Art by Bryan Garris.

VALDOSTA — The Valdosta National art exhibit has become one of the best annual art shows in Valdosta.

While the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts’ Spring Into Art is the premier exhibit to showcase local and regional artists, Valdosta State University Art’s Valdosta National has become the region’s premier showcase of art from across the nation.

Granted, anyone nationwide can enter the open Spring Into Art, and anyone local can enter the juried Valdosta National, and occasionally these lines do cross, the Valdosta National allows area art patrons the opportunity to see distant artists’ styles and themes.

The show opening Tuesday will be VSU’s 29th annual juried art show open to artists nationwide.

Julie Bowland, VSU Fine Arts Gallery director, said 437 works were submitted this year by more than 150 artists stretching from across the U.S.

From the hundreds of entries, 43 artworks representing 41 artists from 22 states were selected for the show, she said.

“The exhibition is a colorful and diverse collection of contemporary art which includes oil, acrylic, and mixed-media painting, graphite and colored pencil drawing, ceramic, mixed-media sculpture, printmaking, silver gelatin print, digital photography, collage and video,” Bowland said.

Bryce Speed is the person making the choices.

He is an assistant professor of art in painting at the University of Alabama, with a bachelor of fine arts in painting and drawing from the University of Mississippi and a master of fine arts in painting from the University of Alabama, according to biographical information provided by VSU. 

“He has taught at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. His work has been exhibited extensively over the last decade, and in 2014 he held a solo exhibition at Valdosta State University,” according to the bio information.

Winners will be announced during the reception Tuesday evening. Winners will split $1,500 in prizes, Bowland said.

GALLERY

What: VSU Art presents the Valdosta National 2017.

Where: Dedo-Maranville Fine Arts Gallery, VSU Fine Arts Building, corner of Oak and Brookwood.

When: The exhibit runs from Jan. 17 through Feb. 3.

Reception: A free, public opening reception is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17.

Gallery hours: 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays.

More information: Contact Julie Bowland, gallery director, (229) 333.5835, or email jabowlan@valdosta.edu.