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FCA Victoria: FCA Fall Exhibition: Essence

FCA Victoria, FALL SHOW, 2026: “ESSENCE”

For our Fall Show, 2026, we invite you to reflect upon the idea of “essence” and to consider the various ways it is expressed in your work.

Essence resides at the core of things: the space untouched by noise or naming. Strip away the surface and what’s left is not absence but a deeper presence, an unwavering ‘truth’, the intrinsic characteristics.

What is the essence, the spirit of the subject – peace, power, chaos, grief, or something else? What is the twenty percent of the subject that communicates eighty percent of its meaning? And, if this subject were an emotion or colour, what would it be and how can that be translated into visual form? How much can be removed before the subject loses its quintessential identity? These are questions worthy of reflection no matter what genre we lean towards, be it landscape, portrait, abstract or more conceptual work.

Consider moving beyond literal representation – distilling your subjects to their immaterial, spiritual, structural meaning – to capture the fundamental ‘truth’ or spirit of the subject/s. Or embracing abstraction, stripping away detail to reveal underlying geometry, colour and rhythm. Instead, you might explore metaphysical themes through physical form to interrogate immaterial realities – pull the purest meaning locked within a known idea, symbol or colour, to reveal their essential meaning and thus uncover deeper connections to human experience and cultural identity. Perhaps the challenge of conveying the atmosphere, memory or mood of a landscape through dominant colours, contrasting lights and brushstrokes is of more interest? Or illuminating the true spirit of a person by capturing their inner emotional life and defining traits through simplified, reductive strokes rather than striving for a photorealistic likeness?

Acts of distillation such as these will allow viewers to experience your particular, filtered perspective – one not shaped by exhaustive detail, but by what most truthfully conveys your subject’s ‘essence’. Whether your approach is metaphoric, literal or symbolic, from the fully abstract to the realistic, all interpretations are welcome and encouraged.

Important: Submitted works will be adjudicated on merit, according to established FCA criteria, and not on adherence to the suggested prompt, “Essence.”

This exhibition is a ‘Qualifying’ show for signature status. It will showcase recent two-
dimensional work by Exhibiting FCA, AFCA, and SFCA members in good standing with the Victoria Chapter of the FCA, across multiple genres, styles, and mediums, in
accordance with established FCA guidelines.

Please note:

• Work may be listed as NFS (i.e. Not For Sale).

• Works may be framed BUT maximum size in either direction is 36 inches x 36 inches INCLUDING frame

• Maximum size for tondos is 36 inches in diameter

• Please read Exhibition Terms and Conditions

• Follow all FCA Framing and Matting, Standards and Guidelines. Also see and download Framing Checklist on that page.​

• Please read FCA policy regarding use of photo reference and copyright.

• When submitting, consider adding a few words about your inspirations these will be included in the exhibition.

• This show will be hung salon style, if need be, to allow us to display a greater number of artworks and promote as many of our multi-talented members as possible.

• Location: Goldfinch Gallery (Arts and Culture Colwood), 170 Goldfinch Road, Colwood, V9C 3M8 Free parking is available.

• Drop off: Sunday, Sept 27 between 4:00 - 5:00pm. At this time, remember to:
  • Bring signed contract: Exhibition Contract 
  • Bring an updated Artist Biography/Statement if applicable.
• Pick up: Sunday, Oct 18 from 4:00 - 5:00pm. Please ensure you make alternative arrangements and notify us if you are unable to drop off and/or pick up during these windows.

• Demonstration Artists will be needed and we ask for your support – sign up sheets to be circulated later.

Show details:

• Run dates: Thursday, Oct 1 to Sunday, Oct 18
• Gallery hours: Thursdays to Sundays, 12:00 (noon) – 4:00pm
• Reception: Saturday, Oct 3, from 1:00 to 3:00pm

Award details:

• First prize ($150), Second ($100), Third ($75)
• 3 Honourable Mentions ($50)
• the “Margot Clayton Memorial” for the work that best exemplifies the theme ($375)

GENERAL FCA SUBMISSION GUIDELINES COPYRIGHT AND STANDARDS:

FCA Standards 

Image Requirements

FCA Policy Manual

If you have already successfully submitted artwork to an exhibition hosted by this Chapter, (the piece was included in some capacity, either live at a venue or in an online gallery), you cannot submit the same piece to a different exhibition hosted by the same Chapter, again.

Copyright and Standards: The following is taken from the Federation Policy:

7.1.5 "While using photos as a reference for painting is a long-held accepted practice, making substantive use of stock imagery or photos taken by professional photographers is not permissible, even with their permission. Photographs by professional photographers are considered artworks in and of themselves. Reference photos must be taken by the artist themselves or provided to them by an amateur photographer with their express consent. Stock images may only be referred to for anatomical study and must be incidental to the completed artwork to be permissible."

While an artist may have paid a licensing fee or retrieved explicit written permission that places them on the right side of copyright laws, Federation Standards do not permit the use of stock photography or reference material from another artist - even with permission or paid licensing. 

Federation Standards are different than copyright laws, submitting artists must adhere to both to avoid being removed from the exhibition - if in doubt about the source material of your artwork - do not submit it.

INSURANCE: The FCA does not provide insurance for artwork. Artists are responsible for arranging their own insurance.

JURY: Entries will be reviewed by two SFCA Members and one AFCA member. Please check the submission page for juror names. Images will be reviewed independently online by each juror. All artists will receive emailed notification of their results. Artists may not display artworks that have not been juried and may not send artworks unless they receive an acceptance email. Your submitted pieces will receive one of the following jury results: Accepted – artwork has been chosen for exhibition online and in gallery, Declined – artwork was not chosen for exhibition at this time.

SALES: Artwork is under contract with the Federation effective from the date notification emails are sent. Do not submit an artwork if you intend to sell it yourself outside of the exhibition. If artists have an interested client and they direct sales through the Federation before the exhibition start date, the artwork can still be exhibited in the exhibition as “sold” for the duration of the exhibition and artists can retain their  associated Elected Member Status point. 

SUBMITTING INFORMATION: Images submitted to the online submission system that are blurry, poorly cropped, display a background/frame, were made in error, or are the wrong orientation will be declined without refund. When submitting online, crop your image to exclude visible edges of substrate. The description of your piece should be one to two sentences long, aiming to enhance a viewer’s interest in the artwork. This description will be printed on your gallery label so please proofread and spell check it. Artists cannot change details on their submission after the deadline for entries has passed. Attempts to change submitted information (including prices or sizes) after the deadline, or when the artist delivers will not be honoured. The artist is responsible for ensuring that the information provided at the time of submission is correct and spelled correctly.

ENTRY FEES: are non-refundable and accepted in Canadian dollars. 

CONDITIONS: Submission of entry to this exhibition automatically constitutes the entrant’s acceptance of the guidelines and rules outlined on this page. Due to the volume of entries, the FCA and their jurors do not provide individual feedback on submissions. The juror’s decision is final, submissions to this exhibition declares your acceptance of their decision.

Start Submission Process