A Celebration of Art & History:
the Ximenez-Fatio Nights of Lights Exhibition
November 17, 2023 – January 5, 2024
This year, celebrate art and history through a festive holiday display on the fireplace mantels of Ximenez-Fatio House!
The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum is one of the best-preserved and most authentic Second Spanish Period residential buildings in St. Augustine, Florida. As a Historic House Museum, it’s period-appropriate collections and programs are presented within a building that is historically significant; exploring how the specific location and people were affected by larger historical events.
The St. Augustine Art Association emerged in local history in 1924 by a group of artists, writers, and photographers who saw the need for promotion of the arts in St. Augustine. The meeting that marked the founding of the Association was held at the Ximenez-Fatio House on January 18, 1924, and the House would serve not only as a meeting place, but also as artist studios for a number of years.
Call for Art
- Festive Holiday Mantel Display
Artists may design and submit one (1) festive mantel display that can be used universally across the other mantel spaces. Artists should use their own artwork, add festive elements, and come up with their own themes (if they desire a theme). ALL submissions will be juried and only 14 artists will be selected to install their designs.
Once the 14 artists are notified of their selection, they will be assigned a mantel to decorate. Each design is allowed to be tailored to their specific mantel. Designs can be as creative as the artists wish, but must follow the guidelines listed in their prospectus.
Final submissions will be due on Friday, September 22, 2023.
PLEASE READ THE PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR DESIGN.
Artwork & Exhibit Guidelines
- Mantel Details
Use the dimensions provided for each design. Feel free to print out the mantel photos for a more accurate design. Please utilize as much of the wide space as possible in your designs. Click here to view the mantel dimensions and photos or click the button below.
While mantles and fireplaces vary a little in size, the dimensions are close enough that submitted designs should be usable for each space.
- Artwork
Consider using a variety of mediums in your designs. Any elements used in the installation may not cause damage to the space in any way. This is a public space, and installations are seasonal, so they need to hold up. Here are some ideas to include:
Gallery Wall elements – framed photographs, drawings, collages, paintings, prints, fake foliage, LED candles, etc.
2D & 3D elements.
Table easels may be used.
Feel free to include abstract and realistic styles.
- Exhibit Guidelines
Only one artist per design. Collaborations are not permitted for this exhibition.
All museum artifacts will be removed from the chimney wall, mantel, and fireplace in each room by XF Museum Staff.
Only the existing nails, which are in every chimney wall, may be used for artwork or decorations. No additional nails, etc. may be added.
No nails, tape, adhesives of any kind, tacks, etc., can be used or put on any surface of the museum.
No paint, color pencils, crayons or any other marks can be made on any museum surface.
No live candles or fire sources of any kind can be used (Fire Marshall rules).
Battery-operated LED candles and lights are permissible. (There is no electricity in the Museum House).
No materials should extend beyond the fireplace entrance (This could be a tripping hazard for guests.) Some fireguards are available if needed.
Fresh flowers and greens are allowable but artist is responsible for refreshing exhibit and replacing all dead materials.
Artificial materials are encouraged.
Mantels may be used to display artwork, pottery, sculpture, objects, etc. Floor space within fireplaces may also be used for display. Table easels are permissible to use on the mantels.
How do I enter?
To submit your application:
- Complete the online form below.
- Upload high-quality image(s) of your proposed design (jpg, png, jpeg, pdf; max file size is 5MB). Click here to view mantel photos and dimensions for a more accurate design. If you do not have photos of the finished design, images of drawings or renderings may be submitted.
- You should receive a confirmation email within a few minutes. Check your spam folder if you do not see it in your inbox. If you do NOT receive a confirmation email, your submission did not go through. Check your spam folder.
- Final submissions will be due on Friday, September 22, 2023. Submissions will be juried and 14 artists will be selected to install their designs.
NEED HELP? If you’re having trouble with the online form: MAKE SURE YOUR INTERNET BROWSER AND DEVICE ARE UP TO DATE; make sure the url has HTTPS; make sure all fields are properly filled out with correct information; make sure that your file name does not have any punctuation or special characters (periods and dashes are the only acceptable characters besides letters and numbers for file names). CLICK HERE FOR HELP.
Entry Form
Programs & Exhibits of the St. Augustine Art Association are funded in part by grants from the the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council, the St. Johns County Cultural Council, the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida, and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
