By Holly Kline
The Indiana Artists Club’s (IAC) prestigious Annual Juried Exhibition takes place each spring at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and this year’s event will feature a painting by Fishers artist Jean Smith. 2014 marks the 82nd Annual Exhibit and Smith’s painting “The Priest” is eligible for several financial awards, including “Best of Show.”
Smith is one of 43 artists chosen to participate in the exhibit, which will be on display from April 6 to June 8 in the IMA’s Community Gallery. The IAC Annual Exhibit is free and open to the public; awards will be presented to the artists at a public, free reception on Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m.
Smith has been an artist for 60 years and is well known in artistic communities. “She shows in a lot of major exhibitions around the state,” said Pam Newell, Artist, Instructor and President of the Indiana Artists Club. “Her watercolors are just amazing.”
Smith’s road to the IAC Annual Exhibit at the IMA was not easy. “To become a member of IAC is pretty difficult,” Newell stated. “You have to be an established artist and have been accepted in to three outside juried shows. It can take people years to accomplish this and then the artist must bring their work to IAC along with supporting info that shows they were in the outside exhibitions.”
Smith is in the IAC and the next step was to be chosen for the Annual Exhibit. This year’s Annual Exhibit juror is Dr. Charles Venable, the Melvin and Bren Simon Director and CEO of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. “Dr. Venable selected the first batch of artists,” explained Newell. “141 works were submitted by 79 active IAC artists. Of that he selected 43 works and then out of the 43 he chose the ones that will win awards.”
“To have Jean’s work included in the Annual Exhibit is wonderful,” shared Newell.
“I’m always amazed that I get in,” added Smith. “It is a great opportunity to have work shown to the public.”
The IAC is one of the oldest juried organizations in the state and one of the only arts organizations that are financially solvent. “We’ve exhibited at Town Hall in Fishers to educate the community on what professional artwork looks like,” Newell said. “We’re trying to get the public connected to the artist and having the arts adds richness and culture to everyday life.”
