GWS Summer 2007 Newsletter
A Look Back at the GWS 2007 National Show
The Georgia Watercolor Society's 2007 National Exhibition hung from April 21 to May 25 at the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center in Carrollton, GA. The exhibition featured 75 paintings selected from almost 500 entries. The show represented artists from 20 states and demonstrated the diversity and power possible in watercolor painting. Congratulations to every artist who was accepted and to the prize-winners. The competition was intense.
Thanks to Kathy Rennell Forbes' hard work in soliciting sponsors. This exhibition set a record for awards, with over $11,000 in prizes presented to a total of 32 recipients.
- First Place went to Jane Carter for "Underground," which juxtaposed bright yellow bars of a London Underground interior with the grays and neutrals of the riders.
- Second Place went to Pat Cook for "Conversation LXIX"
- Third Place went to Wm. Kelly Bailey for "The Watchers"
Skip Lawrence was the juror and judge for the show. Skip graciously shared his thoughts on jurying the show:
"To be invited to jury an art show is an honor that I accept seriously and humbly. Judging the efforts of fellow artists is a subjective and certainly not a scientific task. Willie Nelson asked Norah Jones, "If all we knew of you was your art, would we know you?" This question epitomizes my belief. Art is not imitation or technical skill, but sharing personal beliefs and passions. Our goals should not be to make images that look like the art of others, but to make art that has never been seen before. It is with this belief that my choices are made. Though some have been singled out to receive special recognition, each artist who entered this show has my admiration and esteem. All painters who strive to make and share their art enrich the lives of those who view the artist's passions.
"Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your process to bring these images to view. The Georgia Watercolor Society should take pride in the quality and variety of paintings submitted."
The Carrollton Cultural Arts Center was a great venue for GWS. Penny Lewis, Micki McDonald and the rest of the staff of the Center worked hard to make everything run smoothly, and the exhibition space showed off the paintings beautifully. The opening reception, which coincided with a theater production at the Center, was well attended.
A huge thank you goes to all the volunteers, without whom the show would never have been possible. Although there are too many volunteers to name each one individually, several people deserve special recognition. Bruce Bobick did a tremendous job helping to organize the exhibition and finding lots of willing students from West Georgia College to help unpack the paintings. Wanda Cox from Carrollton helped get things organized. Jean Jones and her husband Bud pitched in on just about everything and helped us keep the stress level down.
The membership luncheon/annual meeting was well attended and a lot of fun. Skip Lawrence gave a great demo, and there were vendor demonstrations and giveaways. The opening reception and awards ceremony followed the luncheon/demonstration.
Please thank and support those sponsors who contributed so generously to the GWS National Show in Carrollton.
- Warehouse Framers
- Airfloat Systems, Inc.
- Da Vinci Paint Company, Inc.
- M. Graham & Company
- Strathmore Artist Papers
- Sam Flax Art & Design
- Binders Art Supplies and Frames
- Qoro, LLC
- ColArt Americans (Winsor & Newton Paints)
- Strothers Printing
- North Light Books
- HK Holbein, Inc.
- Color Q
- ArtPrint Editions
- Daler-Rowney
- Canson (Arches Paper)
- Cheap Joe's Art Stuff
- Gallery Street
- Jerry's Artarama
- Creative Catalyst
- Sales International (Dr. PH Martin's)
- Larry Walker (past judge and juror)
- Watercolor Society of Alabama
- Louisiana Watercolor Society