2024 Small Works on Paper moves to Van Buren
The Arkansas Arts Council's annual touring visual arts exhibition, Small Works on Paper, will open on May 8 at Arts on Main at 415 Main Street in Van Buren.
The artwork will be on view Wednesday, May 8 through Monday, June 24. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Saturday (Closed Tuesdays and Sundays.) A reception will be held on Friday, May 17 from 6 to 8 pm. The event is free and open to the public.
Now in its 37th year, the exhibition spotlights Arkansas artists who are members of the Arkansas Artist Registry, an online gallery maintained by the Arkansas Arts Council. The 2024 tour features 39 artists from across Arkansas and will make stops at nine venues statewide. Most works will be available for sale with all proceeds benefiting the artists.
Each year, artists from around the state submit artwork that is no larger than 18- by-24 inches. An out-of-state juror selects the work to be included in the traveling visual arts exhibition.
This year's Small Works on Paper entries were juried by Laura Blereau, curator at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Blereau reviewed more than 200 entries to select the 40 pieces that are part of the Small Works on Paper exhibition.
In addition, six artists' work were selected as purchase awards and will become part of the Small Works on Paper permanent collection. The artists receive cash awards that are equivalent to the value of their artwork. Artwork by the following artists were selected: Ryan Howard of Little Rock; Milan Jilka of Springdale; Alexia Lams of Pine Bluff; Madeline McMahan of Paragould; Vianny Nolasco of Rogers; and Sondra Strong of Bryant.
These selected Northwest Arkansas artists have artwork included in the exhibition: Milan Jilka of Springdale, Kellie Lehr of Bentonville, Vianny Nolasco of Rogers, and Trevor Segraves of Siloam Springs.
Participating artists in the 2024 exhibition are Ebony Blevins, Little Rock; Judith Beale, Jacksonville; Maria Botti Villegas, El Dorado; Jane Bonady Brackin, West Memphis; Jojo Buchmann, Little Rock; Catherine Burton, Little Rock; Aaron Calvert,
Russellville; Tami Chandler, Jonesboro; Brian Cormack, Little Rock; Laura Dowling, Little Rock; Terra Fondriest, St. Joe; Vince Griffin, North Little Rock; Jeri Hillis, Hot Springs National Park; Matthew Howard, Pine Bluff; Ryan Howard, Little Rock; Crystal Jennings, Rison; Milan Jilka, Springdale; Kimiara Johnson, Pine Bluff; Adrianna Kimble-Ray, Jacksonville; Lisa Krannichfeld, Little Rock; Alexia Lams, Pine Bluff; Kellie Lehr, Bentonville; Madeline McMahan, Paragould; Vianny Nolasco, Rogers; Y. Hope Osborn, Little Rock; Joy Noir Phillips, Hindsville; Laura Raborn, Little Rock; David Rackley, Russellville; Kasten Searles, Little Rock; Trevor Segraves, Siloam Springs; Dominique Simmons, Little Rock; Derek Slagle, Little Rock; Sondra Strong, Bryant; Cathy Wester, Conway; Evernus Williams, Searcy; Mark Wittig, Sherwood; Emily Wood, Little Rock; Terry Wright, Little Rock and Anna Zusman, Magnolia.
For more information about Small Works on Paper, contact Cheri Leffew, special projects/events manager, at 501-324-9767 or at cheri.leffew@arkansas.gov.
The Arkansas Arts Council provides technical and financial assistance to Arkansas arts organizations and other providers of cultural and educational programs.