The visual arts committee of the South Arkansas Arts Center will host an artist’s reception for the Annual Juried Art Competition Exhibit, sponsored by Smackover State Bank, from 6-7:30 p.m. tonight.
The awards presentation is scheduled at 6:30 pm. tonight. The exhibit will hang in the Price and Merkle Galleries through Aug. 10 and is free and open to the public 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday- Fridays.
The Juried Art Competition is SAAC’s annual competition juried by nationally recognized art professionals and is open to all artists across the nation, ages 18 and up, who work in two-dimensional and three-dimensional fine arts media. One piece from the competition will be purchased for SAAC’s permanent art collection. The Annual Purchase Award is made possible through an endowment from the family of Wilma Riley in memory of her commitment to the arts, her community and SAAC.
While attending the exhibit, attendees can vote for The People’s Choice Award, the only award in the competition selected by the viewing public. Over $2,000 in prize money will be presented by juror Kevin Haynie during the reception for best of show, first through third place, honorable mention and the purchase award.
Haynie, preparator at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, selected 44 artists from around the country to have their artwork included in the exhibit. Many artists are from as far away as Connecticut, Wisconsin and Arizona, as well as eight artists from Arkansas and two from El Dorado. The local artists included in this exhibit are Spencer Purinton and Marla Tomlinson.
Born in El Dorado, Haynie studied art at both Henderson State University and the University of Arkansas and has a bachelor’s degree in studio art. His art background includes working extensively with traditional media and non-traditional formats including digital, auditory, animation and interactive works. Haynie leads gallery installations, cares for and maintains the permanent collection, and works to broaden the engagement of art within the community. He has used his knowledge and experience in art installation to enhance his own work and that of others in the art community.
For more information about the Juried Art Competition reception, call the SAAC office at 870-862-5474, visit saac-arts.org or visit the SAAC office at 110 E. 5th St., El Dorado.