'Watermedia 2017'

The Bigfork Art and Cultural Center presents “Watermedia 2017,” the Montana Watercolor Society’s 35th annual national juried exhibition.

“Watermedia 2017” will be on display from Sept. 29 through Oct. 20, with an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29.

One of Bigfork Art and Cultural Center’s most popular recurring exhibitions includes some of the best watermedia artists from across the nation, including 29 Montana artists. By definition, watermedia is the general term for media that are distinguished from oil or other media by being diluted with water. Watermedia includes watercolor, gouache, acrylic and other water-based techniques. It is sometimes combined with other mediums, most commonly collage.

Each year the exhibit is juried by an accomplished artist renowned for their work. More than a dozen merit awards and cash prizes are presented to artists for excellence, creativity, achievement and more. Awards will be announced on opening day. This year’s exhibition was juried by Robbie Laird, an innovative painter and teacher, who lives and works in Lake Almanor, California. Laird selected 48 artists for this year’s exhibition:

From Montana: Sally Angove, Helena; Susan Arneson, Polson; Roberta Burruss, Corvallis; Jack Dykstra, Whitefish; Gretchen Finch, Whitefish; Jessica Glenn, Dillon; Marjorie Harper, Missoula; Mary Keefer, Bozeman; Robert Kercher, Great Falls; Catherine Kimball, Havre; Loren Kovich, Helena; Karen Leigh, Kalispell; Janet McGahan, Arlee; Carol McSweeney, Kalispell; Tom Mostad, Helena; Linda Olsen, Kalispell; Terrisa Olson, Missoula; Tonja Opperman, Gardiner; Ilene Paulsen, Plains; Kate Runnals, East Helena; Tom Schenarts, Missoula; Kim Shirley, Whitefish; Sheri Trepina, Kalispell; Paul Tunkis, Livingston; Andy White, Clancy; Wyna Woodford, Mosby; John Zelazny, Missoula; Margaret Zieg Eller, Sun River; and Gordon Zuelke, Helena.

Other artists include Walt Costilow, Vestavia, Alaska; Fiona Lovelock, Tucson, Arizona; Tonya Burdine, Long Beach, California; Carol Hubbard, Monroe, Connecticut; Marilyn Holte, Bayview, Idaho; Chris Twardowski, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Ken Call, Northbrook, Illinois; Wayne Sisel, Saint Paul, Minnesota; Ann Sisel, Saint Paul, Minnesota; Ann Pember, Keeseville, New York; Tara Choate, Salem, Oregon; Kathie McEvers, West Linn, Oregon; Charlotee Peterson, Central Pointy, Oregon; Elise Beattie, Chattaroy Washington; Kathy Collins, Lake Forest Park, Washington; Doug Plut, Kirkland, Washington; Bobbie Wieber; Spokane Valley, Washington; Christine Alfery, Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin; Jim Howard, Powell, Wyoming.

Laird is a full-time resident of Lake Almanor, California and part-time resident of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Laird is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, where in 2008 her painting was selected for the Loa Sprung Award (top award for Non-Objective Painting). She is a signature member of Watercolor West, National Association of Painters of Acrylic, San Diego Watercolor Society, and is a full-juried member of the Society of Layerists in Multi-Media. For more information, visit http://www.robbielairdartstudio.com.

The Montana Watercolor Society was founded in 1983 to encourage the advancement and creation of watercolor painting in Montana and the nation. Membership is open to adult U.S. residents. Today, MTWS has 200 active members. For more information about MTWS, visit http://www.montanawatercolorsociety.org.

The Bigfork Art and Cultural Center is located at 525 Electric Ave. in Bigfork. For more information or to register, call 406-837-6927 or visit http://bigforkculture.org/.