Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University is pleased to host the Watercolor Society of Alabama’s 77th Annual National Exhibition. The Watercolor Society of Alabama (WSA), organized in 1939, is one of the oldest major watercolor organization in America. The WSA is a continuing and vibrant influence in advancing the art of watercolor painting and has long contributed to the enrichment of the cultural environment of the citizens of Alabama. The society sponsors two annual exhibitions: a national juried exhibition and a statewide juried showcase.
The venue for the Annual National Exhibition varies each year, offering residents across different parts of the state the opportunity to view collections of fine art watercolor paintings in their communities. Recent WSA Annual National Exhibitions were held at Jemison-Carnegie Heritage Hall Museum, Talladega; Johnson Center for the Arts, Troy; Tennessee Valley Art Association, Tuscumbia; Hartselle Fine Arts Center, Hartselle; Carnegie Visual Arts Center, Decatur; Fairhope Arts Center, Fairhope; Alabama Center for the Arts, Decatur. Artists from every state in the nation are eligible to submit entries to the national exhibition. Recent WSA Members Showcases were on display at the Birmingham Public Library, Birmingham; The Alabama State Council on the Arts, Montgomery; and Burleson Center (Hartselle Fine Arts Center), Hartselle. WSA Members Showcase exhibitions are limited to residents of Alabama.
Nationally known artists serve as jurors for these exhibitions. Selection Jurors choose the paintings for inclusion in the exhibitions; afterwards, on the exhibition site, Awards Jurors identify especially distinctive paintings as award winners. The society has been most fortunate to have continuing support from members, businesses, art galleries, and art organizations to enable WSA to offer more than $9,000 in awards each year for the national exhibition. This attracts the best artists nationwide, and the exhibitions represent the best in the field of watercolor painting.
In addition to the educational benefits of the National Exhibitions and State Showcases, WSA provides for its members water-media workshops taught by prominent artists. These classes provide opportunities for members to increase their artistic skills and knowledge, while forging new friendships with fellow artists.
Many of the pieces included in the Watercolor Society of Alabama 77th Annual National Exhibition are currently for sale and will be available for purchase after July 29. Staff of the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine art do not handle transactions or appraisals. However, pricing sheets are available in the Museum Shop. For more information on purchasing, contact Jaceena Shepard with the Watercolor Society of Alabama at jaeshep@aol.com.
Explore other information regarding WSA exhibitions and view the galleries on the website, www.watercolorsocietyofal.org.
