A week late, but so what?

Last Friday was the opening reception at the Midwest Museum of American Art for the 44th Elkhart Juried Regional exhibit. This is the one that accepted my Sky Pads painting, number 34. Here’s the wall card with the entry stats:

Each artist was allowed two entries, which accounts for more works than artists accepted. I feel pretty good to have squeaked in as one of the 115 out of 200 accepted.

I didn’t win a prize, but then I didn’t expect to. This museum has a faithful group of supporters who have favorite artists whose works they often purchase. Some of the artists have received purchase awards several times over. The simple fact that I have not been able to connect with one of these generous benefactors pretty much explains why I didn’t get a purchase award. There were also judges’ awards, but since they were for categories it would indeed be difficult to be the one among the 115 who was able to secure an award in any particular category.

But never mind all that. I was totally pleased that my painting not only got in, but was also strategically placed in a great viewing spot. The museum exhibit occupies two floors, and my painting was right at the top of the stairs to the second floor. The lighting was perfect, and you couldn’t possibly miss it as you entered the second floor. Here’s a photo of a typical attendee getting a closer look (almost everybody leaned in for a closer look while I surreptitiously observed from the other side of the room).

And here’s a view looking the long way down the second floor gallery. Attendance was good–this is an insanely popular annual exhibit! This is a tiny portion of the total number at the reception. And as they say at Wrigley Field when the Cubs don’t make it to the World Series, “Just wait till next year”!