The Escondido Art Association was established in 1956 and was previously known as Showcase of the Arts. The E.A.A. is a registered non-profit charitable organization located in Escondido, California. This unique organization relies upon the dedication of its members to volunteer to keep the organization running and the gallery doors open. The mission of the Escondido Art Association and its affiliated gallery, the Artists Gallery, is to promote local artists through education, exhibitions and professional development.

Monthly Fine Art Demonstrations are held at the Joslyn Senior Center, 210 Park Avenue, Escondido, California. The center is located one block south of Mission Avenue on the northeast corner of Broadway and Park. Meeting times are 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. on the Second Wednesday of every month from September through June, unless indicated differently in the monthly newsletter. There is no Art Demonstration held in July or August.

The Artists Gallery opened in June 1997 and is operated by the Escondido Art Association, a registered non-profit charitable organization. Smooth operation and keeping the doors of the gallery open is dependent upon member artists who volunteer as gallery attendants.  The gallery is located at 121 W. Grand Avenue in downtown Escondido, California. Business hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. The gallery is closed on Sunday and Monday and all holidays.

The gallery hosts free public receptions to showcase the artist in the current show.  The receptions take place on the second Saturday of each month. (More About Current and Upcoming Shows)

Artists are encouraged to participate in the members-only consignment program.  A commission of 30% is payable to the gallery on all consignment sales.

Artists Gallery hosts eleven shows each year. There are four different types of show, which are as follows:

Members Only Shows
There are two members-only shows each year. Only EAA members may enter these shows. A member may submit up to three pieces of artwork and is guaranteed that at least one piece will be selected to be in the show. Each artist is required to sign up for two (2) sitting times during the month of the show they enter. Variations to the show schedule will be posted on the website and published in the monthly newsletter. (See Show Schedule)

Open Juried Shows
There are four open shows each year. Open shows are open to the public as well as to EAA members. All non-member artists who wish to enter can expect to pay a higher, non-member fee. A visiting judge/juror makes the decision whether or not a piece is selected to be in the show. You may submit up to three pieces, depending upon the show prospectus. Prices for non-members are currently $30 for the first entry, $20 for the second entry and $10 for the third entry.

Feature Shows
Three shows each year are feature shows and can be entered by any artist who meets the stated show requirements. (More About Featured Shows)

Rented Show
There is currently only one rented show this year (2007), which showcases the work done by students of the Escondido Adult School’s art program. A rented show is pre-arranged with the Gallery Director or Programs Vice President. Call the gallery at (760) 489-0338 if you are interested in renting the gallery for your show.

Show Drop-Off and Pick-Up
Show take in day is on designated Mondays from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, and pick up days are usually the last Saturday of the month, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.  Refer to the newsletter or the Show Schedule for specific dates. Please make arrangements if you cannot make the drop-off or pick-up as scheduled. A $1.00 per painting per day fee is charged for all entries not picked up during the scheduled pick-up date.

• A member may submit one (1) piece of fine art into the art competition. Framing Criteria must be adhered to.
• Judging is done by the guest demonstrator with 1st 2nd and 3rd place ribbons, and honorable mention ribbons may also be awarded in each category.
• A category must have three (3) or more entries, so that judging may occur, but the judge may honor an honorable mention ribbon. No group will be combined with another.
• Pick up a slip at the back table to vote for your favorite work of art of the evening. The work of art earning the most votes receives a ribbon for “Most Popular.”
• You must receive two (2) blue ribbons (1st place) at your level to advance to the next level. The only exception is at the Masters level, which takes four (4) blue ribbons to advance to Pro-Masters.
• When you compete for the first time you will be placed into a group based on your experience and/or the quality of your work.

Levels of Competition:

EAA members have been invited to display hanging artwork in various business venues in the Escondido area. Framing Criteria must be met in order to display art in these locations.

There is no entry fee to hang at a rotating art exhibit. Each rotation takes place quarterly in March, June, September and December. You may enter in one or all of the businesses, the times and locations are listed in the newsletter prior to the rotation. Artwork must remain at the business for three (3) months and there is a 15% commission to the EAA on all sold work. When you sell a piece of art at one of the locations, notify the Art Rotation Chair (Dick Weddleton (760) 796-4004), the Newsletter Editor (Sue Cooper), and the member in charge of the business you sold from (see below) and, if possible, replace the sold piece with another of your choice. Please be sure to pick up your work at the end of the Rotation – work not collected at the end of Rotation will be stored at the Artists gallery at a charge of $1 per painting per day.

See Rotation Calendar

The E.A.A. depends upon an all-volunteer force to keep the doors open for business. When a member enters a show they are expected to sign-up for two gallery duty times during the course of the show.

There are two shifts available Tuesday through Saturday. The first shift begins at 11:00am and works until 1:30pm. The second shift arrives at 1:30pm and works until 4:00pm. The volunteer may elect to attend the gallery the full day if it is available.

If you know you will be entering an upcoming show please contact Gallery Attendant Coordinator Joan Segel, (760) 741-3117, to reserve your date. You may also sign up on the drop-off day by selecting two dates that are not already reserved by another member.

If you are unable to sit the gallery you are required to make arrangements with another member to fulfill your obligation. Many galleries request that you pay your substitute sitter; this is a personal agreement between the parties involved and is in no way a responsibility of the E.A.A.

A gallery attendant’s Log Book is located on the desk at the gallery on the desktop. Please make any notes of interest in the handbook i.e., someone came in and you gave them a newsletter or a person expressed interest in a painting and didn’t buy it. If a member calls in sick please contact the Gallery Attendant Coordinator Joan Segel, (760) 741-3117.

There is a gallery handbook (red notebook) on or under the desk. This notebook contains general information about the gallery and daily procedures including notes on how to make a sale. Please check this book each time you attend the gallery to check for changes.

It is the responsibility of the current sitter to call and remind the person doing the same time slot on the following day. Saturday attendants call Tuesday attendants, etc. Check the Gallery Attendant Calendar located on the bulletin board at the back of the gallery.