Contact:
Dan Carpenter
(325) 673-4587
Marketing@thegracemuseum.org

National Watercolor Society exhibit makes stop at The Grace Museum

Abilene, TX (March 26, 2007) - Selected award winning watercolor paintings from the prestigious National Watercolor Society 2006 national competition will be on display at The Grace Museum beginning April 7.

Thousands of entries came from all 50 states and several foreign countries. Jurors elected by signature members of the society examined the submissions and chose the paintings that will be on display.

"Criteria for selection included the passionate presence of the artist in the interpretation of subject matter as well as technical skill with demanding watermedia," said Judy Deaton, Curator of Art & Exhibits for The Grace. "A distinctive and highly prized aspect of watercolor painting is the development of the artist's 'handwriting' or signature handling of the medium evident in the unique style of a master watercolor artist. Trends toward high-tech art making are noticeably absent. Watercolor artists still employ time honored methods. But that does not mean that innovation is not an important."

The works on display reflect the diverse aesthetic and technical skills of the premiere watercolor artists working today. Examples of the variety of expression include: the startling realism of Seeing Through by Gwen Talbot Hodges and Just Polished by Keiko Yasuoka, a sense of place in the rainy night scene News Stand by John Salminen, dappled sun light of Sun-Bathing by Jean Grastorf, a quiet contemplative moment of Heidi by Jan Ledbetter and the excited abstraction of Crossing Paths by Kathleen Conover.

The National Watercolor Society 86th Annual Juried Exhibition opens April 7 in The Grace's second floor galleries B and C, and will be on display through May 21.

The Grace Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday. Admission is free Thursday evening after 5 p.m.

For more information, call 325-673-4587.

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