The 23rd biennial West Virginia Juried Art Exhibition opened at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex in Charleston, along with an awards ceremony, on Sunday, November 5, at 2 p.m.
Sixty-six West Virginia artists were selected for the exhibit including two from Braxton County. The exhibition features 89 pieces, including painting, drawing, mixed media, craft, photography, digital art, sculpture and print. Thirty counties are represented in the show.
Steve Balcourt an Exchange photographer and artist will have some of his amazing black and white photography on display. Attendees will also be treated to paintings by Patrick Facemire, a Gassaway resident.
“The West Virginia Juried Exhibition continues its tradition of presenting the best of our state’s well-known and emerging artists,” said West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History Curator Randall Reid-Smith. “This exhibition is supported by one of the nation’s largest endowments for juried exhibitions, allowing the department to collect contemporary art for the State Museum collection.”
At the opening reception, the department announced the exhibition award winners. Governor’s Award winners who will receive $5,000 for their work. Award of Excellence winners will receive $2,000 for their works. These are purchase awards, and the art will become part of the West Virginia State Museum’s permanent contemporary art collection and display. Merit Awards of $500 each were also presented during the afternoon ceremony. (Editor’s Note: No additional announcement, pertaining to the winners of the various awards, has been received by press-time.)
The exhibit will remain at the Culture Center through February 10, 2024.
Devoted to Braxton County, West Virginia