They say the Delta stretches from the Louisiana bayou up the banks of the Mississippi right to the blues in each of us and back out, and for the purposes of the Arkansas Arts Center's 57th annual exhibition, let's throw in the easternmost flatlands of Oklahoma around Tulsa. That's where two-time Grand Award winner Mark Lewis lives.
At this year's members reception kicking off the exhibition juried by Goshen watercolorist George Dombek, Lewis was followed by Delta Award winners Lisa Krannichfeld of Little Rock and Russellville artist (and Arkansas Tech University professor) Neal Harrington. Lewis and Harrington's pieces also won the Contemporaries Delta Award (Lewis) and honorable mention (Harrington).
Harrington submitted work for seven years in the 2000s before he was picked for the 2008 exhibition. Then, in 2013, Harrington also placed "runner-up" to Lewis. "So I guess we're a team somehow."
"Like Robin to his Batman!" came the response.
"Yeah, I don't know," Harrington said. "That gets weird."
Six artists -- five from Arkansas -- received honorable mentions:
• Michael Preble of Hot Springs
• Robyn Horn of Little Rock
• Aaron Calvert of Arkadelphia
• John Salvest of Jonesboro
• Laura Terry of West Fork
• David Underwood of Jefferson City, Tenn.
In all, 72 works from 68 artists were picked for exhibit, 48 of those from Arkansas. Almost 400 artists submitted. About 900 came to the opening reception.
The exhibition was sponsored by Lisenne Rockefeller, the retailer Bourbon & Boots, the Brown Foundation Inc. of Houston, Dianne and Bobby Tucker, Janet and Sam Alley and the Capital Hotel.
The show continues through Sept. 20. For more information, visit ArkansasArtsCenter.org or call (501) 372-4000.
High Profile on 07/19/2015