West Ohio Astro Imagers Art Show

What is the Summer Moon Festival?

Neil Armstrong put Wapakoneta on the map in the world of space exploration.  His lunar landing in 1969 sparked a celebration in Wapakoneta every year. The website for the summer moon festival is located at summermoonfestival.com. The art show will be held during the festival on July 14-19th 2026.

An Astro Art Show?

In 2026, we are partnering with Riverside Art Center to present a dedicated Astrophotography Show to show the world what heavens are right over our heads.  The art center is located at 3 West Auglaize Street and their phone number is 419-738-2352.  The website for the art center is www.riversideartcenter.org.

How do I participate?

How many photos can I display?

Each person should select up to 10 images that you would like to display at the show. If we don’t have enough participation we may allow more than 10, but the goal is to give everyone a chance to display something.

RSVP

We need to manage the process to ensure we have a minimum number of prints to display. Mark and Jerry need to know your intentions by the February 28, 2026. This is an intention, not a formal commitment.

Please RSVP with this form:

    What about printing , framing and getting a picture ready to de displayed?

    Requirements; all images must be presented in one of the following ready-to-hang formats:

    • Paper prints:
      •  Matted
        • The mat acts as a protective spacer and must completely cover the print’s border.
        • Must use acid-free materials. (This prevents the print from touching the glass, which can cause damage over time.)
        • A bright white mat board is standard for gallery display.
          • White is professional and does not compete with the image colors.
          • Black matting is particularly effective for astronomy images.
        • This is a good example of a frame with white mat. Upsimples on Amazon
      • Framing
        • Use simple, non-ornate frames in black, white, or a neutral dark color (e.g., espresso). (Simple frames are most cost-effective, easiest to source, and ensure the astronomy image remains the focus.)
      • Glazing
        • Use glass or acrylic/plexiglass. (The print must be protected from dust and damage. Acrylic is often preferred by galleries as it is lighter and shatter-resistant for safety.)
      • Hanging
        • Must be backed by a secure hanging wire.
          • This is a non-negotiable gallery requirement.
    • On a stretched canvas
      • Depth
        • Must be gallery-wrapped, meaning the canvas is stretched over a wooden frame, creating a depth of at least ¾ inches. (This gives the piece a substantial, professional look; thinly wrapped canvas can look amateurish.)
      • Edges
        • The edges should be finished in a solid color (e.g., black) or feature a ‘mirror-wrap’ (This ensures the print looks finished and complete from the side.)
      • Hanging
        • Must include a hanging wire secured to the wooden stretcher bars on the back. (Like framed prints, it needs a proper wire for the gallery system.)
          • The wire must be installed and taut.
    • Printed on metal or glass
      • Display style
        • Must use an ‘L-shaped’ or ‘standout’ wall mount. (This metal fixture is the standard, modern display method that causes the print to float 1/2 to 1 inch off the wall.)
      • Edge Finish
        • Edges should be rounded or smoothed (especially for aluminum/metal prints) for safety and a polished look.
          • Metal edges can be sharp if not finished by the printer.
      • Hanging
        • The required hanging wire or cleat should come pre-installed from the printing lab. (Do not attempt to add your own D-rings or wire unless experienced, as installation is specialized for these materials and can damage the print.)

    Image Size and Quality Standards

    For the show, please do not provide any print smaller than 8″ X 8″ (not including the matting). Also, do not exceed 24″ X 24″. Keep in mind if ou are considering a large print that do do not want to exceed 150 PPI and preferably stay at or above 300 PPI. Please adhere to the following standards:

    • Display Dimensions (The Finished Size)
      • Maximum: The entire framed piece (or the edges of a metal/canvas print) must be no larger than 24″ X 24″ (edge-to-edge).
      • Minimum: The minimum recommended finished size is 11″ X 14″ (e.g., an 8″ x 10″ print with a mat).
      • Recommendation: A popular and cost-effective standard is a print matted and framed to a total of 12″ X 16″.
    • Technical Requirement: File Resolution – Do not try to print a small file too large!
      • To ensure your image is sharp and high-quality, we recommend your file be at least 150 pixels per inch (PPI) at the print size and preferable 300 or more PPI.
      • Quick Check: If you want a 24″ print, your image needs to be at least 3600 pixels on that side.
        • Always ask your print shop for advice if you are unsure about a large print.
      • Final files should be saved as a TIFF (if acceptable by the printer) or max-quality JPEG.
      • Final files should be in the sRGB color space for consistency.
    • Common Aspect Ratios
      • Keep the dimensions of your image in mind when cropping to match standard print sizes (e.g., 1:1 for square, or 3:2 for rectangular) to make framing and matting easier.

    Hang-ability: The Gallery Standard

    All framed or canvas pieces must be prepared for hanging using two secure D-rings (one on each side of the frame) and a taut, braided picture wire stretched horizontally between them.

    Sawtooth hangers, string, or simple clips are strictly prohibited.

    Rationale: Art centers use professional cable and rail systems that require a consistently placed, secure wire loop to ensure all pieces hang level, securely, and uniformly. Any other method is incompatible with the gallery’s hardware and will be rejected.

    Wall Tag

    In a professional gallery setting, every piece requires a standardized label card. For astrophotography, this card serves two vital functions:

    1. Context: It provides the public with the object’s name and astronomical distance, grounding the art in reality.
    2. Attribution: It lists the artist and technical data (exposure time, equipment), which satisfies the curiosity of technically-minded viewers.

