About the Call

In September 1976, Christo and Jeanne-Claude stretched 24.5 miles of billowing white nylon across the golden hills of Sonoma and Marin counties, down to the Pacific Ocean at Estero Americano. The Running Fence stood for just fourteen days — but changed the definition of art forever.

Fifty years later, The Running Fence Run: A Run of Freedom invites artists to respond to that legacy. Why did Christo call his works “a scream of freedom?” What does it feel like to run? What stories do the hills of Sonoma and Marin hold — stories of Coast Miwok and Pomo peoples, of dairy farmers and landowners, of a stateless refugee who fled Communist Bulgaria finding citizenship in America?

Runners will bring their best performance to the 5K, 10K, Half, and Marathon footrace in Bloomsfield, California. We want artists to bring their best creative works to make this celebration both performance and art.

This is your canvas. Run with it.

Themes

We invite work inspired by any of the following:

• Christo and Jeanne-Claude — their artworks, life, and legacy
• The Marathon and the running spirit — from Pheidippides to Frank Shorter to the open road
• The landscapes of Sonoma and Marin — golden hills, coastal grasslands, Americano Creek, the Pacific
• Freedom — political, personal, artistic, or physical

Who Should Apply

Artists  of all backgrounds and experience levels are encouraged to apply. We welcome painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media, textile, illustration, and digital art. Work must be original and not previously published. 

Exhibition & Publication

First, second, and third place winning artists will receive cash prizes of $300, $200, and $100 and may have their winning art featured on race bibs and t-shirts.

Selected works will be exhibited on-line and at the post-race Art and Music Festival at La Plaza Park, Cotati, California on September 12, 2026.

Deadline May 24, 2026

Entry Fees: $15.00 for each entry. Maximum five (5) entries. A payment link will be sent to you upon request for application to the contest.

For submission form and payment link, email to art@runningfencerun.org, Subject: Art Contest.