Vista artists have a date to circle.

Actually, maybe use a thicker marker.

The City of Vista is inviting artists to submit work for a Día de los Muertos exhibition at the Civic Gallery, and the deadline is not one of those soft “we’ll get to it eventually” deadlines.

Applications and artwork photos are due by 5 p.m. Thursday, September 17.

The city says the exhibit will celebrate culture, community and memories — which is a small phrase carrying a pretty big assignment.

Día de los Muertos artwork is not just decoration. At its best, it holds family stories, grief, joy, humor, identity and the people who are still very much present at the table, even when they are no longer sitting there.

So yes, this is a call to artists.

It is also a call for Vista’s creative community to show up with something personal.

What the City Is Asking For

The call is coming from Vista’s Public Arts Commission for the Civic Gallery at the Vista Civic Center.

Artists are invited to submit work for the Día de los Muertos Art Exhibition. The city’s announcement says submissions should include the online application and photos of the artwork.

There is no limit on how many pieces an artist may include in a single proposal.

Before anyone starts backing up a whole garage studio into City Hall, one important note: city staff will decide which pieces are displayed.

That means submitting more work may give artists options, but it does not guarantee every piece will make the wall, pedestal or gallery floor.

The Dates That Matter

The submission deadline is Thursday, September 17, at 5 p.m.

Artists are expected to be notified of their status by Monday, September 28.

The exhibition is scheduled to run from October 12 through November 13.

A reception is scheduled for Thursday, November 5, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

That gives the show a useful runway.

It opens right as Vista’s larger Día de los Muertos season begins to build, including the separate Vista Día de Muertos community festival planned for October 11 along South Santa Fe Avenue.

The gallery show is its own city-run exhibit, not the same event. But together, they point to the same thing: Vista is making room for this tradition in public view, not tucked quietly off to the side.

Why This Fits Vista

Vista’s public art program is already bigger than a few nice things bolted to sidewalks.

The city points to murals, Kites Over Vista, Vista in Bloom utility box designs, Civic Gallery exhibits and sculptural landmarks along Paseo Santa Fe as pieces of its public art landscape.

That matters here.

Día de los Muertos is visual by nature. Marigolds, candles, papel picado, portraits, ofrendas, calaveras, color, food, memory — the tradition already speaks in images.

The Civic Gallery gives local artists a formal place to answer back.

And for a city where culture, migration, family history and neighborhood change all sit close together, that could make for a much richer show than a standard seasonal display.

No pressure, artists.

Well, maybe a little.

How to Apply or Ask Questions

The city says artists can apply online through the call-to-artists information linked from Vista’s announcement.

Artists with questions, or those who need a PDF application, can contact vistapublicart@vista.gov.

One smart move: do not wait until the afternoon of September 17 to start photographing the work, writing the application and discovering what file size your phone decided to create.

That is not artistic drama.

That is just avoidable stress with better lighting.

Vista asked for work that celebrates culture, community and memories.

Now the question is what local artists will bring back.

Questions You May Have About Vista’s Día de los Muertos Artist Call

When is the submission deadline?

The online application and artwork photos are due by 5 p.m. Thursday, September 17.

When will artists be notified?

The city says artists will be notified of their status by Monday, September 28.

When is the exhibit?

The exhibition is scheduled for October 12 through November 13 at Vista’s Civic Gallery.

Is there a reception?

Yes. A reception is scheduled for Thursday, November 5, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Who should artists contact with questions?

The city lists vistapublicart@vista.gov for questions or requests for a PDF application.