Atlanta artist Louise Plonowski won first place in the Artists Collective | Spartanburg seventh annual Juried Exhibition that showcases 81 works of 73 artists from a five-state region.
The mixed media artist received a $2,500 prize for her work titled “Nature 1.” It and the other selected works will be on display through Saturday, Oct. 2t, in the 2,000-square-foot Solomon Gallery at Artists Collective | Spartanburg facility at 578 W. Main St.
Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. The works may be viewed at https://exhibitions.artistscollectivespartanburg.org some are available for purchase online or at the gallery.
Other honors presented at the Saturday, Sept. 20, Juried Exhibition awards ceremony were:
- Second place ($1,000): Jordan Bennett, Bristol, Virginia, “Louis Gilbert Pugsley,” charcoal.
- Third place ($500): Theresa Clower, Black Mountain, North Carolina, “Whisper of Helene,” mixed media
- Julia Burnett Watercolor Award ($500): K. Dale Cochran, Easley, South Carolina, “Gathering Flock,” watercolor
Merit Awards ($250):
- Todd Baxter, Rock Hill, South Carolina, “Pipe Dreams,” drawing
- Randy Cooksey, Spartanburg, “Rijks,” photography
- Lori Hill, Boone, North Carolina, “Family Matters: Perception of Reality,” painting
- Michael England, Hartwell, Georgia, “Sentinel,” painting
- Lee Sipe, Columbia, South Carolina, “Vessel No. 399,” sculpture
- Lisa Smith, Marietta, Georgia, “Dental Chair at Eastern State,” photography
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. 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 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.
For more information about Rose and to view his work, please visit his official website, https://dwightrose.com.