ArtSpace to hold Spring Show

Apr. 30—LIMA — Juror Steve Smith, an internationally known artist and ceramicist, judged 105 works of art for ArtSpace/Lima's Spring Show, and now the public will be able to view these works and judge them for themselves.

Executive director Sally Windle said everyone who comes to the reception for the 72nd edition of the show at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4 will get to see the pieces, in varying styles done by well-known local artists, as they debut for a show open until June 22 at the Town Square gallery.

"We try to vary the art and for 72 years, we've tried to offer something different," Windle said. "We'll have a couple of things like food from Touch of Europe and music from a harpist and a group from Trinity Church, whose voices sound so good. We'll have a lot of local food and people for this opening."

The entertainment should complement the real reason for the event nicely.

"We had over 170 entries from artists from all over because it's an open show for everyone 18 or older who has not exhibited their pieces in ArtSpace before," Windle said. "You'll see some of the regular artists who enter their other work every year and there are quite a few new artists that are producing some work. We have a mix of names that are there, but also (Smith) was here and remarked about how great a collection of work it is, and that's what just about everyone has said when they've come in to drop their pieces off to see everyone else's work."

Windle said she enjoys seeing how the art gets better every year.

"The variety of artistic voices is always changing into something new for the people coming into experience," she said. "It's going to be a great show and we'll have it in four areas with four galleries so all three floors will have the artwork and we're just looking forward to people milling around and seeing the work, but also we're giving new artists a chance to get their work displayed in a professional setting."

Windle is looking forward to one thing in particular: the comments on the art.

"Because some that I heard from the juror I can share with the artists," she said. "It's such a nice networking time and I'm always looking forward to meeting the artists and their families and them coming to talk about not only their work but also everyone else's. It's always really positive because it's that livelihood of commonality where they know what other artist's are saying and they're very inquisitive to find out what they've done."

ArtSpace has only existed for 69 years, but the art association first started the show before ArtSpace had a physical location.

For Windle, the history and meaning is not lost.

"Often, you'll see the traditional work and you always have an appreciation for the skill that people put in," she said. "You see that and you also see what's new from young artists like the high school and college students who have submitted their work and what they're doing is always exciting. I always look forward to seeing the different ages and messages that come into this show."

The free reception is only one night, but ArtSpace will have more events while the show is open for anyone interested in learning more from the artists.

For more information, visit artspacelima.com.

Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.