense.
• Use the social media momentum to your advantage. (check out our blog for resources and information.)

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Submission Requirements: Please submit up to 3+ cohesive works, a 300 word bio, a 300 word artist statement and a headshot. Optional, but valuable: a process video. Selected polished videos will be added to our website and/or social media.
• Shipping: We include shipping, based on your estimate. (See submission form for more info)
• Investment: $35, processing fee, non-refundable

COMMISSION

Artists receive 65% of retail price, less the shipping fees and tax. Juniper Rag receives 35%.

OUR MISSION & FEES

Juniper Rag is co-founded and female-led by just two artists, Michelle May and Payal Thiffault who dedicate their spare time to this passion project. Developed through their marketing agency, Atelier ID Global, to elevate artists using their global network and reach combined with marketing strategies and collaborative projects. We use creative intuition, societal flux and preemptive planning to capture momentum and cultural interest.

Submission fees help support the time, expertise, and infrastructure required to review, curate, and promote each call for art. These fees contribute to essential operating costs, including platform expenses, marketing, administrative support, and the development of meaningful opportunities for artists. 

As a small independent arts organization, Juniper Rag relies on submission fees to sustain its programs while remaining committed to providing fee waivers for artists experiencing financial hardship. [email info@juniperrag.com  in advance of submission.] Your work will be vetted like all artists, and your request will be confidential.

• Please help sustain Juniper Rag by sharing our organization with other artists. Our community is vibrant and collaborative--we encourage artists to engage on social media and meet the other artists in your cohort. 
• *Acceptance to our calls for art means that you will be considered for other opportunities as they emerge. This includes, invited opportunities, acquisitions and other instances where we know your work is already vetted.
• Once you are juried into Juniper Rag, you also are welcomed to membership, artists services and editorial opportunities on our website, social media and in other collaborative projects.

Ongoing Advocacy & Copyrights: While artists retain full copyright and ownership of your work, your submission gives us permission to use your images on our website and social media for this opportunity and beyond. We may repeat and feature your work in the future at any time. Acceptance into any exhibition, especially Juniper Rag is a mark of merit, so when you are accepted, you know your work has a stamp of excellence from us and our guest jurors.

OTHER BENEFITS of working with JUNIPER RAG

Elevation of your work – Juniper Rag exhibitions are recognized for their curatorial excellence and thematic sophistication, attracting collectors, curators and press.

• Curated Audience – We cultivate an engaged community of art lovers who value conceptual depth and technical skill.
• Artist Features – Selected artists are spotlighted in Juniper Rag’s digital platforms, expanding their visibility beyond the exhibition.
• Professional Credibility – Being part of a Juniper Rag exhibition enhances an artist’s CV because we only select the high level of art for our concept-driven exhibitions.
• Diverse Reach – Our audience spans local, national, and internationally.
• Thoughtful Curation – Each show is crafted to create a strong visual and thematic narrative, elevating every participating work.
• Supportive Environment – We actively promote participating artists through marketing, social media campaigns, and networking opportunities.
• Guest Jurors – We choose our guest jurors based on their impact, their audience and of course, a coolness factor! CV worthy exhibitions impact your value, so we work to bring you key jurors.

Long-Term Impact – Many past exhibitors have gone on to sell works, secure commissions, and gain future exhibition invitations, solo shows and acquisitions into large scale corporate purchases as a result of their Juniper Rag participation. Art sales are a long game, the more opportunities you take for your art to be seen by new audiences, the more people will see and connect with your work.

We look forward to the honor and privilege of viewing your work. Thank you for trusting us and supporting our artist community. Juniper Rag is a passion project of Atelier ID Global, a branding and marketing agency also founded by Michelle and Payal. We are proud to have developed a reputable and professional arts ecosystem built on arts advocacy, community and strategy promoting over 800 significant artists per year who should be seen by all. Your submission fee supports our overhead, admins and platform fees as well as to compensate our guest jurors and is used to sustain our efforts. 

Michelle May & Payal Thiffault

Juniper Rag, Paxton & N. Easton, Massachusetts

PS. Big announcements coming soon. 

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