International Watermedia XVII

June 24 - July 19, 2011,
Cottonwood Center for the Arts, Colorado Springs, Colorado

The purpose of International Watermedia XVII is to present a rich spectrum of original work by visionary watermedia artists. This exhibit seeks to bring recognition to these watermedia artists and their art.

The beauty of the Pikes Peak region inspired Katharine Lee Bates to pen “America the Beautiful.” We invite you to share your creative inspiration through International Watermedia XVII, along with artists from across North America and the world.

Juror of Selection and Awards: John Salminen, AWS-DF, NWS

John Salminen was born in Minneapolis in 1945. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree from the University of Minnesota in Duluth and lives and works in Duluth with his wife, Kathy.

John is a signature member of many watercolor and art societies, including the American Watercolor Society, Allied Artists, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America and the National Watercolor Society. He has been honored with ‘master’ status in several of these societies and is a Dolphin Fellow of the AWS. He has been appointed an honorary member of the Jiangsu Watercolor Research Institute in China.

John has won more than 185 major awards in national and international exhibitions including the American Watercolor Society Gold Medal in both 2006 and 2010, the Allied Artist Silver Medal With Honor, the Shanghai Zhoujiajiao International Biennial Award and the National Watercolor Society Silver Star First Place Award. His work has been exhibited in the National Academy in New York. He is a frequent Juror and Judge of national and international exhibitions, including the American Watercolor Society and the National Watercolor Society.

John’s work has been featured in many national and international magazines and in several books. He is included in Who’s Who In American Art.

PPWS Founders Award Honoree: Mary Ann Bransby

The Founders Award honors one of the ten Pikes Peak Watercolor Society Charter Members. This year’s honoree is Mary Ann Bransby.

Mary Ann Bransby is a designer, silversmith, watercolorist, teacher and lecturer. Her career spans several disciplines and reflects her educational background and breadth of artistic experience. She has studied at the Kansas City Art Institute, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Oxford University, and the University of Kansas, where she received her MFA.

In addition to College teaching, most recently at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, she has taught at Brigham Young University and Donnelly College. Several research grants have provided for extensive Near East and European travel and study. Mrs. Bransby produced and directed the multi-disciplinary Choreographing the Object, combining large body sculpture, modern dance, and music. This unique live art performance and exhibition not only was broadcast four times on public television, but also toured museums for five years and opened a major national exhibit in New York City.

Her work has appeared in 26 solo or major group exhibitions. Recent watercolor awards include the Juror’s Award at the Colorado Springs Art Guild Show, Foothills Fine Arts Center Annual All Media Show Award and Colorado Artist’s Association Annual Show, first and third place.

Mrs. Bransby is founder and was president of the Pikes Peak Watercolor Society.

2011 Calendar
April 1 - Receipt (Not Postmark) of entries
April 11—15 - Viewing of images
April 25 - Notification begins
June 13—17 - Shipped Work Due
    International Watermedia XVII
    Cottonwood Center for the Arts
    427 E. Colorado Avenue
    Colorado Springs, CO 80903
    Phone: (719) 520-1899
June 17 (9am-4pm) - Hand Delivered Work Due
    Cottonwood Center for the Arts
June 24—Exhibition Opens
July 6-8, July 11-13—John Salminen Workshops
July 8— Awards Reception (6pm-8pm)
    Cottonwood Center for the Arts
July 19— Exhibition Closes
July 20— Pick Up Hand Delivered Work (9am-4pm)
July 20-22— Return of Shipped Work

Notification Procedures

The entry period for International Watermedia XVII closed on April 1, 2011. Your response this year was outstanding. 185 artists entered a total of 494 paintings. Mr. Salminen is viewing the entry images at this time. We expect to send out notifications of selection before the end of April.

If you mailed in your entry form and included a self-addressed, stamped envelope, watch your mail box for the notification, as we will send you your notification via postal mail. If you entered online or did not include a self-addressed, stamped envelope, watch your email inbox, as you will receive your notification via email (note: if you have anti-spam settings, our notification may arrive in your junk mail folder!).

Either way, expect to receive your notification around the end of April.

We have 494 paintings competing for 80-90 spaces in the exhibition. We have been taken aback by the quality of the artwork submitted for this year's exhibition. If you have a painting among the fortunate 16-18% that Mr. Salminen selects for the exhibition, we will send you further information on transporting your work for the exhibition.

John Salminen 3-Day Workshop:
Realism, Cityscapes

Because of anticipated demand, we will offer Mr. Salminen’s workshop twice, July 6-8 and July 11-13 , 9am-4pm. Cost will be $325 ($300 for PPWS members).

Workshop space is limited, only 20 spaces per workshop. Payment of a nonrefundable deposit of $50, with the balance due by June 1, will reserve a space in one of the workshops.

The Workshop Registration Form is available in both Word and pdf formats. To register by mail, download one of the forms and save it to your computer. Complete and print it, and mail it to:

     Kathleen Murray
     John Salminen Workshop
     4635 Spring Canyon Heights, Apt. 201
     Colorado Springs, CO 80907

To register electronically, download the form in Word and save it to your computer; then re-open and complete the form and re-save it to your computer. Or, download the form in pdf and print it; complete the form and scan the completed form. Email the completed form as an attachment to Watermedia17@pikespeakwatercolorsociety.org. Put Workshop Registration in the subject title.

For more information about the workshops and to obtain a registration form by mail or email, contact:
Reveille Kennedy, 719-538-1031 , kennedyj@rmi.net
Joan Judge, 719-576-4595, bjjudge@comcast.net
Kathleen Murray, 719-434-1933, forestkat@comcast.net

John Salminen's website is http://www.johnsalminen.com/index.jsp

UPDATE ON WORKSHOP REGISTRATIONS:

Spaces in both offerings of the workshop have filled up extremely quickly. So fast that, at the present time, we are accepting registration forms to put people on the waiting list, but we are not requiring deposits at the moment. You may get on the waiting list by emailing or mailing in your completed registration forms to the email address/mailing addresses shown above; names will be added to the waiting list in the order that their registration forms are received. Again, you do not need to send in a deposit at this time. If and when a space opens up, we will notify you and you will need to pay the deposit or workshop fee at that time to confirm the space. If you wish to include a personal check for the deposit with the registration, we will hold the check and not cash it until we contact you and confirm your place in one of your preferred offerings. Your deposit will then be nonrefundable. If you are not placed, we will return your check.