April 2011

Caldwell Arts Council in Lenoir, NC, Offers National Watercolor Society Exhibit

The Caldwell Arts Council in Lenoir, NC, is pleased to be one of only five host locations for the National Watercolor Society (NWS) 90th Annual Exhibition’s Traveling Show, which will be on view from Apr. 1 through May 25, 2011.

The National Watercolor Society brings the public the best of water media painting, representing a wide range of techniques, bringing some of the biggest and most talented artists together into one show. In conjunction with the NWS Show, two local members of NWS, Judy Rider and Kate Worm, will exhibit several of their works as well.

Although the National Watercolor Society is an exhibiting society, it is also an educating society. Its traveling exhibit visits only 5 venues each year. The paintings included are selected by the juror of awards from the previous annual exhibit. The 2010 juror of awards was Christopher Schink. He is quoted as saying: “I always feel honored to be asked to judge the work of my fellow-artists and I feel especially honored to be invited to be the judge of awards for this year’s National Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition.”

“I also feel a responsibility, not to choose the best paintings in the show (because art is subjective, that would be impossible), but to identify and award the paintings I find most exciting,” adds Schink. “I search for the paintings that I feel most reveal to me the artists’ imagination, passion, sincerity, and involvement. For me, technique is a secondary concern; the artist’s skill must only be sufficient to carry the intended ideas feelings of his painting. I’m more concerned with passion than with performance. What made my job difficult was that there were so many paintings that interested and excited me. I congratulate the award winners for their fine work.”

Out of the 100 paintings accepted into the annual exhibition, only 30 paintings are selected to travel. This is quite an honor and artists consider selection into the Traveling Exhibit to be akin to an award. Of course, many of the included paintings are actual award winners. The Traveling Exhibit represents the best of the best from the National Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition. Our hosting venues can be assured that we are offering to them some of the most impressive watercolors in the world. The National Watercolor Society Travel Exhibit visits collegiate and public galleries and museums throughout the United States and Canada.

Watercolor workshops and other special events will be held during the course of the exhibit. Contact the Council for further details.

The Caldwell Arts Council’s mission is to establish and maintain an awareness and appreciation of cultural arts in Caldwell County, to encourage participation in arts events, and to offer various educational opportunities and administrative services in support of artists, arts agencies, and audiences.

Caldwell Arts Council programs are supported by the NC Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources. The North Carolina Arts Council works to make North Carolina The Creative State where a robust arts industry produces a creative economy, vibrant communities, children prepared for the 21st century and lives filled with discovery and learning. The Arts Council accomplishes this in partnership with artists and arts organizations, other organizations that use the arts to make their communities stronger and North Carolinians - young and old - who enjoy and participate in the arts. The Arts Council is a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.

For further information check our NC Institutional Gallery listings, call the Council at 828/754-2486 or visit (www.caldwellarts.com).

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