60th National Mother Lode Art Exhibition
The 60th National Mother Lode Art Exhibition is a prestigious juried art exhibition sponsored by Placerville Arts Association (PAA), located in El Dorado County, California. The exhibit has grown over the years into one of the most prominent national exhibits in the area. Now hosted at the Mills Station Arts and Culture Center (MACC) in Rancho Cordova, California, for the fifth consecutive year, this dynamic exhibit features artworks from across the United States. With an open theme that does not adhere to the show’s name, each exhibition is unique, shaped by the distinctive selections of the juror. This show is a must-see, offering a diverse array of classic and contemporary art that captures the creativity and talent of artists nationwide. The selected art has included a large variety of media, including painting, sculpture, photography, textiles and jewelry, among others. This year’s awards total over $4250, including a $700 Best of Show. Members of PAA have an opportunity to garner awards not open to non-members. (Please see Membership in the "View Rules and Terms to Apply" section.)
Juror and Judge - Debra Kreck-Harnish. Debra is a Northern California artist who has lived, worked, and traveled throughout the United States and Europe. She has worked as a web designer and a publisher’s representative. Debra attended the Institut für Europäische Studien in Vienna, Austria. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from Alfred University in New York. She is a lifelong creative recycler: “trash,” she believes, “is simply a failure of imagination.” Over the past fifteen years, Debra has put her imagination to work, building complex and eloquent mixed-media assemblages out of discarded objects.To learn more about Debra, please go to www.kreck.me.
Exhibit Location: Mills Station Arts and Culture Center (MACC)
10191 Mills Station Road, Rancho Cordova, CA 95827 (This is NOT a mailing address.)
Exhibit Days and Times: Thursday, November 5th through Saturday, November 21st, 2026 • Thursdays & Fridays: 2pm - 7pm and Saturdays: 11am - 4pm • Sundays & Mondays: Closed • Tuesdays & Wednesdays: by appointment.
Entries Open: Monday, June 8th, 2026.
Deadline for Entry: Friday, September 16th, 2025 at 10:59pm PDT. Enter early, as technical help may not be available. No artwork will be accepted after this date and time.
Online Jury Process: Monday, September 21st through the week of October 4th, 2026.
Accept/Decline Notices: Week of October 4th, 2026.
Accepted Entries Shipped: Artwork must arrive between Monday, October 12th and Saturday, October 24th, 2026. Ship artwork only by FedEx. Please use residential address: Placerville, CA, USA, 95667 to calculate shipping costs. Additional information will be sent once art has been accepted. Artwork shipped via U.S. Postal Service or UPS CANNOT be accepted.
Hand-deliver Art: Tuesday, October 27th, 2026, 10am - 6pm at the MACC (address above).
Last Day of Show: Saturday, November 21st, 2026, 11am - 4pm
Pick Up Art at MACC: Monday, November 23rd, 2026, 10am - 6pm. Storage is NOT available. All work must be picked up. Work left after Monday, November 23, 2025 at 6pm, will become the property of PAA.