The Adult Fine Art Exhibit is back this year for the upcoming weeks, continuing a decades-long tradition in showcasing artwork from the community’s best amateur and professional artists in a space that’s all about expression and appreciation.
Opening at 11 a.m. Friday, the exhibit, sponsored by the Jefferson City Art Club, Capital Arts, and the Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, has been for many years a way to bring local art and artists together, said Fred Schollmeyer, chairman of the Adult Fine Art Exhibit committee.
“It allows artists to have a place to display their work. Not only are there professional artists, but there’s also amateur artists, maybe artists that only do two or three paintings a year who will put their work in,” Schollmeyer said. And, “there’s all kinds of different mediums involved.”
The exhibit will feature works by Mid-Missouri amateur and professional artists above high school age. Categories include painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and digital art, among others. All art is original, and there are a total of 95 pieces shown this year, a turnout Schollmeyer said is “pretty good,” considering the pandemic.
The committee only recently expanded the show to include photography, he said. There are now three different categories of digital art — film photography/darkroom, photo-based digital art and digital art not based on a photo.
The entries are judged by veteran artist and Lincoln University professor Essex Garner, who has a plethora of art and decades of art education to his name. Each category is judged separately, and a “Best of Show” goes to one amateur and one professional piece. There is also a “People’s Choice Award,” which visitors can vote for at the exhibit.
In honor of late member, past-president and well-known watercolorist Florence Guhleman, a special award will also be given to a watercolor piece. Winners will be announced on the Capital Arts and Jefferson City Art Club websites or Facebook pages and to the public.
A selection of the work will also be available for purchase.
While the exhibit is a space to display local art, Schollmeyer said the important of the event goes a step further.
Since the art is judged and displayed to the public, “it makes the artist feel that their art has a value to it,” he said.
The Adult Fine Art Exhibit is scheduled for April 2-June 5 in the Capital Arts Gallery, 1203 Missouri Blvd. The exhibit is open 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call 573-635-8355 or visit www.capitalarts.org.