If the 21st Annual Adult Regional Juried Exhibition portrays the kind of artistic energy flowing from the Texarkana region, then there’s a rich, definite multiplicity to the way regional artists approach their art.

Now open through August 22 at the Regional Arts Center, the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council juried exhibition was judged by artist Katherine Strause, who praised the work as high in quality.

Strause said the work collected represented a wide range of approaches—“some traditional and some more experimental.”

“In making my selections, I wanted the work to be both exquisite in technique and craftsmanship as well as expressive of an idea, complex or straightforward,” wrote Strause in her juror’s statement.

With his mixed media portrait “Child,” Michael Sherbert received a Best of Show award.

“He actually paints on hollow core doors,” said Bryan Phillips, TRAHC’s community programs coordinator, about the talented southwest Arkansas artist. Details like fullness of the lips and a little yellowing of the eyes in this piece show the considerable amount of effort devoted to the details, said Phillips.

There were 141 submissions, said Phillips, with 84 works making it to the exhibit.

First Place was awarded to Carol Flori’s watercolor “Afternoon in the Library.”

“I think the mood is the most powerful thing in that. It’s very tranquil, very serene,” said Phillips, adding that the soft colors lend itself well to the subject matter.

Also given honors were a Second Place for “Pathos” by Nina Cork, a Third Place for “Gray Street” by Nicole Brisco, and a Fourth Place for “Do You See What I See?” by Linda Larey.

This year’s FaEllen & Jim Yates Purchase Award went to Cedric Watson’s untitled portrait of a horse seen head on, a work that captures much of the animal’s detail in repose. Phillips pointed out some of its fine qualities.

“Just technically it’s absolutely incredibly well done,” said Phillips, noting the detail in the hair across areas like the chest and the way the graphite drawing captures the muscles and tendons at this moment in time.

“If you look around there’s a tremendous amount of variety, not only in media—pencil or photography or painting or something like that—but also genre of subject. There’s such a wide variety,” said Phillips, saying he sees a good representation of the community in this exhibit.

From a porcupine sculpture made with a gourd to woodworking to political mixed media, this show captures the many unique visions local artists share in their artistic pursuits.



(TRAHC’s 21st Annual Adult Regional Juried Exhibition is presented at the Regional Arts Center. Admission is free. The RAC is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a 7 p.m. close on Thursday. More info: www.trahc.org or call 903-792-8681.)