Artist Robert Smith poses in front of a projection of his piece “Annie,” which won Best of Show in the 2023 Art for the Ages event. Organized by the Greater Greenwood Arts Council, the event is designed to give artists of all ages and abilities the chance to show off their creativity. Submissions for this year’s event can be dropped off at the Greenwood Public Library on Saturday.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Creativity knows no age.
From the youngest child to the eldest adult, the desire to paint, to draw, to make is innate in everyone.
And for the month of April, local residents are invited to show off their talents in a free-for-all exhibition at the Greenwood Public Library.
Art for the Ages is back to recognize outstanding works by artists in Johnson and surrounding counties. Paintings, sculpture, photographys, drawing, multimedia art and more — made by people of all ages — will go up on the walls of the Greenwood Public Library for the community to enjoy.
Anyone can submit up to two pieces each, competing for ribbons and cash prizes, as well as enjoying the feeling of putting their artwork out in the public.
“We have a lot of local talent in our area, and it’s just really fun to see all ages come together on an evening to enjoy it together,” said Heather Diers, owner of Pro Art Framing & Gallery and Art for the Ages chair. “What I love is how much they get a kick out of it, especially the younger artists being showcased with all of the adult artists.”
All entires need to be dropped off at the Greenwood Public Library between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. A reception will honor exhibitors and competition winners will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. April 12, with awards announced at 7 p.m. An exhibit featuring all entries will hang at the Greenwood Public Library from April 4 to 27.
“We are excited to promote the arts in our community by providing local artists with this opportunity to exhibit and receive recognition while at the same time raising community awareness of the talent all around them in the Greenwood area,” said Mark Landis president of the Greater Greenwood Arts Council.
Art for the Ages was organized in 2016 by the Greater Greenwood Arts Council, which had been hoping to put together a community show for many years. The competition was separated into nine categories, ranging from preschoolers to high school students to adult amateurs to professionals. Nearly 90 pieces were submitted that first year, with $1,200 in prizes awarded.
The exhibition has been held yearly ever since, with exceptions in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. But each year brings more and more participation.
“During our award ceremony, we have itty-bitty kids walking up, high schoolers and teenagers, and then 90-year-olds, all in the same room, all of their art grouped together,” Diers said. “It’s just really fun.”
Artists hoping to enter this year’s show should bring their artwork, ready to hang or exhibit, to the Greenwood Public Library on Saturday. There is a $15 entry fee per piece of art, and checks can be payable to the Greater Greenwood Arts Council.
Entries will be judged on presentation, design and technique while grouped in categories for students, from preschool through high school. Categories are also set aside for adult students, adult professionals and amateurs, among other media types.
A special new group has been created for the best eclipse-themed art — a nod to the April 8 total solar eclipse that will pass over Johnson County.
“We thought it would be fun this year to do something with the eclipse,” Diers said.
Following the month-long exhibition at the Greenwood Public Library, all artwork will be returned to artists at the library on April 27 between noon and 2 p.m.
The joy of the event is seeing all of these artists together in one place.
“This fits our vision statement really well, in that it really helps to pull the community together to celebrate the arts,” Diers said.
AT A GLANCE
Art for the Ages
What: A community art exhibit designed to recognize outstanding works by artists of all ages in Johnson or surrounding counties.
Who: Greater Greenwood Arts Council
When: April 4-27, with an awards reception from 6 to 8 p.m. April 12
Where: Greenwood Public Library, 310 S. Meridian St.
How to take part:
To enter, please submit and deliver the following:
1.Your artwork, ready to hang or exhibit, at the Greenwood Public Library between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday. 2-D artwork larger than 40 inches by 40 inches including the frame is subject to approval.
2. $15 entry fee per piece of art. Checks payable to the Greater Greenwood Arts Council. Entry forms are downloadable at greenwoodarts.org and available at art check-in.
Entries will be judged on presentation, design and technique while grouped into the following categories:
- Preschool
- First and second grades
- Third through fifth grades
- