Premiere watercolors on view in Tullahoma
Forty paintings from one of the premiere watercolor exhibits in the world will be in Tullahoma, Tenn., for the next five weeks.
The 149th annual International Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society drew submissions from more than 1,200 artists from 24 countries. Of these submissions (one per artist), 147 paintings were selected for exhibition in New York City by a panel of jurors, all signature members of the AWS. Of the original 147 paintings, 40 were chosen for the traveling exhibition by the Jury of Awards.
While inclusion in the exhibition is itself an honor, participants also competed for gold, silver and bronze Medals of Honor and 32 other awards and medals. Prize money totaled nearly $50,000.
The American Watercolor Society is one of the oldest and most prestigious art societies in the world, and election to the society as a signature member is one of the most sought-after honors in the painting world, according to a news release. Many of the greatest names in painting have been members of the society, including realist artist Andrew Wyeth, American Impressionist Childe Hassam, regionalists Edward Hopper and Charles Burchfield and virtually every member of the “California School” of watercolorists.
The stop at the Tullahoma Art Center, scheduled Friday, March 10, through Monday, April 17, concludes the touring portion of the exhibition, which has been circulating since June at venues in Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, North Carolina and Florida. This year’s 150th traveling exhibition begins in May, with closest stops in Greensboro and Mooresville, N.C.
Regular hours at the Tullahoma Art Center are 1-5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays and by appointment (all times Central). Hours will vary during the run of the exhibition due to special programming, including opening and closing receptions and a Creative Art for Kids session.