More than 80 pieces of art by nearly 75 artists from five states will be featured in the seventh annual Artists Collective | Spartanburg Juried Exhibition presented Sept. 9 through Oct. 25 in the Solomon Gallery.
An artists’ reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, as part of Spartanburg ArtWalk. The reception and exhibition viewing are free and open to the public. Many of the works will be offered for purchase.
An awards reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20. Award winners will be announced at 7 p.m. – first place, $2,500; second place, $1,000; third place, $500; merit awards totaling more than $1,000; a special watercolor award, $500; and several other specialty awards. The event is free and open to the public.
Beth Regula, chair of the Artists Collective | Spartanburg managing board, says 266 artists from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia submitted 700 artworks for judging for the juried show. Of those, 81 pieces representing 73 artists were selected for the exhibit. All five states were represented in the entries and in those selected for the exhibit.
“This is our biggest year yet in terms of both registrations and the number of works entered, by more than 100 entries,” Regula adds. “The show includes an amazing array of various media and artists. We are so thrilled to have so many artists submit their extraordinary works for the Juried Exhibition to be considered by this year’s judge, watercolorist Dwight Rose.
“We are privileged to have Dwight Rose bring his wealth of experience and discerning eye to our 2025 Annual Juried Exhibition,” she says. “His commitment to the arts and unique artistic vision promise to make this year’s exhibition truly exceptional.”
“The high caliber and competitive spirit present in all the works for this exhibition were of the highest standards in my estimation,” Rose says, congratulating all artists who submitted works. “Each submission was impressive and worthy of recognition.”
Rose says he finds the process of judging an art show to be “both challenging and nuanced. I noted the wide range of styles and techniques represented and focused on organizing an exhibition that achieved optimal visual balance.” He adds that he used these guidelines: honor the range of styles, not just a single approach; recognize both conceptual strength and technical ability; and choose works that function as integrated units beyond their specific content.
“What consistently stands out to me are works that transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. I looked for artworks that employ a range of techniques to achieve this effect including dynamic mark making, advanced formatting and the thoughtful integration of negative and positive spaces, especially across three-dimensional compositions.”
Rose is a professional artist, specializing in painting and teaching watercolor. After graduating with a BFA in painting from the Ringling College of Art and Design, he began his career in Sarasota, Florida. Exhibiting in local galleries, his paintings were recognizable with images of tropical landscapes and historic homes. Teaching for Ringling College, he later expanded his courses to community and museum programs.
From 2001 to 2007, Rose lived in Doha, Qatar, and traveled internationally. He captured images of the Middle East, China, Thailand, India and many other countries. Exhibiting in Qatar, Turkey and in the United States, his work was enjoyed and collected by an international audience.
After moving to Spartanburg in 2008, Rose has had numerous solo exhibitions in the region. An award-winning artist, his work has been in the SC Watermedia Society Traveling Exhibition. His work also has been featured at Converse University, Blowing Rock History and Art Museum, the Peacock Gallery at the Middle Georgia State University, the University of South Carolina Aiken Etherredge Center and The ArtStation Stone Mountain, Georgia.
Rose, who lives and has a studio in Bradenton, Florida, has taught for Greenville Center for the Creative Arts, Spartanburg Art Museum, and has offered many regional workshops. His work is in the collection of the City of Greer, Spartanburg County Public Libraries, the Hobcaw Barony, and many private collectors.
His career includes memberships in the Salmagundi Club, the National Watercolor Society, the Florida Watercolor Society, and a signature member in excellence both with the SC Watercolor Society and the Florida Watercolor Society. He served as a board member for the Spartanburg Artist Guild and the Artists Collective | Spartanburg.
For more information about Rose and to view his work, please visit his official website, https://dwightrose.com.