    I suggest your cards be a simple card (usually around 3″ x 5″ or 4″ x 6″) that contains the following information in a clear, easy-to-read font:

    • Title of Work
    • Artist Name
    • Medium (i.e., Astrophotograph, Printed on Metal)
    • Print Size
    • Price
    • Acquisition/Exposure (i.e., Total Integration: 15 hours)
    • Equipment Note (i.e., Captured with a 10″ Newtonian and ASI2600MM)

    But my pictures aren’t gallery quality!

    Astrophotography is not easy. We all know this. It is both an art and a science. Image acquisition is very prescriptive and the scientific method allows us to refine our techniques. But image processing is an art. The resulting image is often what the processor likes.

    Your Astro Data is Amazing—Let’s Team Up!

    I encourage people who are not yet great at image processing to team up with someone whose work you respect to create for the show. The show has no rules on attribution; you can work this out together including how you would share the proceeds if the print sells.

    I’ve seen most of your work and while some of you are still learning the basics of image processing I have not seen many instances where your data cannot become something beautiful. It took me 10 years to get somewhat skilled at image processing. Thanks to Pix Insight and similar programs, it can happen faster now, but not in a year or two. Reach out and turn your data into an amazing print.

    What are the goals for the show?

    1. Show off our work and maybe sell a print.
      1. More about pricing and commissions below.
    2. Take advantage of a space themed community event to pull in visitors more likely to engage with our work.
      1. The Summer Moon Festival draws between 10,000 and 12,000 people each year. They are thinking about astronomy. They are ready for our form of art.
    3. Fill the available space in the gallery with photographs of astronomical objects. That is, things that really exist.
      1. The gallery can hold 40 to 70 prints depending of size and how they are spaced.
    4. Offer opportunities for anyone so inclined to interact with the visitors and talk about our craft.
      1. The art center will allow artists to set up their rig in the gallery and interact with visitors.
      2. During the show can also host some sessions where we can tell people how the pictures are taken and processed and show some of the equipment used.

    How do I get a file printed?

    • Printing your photos should be done with high quality paper and inks. You can do this yourself if you have a high quality printer and paper.
    • The printing studio next door to Riverside Art Center is willing to work with us to print our photos on quality stock at a reasonable cost.
      • Contact Ralph Berenics at Maxxposuredirect
    • The cost of printing photos varies and we encourage you to talk with Ralph at Maxxposuredirect or survey the various web based printing services. Suggested services:
            • Mpix
            • Bay Photo
            • Printique
            • WhiteWall
            • ArtbeatStudios.com (Awarded “best metal print company” in 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023)
            • Printique.com
            • XPoser.com
    Size MPIX
    Metal
    Paper    		 MPIX
    Canvas    		 MPIX
    Metal    		 Artbeat
    Studios
    Paper    		 Artbeat
    Studios
    HD Metal    		 Printique
    Fine Art
    Paper    		 Bay Photo
    Metal    		 Bay Photo
    Canvas    		 Bay Photo
    Fine Art
    Paper
    8X8 $3.72 $ $44.99 $16.21 $29.149 $22.19 $58.81 $4.90
    8X10 $4.15 $64.99 $49.99 $18.37 $33.25 $17.99 $25.99 $58.81 $4.99
    8½X11 $5.15 $ $ $ $ $35.29 $ $8.50
    10X10 $5.99 $65.99 $59.99 $ $ $19.99 $32.85 $62.54 $8.29
    9X12 $9.72 $ $ $ $ $42.65 $ $8.95
    10X13 $8.25 $ $ $ $ $ $41.50 $72.54 $10.79
    11X14 $11.19 $74.99 $68.99 $23.78 $60.50 $23.99 $46.45 $73.03 $
    11X17 $ $ $ $25.95 $76.78 $ $56.59 $ $
    12X18 $16.99 $89.99 $84.99 $24.86 $80.99 $ $59.95 $86.51 $19.99

    Selling your work.

    You do not have to offer anything or everything for sale. But you do need to provide a price for items that you want to sell.

    Two things determine the final sales price of your art:

    1. The production cost (printing, framing, matting)
    2. The value of your work (your processing time, skill, and profit).
    3. The artistic value if the print.

    The prices listed below are suggested retail ranges in this area.

    • Paper/Matted
      • Small 8″ x 10″ – $100 to $300
      • Medium 12″ x 15″ – $200 to $600
      • Large 16″ x 24″ – $300 to $1,000
    • Canvas or Metal
      • Small 8″ x 10″ – $150 to $350
      • Medium 12″ x 15″ – $300 to $800
      • Large 16″ x 24″ – $500 to $1,500

    Other things to keep in mind:

    • The art center will take a 30% commission.
    • You may choose to share the proceeds with anyone who helped with processing or something else.

    Deadlines.

    The show is July 14 to 19 of 2026. You must have your printed hand delivered to the Art Center no later than July 4, 2026. Direct shipping is not accepted. If you are not local, reach out to Mark Casazza Or Jerry Sommerville to deliver your prints.

    RSVP

    We need to manage the process to ensure we have a minimum number of prints to display. Mark and Jerry need to know your intentions by the February 28, 2026. This is an intention, not a formal commitment. Mark will reach out to his astro imager friends to fill out the space if we are short. He will also inform any who reached the initial limit of 10 if we have more room.

    Please RSVP with this form: