The Dale County Council of Arts and Humanities will host the opening reception for its 26th Annual Regional Art Exhibition from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at the Dowling Museum/Ann Rudd Art Center in downtown Ozark.
This year’s exhibition is the largest in the event’s history, according to Frank Thompson, president of the Dale County Council of Arts and Humanities. The exhibition features 71 artists and 175 works of art.
The Regional Art Exhibition will remain on display through Sept. 25 at the Dowling Museum/Ann Rudd Art Center, located at 144 East Broad St. in Ozark.
The opening reception will also serve as the presentation ceremony for the exhibition’s cash awards. The event’s promotional materials announce $1,600 in cash awards, with additional awards being added this year.
One of those additional awards will honor the late Ruth Rosentrater, a longtime participant in the Dale County Council of Arts and Humanities. Rosentrater was an accomplished artist and served on the organization’s board.
Members of Rosentrater’s graduating class are honoring her memory with a cash award that will be presented during Sunday’s reception.
“Ruth was a great artist and a member of the Dale County Arts and Humanities Board,” Thompson said. “She was also a dear friend to many of us.”
Thompson said the organization appreciates Rosentrater’s graduating class for choosing to honor her through the award.
Reception attendees will also have an opportunity to select their favorite works in the exhibition.
When visitors sign in at the front desk, they will receive one sticker that can be used as a vote for a favorite piece of artwork. Additional votes will be available for $1 each. The three works receiving the most votes will receive cash awards.
Organizers are encouraging visitors to vote only once for an individual piece of artwork rather than attempting to concentrate multiple votes on a single entry.
The exhibition is open to the public and provides an opportunity to view artwork from artists throughout the region.
According to the event information, artwork was accepted Aug. 14 and 15, while the exhibition opens Aug. 22 and runs through Sept. 25. Artwork pickup is scheduled for Sept. 25 and 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Dowling Museum/Ann Rudd Art Center is located at 144 East Broad St. in Ozark. For more information about the art center and the Regional Art Exhibition, please visit www.ruddartcenter.org.
The exhibition is supported in part by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, with program support from the Alabama Humanities Alliance and Wiregrass RC&D Council.
