Call for Artists: The Hatchery Food Truck Seeks Local Talent for Retail Designs
- Emily Allen
- Jul 24
- 4 min read
The Hatchery Food Truck, a waterfront oyster eatery located at the historic Callis Wharf on Gwynn’s Island, Mathews is putting out a call for local graphic artists to help bring a series of fresh aquaculture-themed t-shirts and retail designs to life for our oyster eatery.
Each selected design will be featured on retail apparel sold at our location and online.
Artist will receive $350 compensation for selected and approved designs, and recognition online and on our socials.
As part of The Hatchery’s mission to celebrate oyster aquaculture culture through food, storytelling, tours, hatchery operations, and community, this initiative invites artists to respond to creative prompts inspired by our mission. Designs should reflect the laid-back, but passionate spirit of The Hatchery while showcasing the unique style and voice of local creatives.
Artist must be willing to work with us on 1-2 rounds of modification and design changes in order to ensure the design is depicting the industry accurately.
Deadline: August 29, 2025
2 Different Design Prompts/Slogans for 2025 Retail Release:
We are focusing on 3 different retail releases using the three prompts and descriptions below. Designs should be bold, eye-catching, and suitable for screen-printing on t-shirts. Artists may submit one or more concepts for review of eiether or both of the prompts. Submissions should include their high resolution graphic, a short bio about the artist, and a brief statement about their connection to the theme.
Prompt #1. Oysters: Nature’s Tiny Water Farmers (Environmental Theme)
The goal for this prompt is to show imagery of the environmental benefits of oysters in their ecosystems. Examples of oysters benefiting their habitats include: filtering water, creating habitats, stabilizing shorelines, and nutrient cycling. (Nerd out for more information about this in the 'Additional Information' section below.)
Prompt #2. Filter Feeder, Flavor Leaders (Culinary Theme)
This prompt is meant to be more interpretive, to show how versatile oyster farming can be. Almost every weekend, the Hatchery Food Truck switches up our oysters from a different local farm (who is a customer of Oyster Seed Holdings). The intention, outside of supporting farmers of course, is for customers to experience how vast the market oyster is coming out of the East Coast - from it’s salinity, to taste, to shape, cup depth and size. (Nerd out for more information about this in the 'Additional Information' section below.)
About The Hatchery & Oyster Seed Holdings:
The primary mission at Oyster Seed Holdings is to be a premier supplier of high quality shellfish seed serving the entire shellfish aquaculture industry. We have taken a deliberately independent approach with no grow-out operations, so our focus is on producing for our customers.
OSH has been providing premium quality oyster larvae and seed for the past 15 years. From 2009 - 2023 we distributed 7.2 billion eyed larvae and 1.2 billion seed to farms up and down the East Coast.
The Hatchery Food Truck is a seasonal oyster-centric eatery located at Callis Wharf on Gwynn’s Island, offering fresh Virginia oysters, craft beverages, and a rotating menu of locally farmed oysters. As product to Oyster Seed Holdings’ advocacy initiatives, The Hatchery Food Truck is more than just a food truck—it’s a celebration of modern day oyster aquaculture and celebration of the industry’s culture. The business was built on a passion for sharing the fascinating story of the farmed oyster - “from cradle to plate” - and built on our working waterfront steeped in history and shell piles.
TO SUBMIT:
Send your design(s), bio, and artist statement to emily@oshoyster.com with the subject line “Hatchery Retail Graphic Design"
Artists must release all rights to the approved artwork to Oyster Seed Holdings, Inc, DBA The Hatchery, for use in our retail and marketing initiatives indefinitely.
FIND MORE INFORMATION:
www.thehatcheryculture.com @thehatcheryculture
Facebook: "The Hatchery Culture"
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Oyster FAQ’s
One oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day which cleans the water by reducing sediment and nutrient levels.
Oysters grow in reefs that provide shelter and breeding grounds for fish (including commercially important ones like blue crabs and striper) and other marine life.
Oyster reefs can help prevent erosion by breaking waves that prevent erosion to marshland and the shoreline.
Oysters filter the water and play a role in nutrient removal, particularly capturing excess nitrogen, carbon sequestering, and minerals.
Shellfish are one of the few farm-raised proteins that have a net-positive impact (meaning more good than harm) on their environment.
Q: Why do oysters from different farms taste different? A: Oysters are incredibly influenced by their environment—what they eat, how fast they grow, and where they live. This concept is called “merroir” (like terroir in wine), and it reflects how salinity, water temperature, depth, and food availability impact an oyster’s flavor profile. A briny tidewater oyster will taste wildly different from a buttery river-grown one just miles away.
Q: What does “salinity” mean and how does it affect oyster taste? A: Salinity refers to how salty the water is. Oysters grown in high-salinity waters (closer to the ocean) tend to taste brinier and more mineral, while oysters from low-salinity areas (near river mouths) may taste sweeter, creamier, or more vegetal.
Q: How does the grow-out method change the oyster’s shape and size? A: Farmers use different techniques like floating cages, bottom planting, or rack-and-bag systems—and each affects how the oyster grows. For example, floating cases allow oysters to be tumbled with the tide which can impact the cup depth and shape of the shell. Bottom grown oysters might pick up the more earthy flavors of the floor bottom. Additionally to grow out methods the genetics (triploid or diploid), food availability, and water temperature can affect the oyster’s taste.
Q: What’s the difference between a wild oyster and a farmed oyster? A: Farmed oysters are raised in controlled environments, allowing farmers to influence their quality, appearance, and taste. Wild oysters grow wherever they land and can vary greatly in shape and cleanliness. Many of the oysters that we have access to in retail or at restaurants are raised farmed, which is a good thing!
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