In selecting works for Pittsburgh Watercolor Society’s “75th + 1” exhibition, juror Barbara Jones said she “tried to pick a broad range of techniques. What I’m always attracted to with watercolor is the technique and the layering and how the artist uses that to sort of finesse it and create these subtle effects.
“I think there’s a lot of that in so many of these works,” she said.
But personal preference also played into her choices for the anniversary exhibition that will run Friday through Sept. 26 at both The Westmoreland Museum of American Art and Greensburg Art Center.
“People are going to laugh, but I just couldn’t resist a good red cat, so there are two red cats,” said Jones, who is chief curator at The Westmoreland.
Those paintings reminded Jones of her first pet cat, a red tabby who came with her from New York when she took the job at the museum and lived 13 of his 18 years in Greensburg.
The felines are among 51 works in the show, 21 of which will hang at The Westmoreland, with the other 30 at the art center.
The “+ 1” in the show’s name refers to the pandemic-caused delay in celebrating the society’s 75th anniversary, said PWS president Suzie Sparks, who co-chaired the show with PWS member Lisa Rasmussen. The landmark date actually occurred in 2020.
Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review
Co-chairs Lisa Rasmussen (left) and Suzie Sparks prepare to hang works at Greensburg Art Center for Pittsburgh Watercolor Society’s "75th + 1" exhibition.
“The artwork is really top-notch,” she said. “We have some of the biggest names in watercolor, not just in the region, but around the world.”
Works submitted for the exhibition had to have been completed within the past two years.
The exhibition will open with free receptions at each host location. Times will be 6-7:30 p.m. at the museum, with awards announced at 7 p.m., and 7-8:30 p.m. at the art center, with awards announced at 8 p.m.
Festivities will then continue at the center with an after-party until 10 p.m. Both locations will offer alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages and pre-packaged snacks, with the art center also hosting live music and an ice cream truck.
Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review
Works waiting to be hung on July 20 at Greensburg Art Center for Pittsburgh Watercolor Society’s "75th + 1" exhibition.
Juried membership
Membership in the society is open to artists living within a 150-mile radius of Pittsburgh. Artists must be juried in. They can retain their memberships even if they move away from the area, “as long as they pay their dues,” Sparks said.
With 20 original members, PWS was one of the first groups to be affiliated with the former Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. It now is headquartered in the Wilkins School Community Center in Regent Square. The group typically presents two major annual juried exhibitions, “Waterworks,” a members-only show, and “Aqueous Open,” open to artists from around the world.
Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review
“Sitting Buddha” by Paula Siebieda of Bellaire, Ohio, waits to be hung in Pittsburgh Watercolor Society’s “75th + 1” exhibition at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art.
The society currently has more than 300 members, with ages ranging from 21 to 94. It operates solely with volunteers.
“What’s cool about the show is that it’s not about the age of the artist, it’s about the medium and how they use it,” Sparks said.
Jones chose works for The Westmoreland, while co-juror and artist Sue Pollins picked those going to the art center. The show marks a first-time collaboration between the two host sites.
“We went through all of them first and made our little check marks. When we picked, I went first, then Sue, then me, then Sue, back and forth,” Jones said. “So periodically, I would pick what she wanted and she would pick what I wanted. Luckily, a lot of these artists submitted two pieces, and she wanted one and I wanted the other, so it was a good pairing of jurors.”
“My personal approach to the selection process is to assess the artist’s perception of an idea, his/her conception on how to present that idea, utilizing tradition and/or creative techniques to that end, then sharing the product with viewers such as you and I,” Pollins said in her juror statement. “Design, design, design reigns.”
“I’m happy with the selections; I think the show really looks good,” Jones added.
All featured works are for sale, with prices starting at $200 and ranging up to about $1,000, Jones noted.
Greensburg Art Center will host the following programs associated with the exhibition:
• Watercolor workshop with featured artist Ron Thurston, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 28-30. Call the center at 724-837-6791 for price and registration information.
• Cafe Art reception, 2-5 p.m. Aug. 15. An artist demonstration is planned for 3 p.m.
Details: thewestmoreland.org or greensburgartcenter.org
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley at 724-836-5750, smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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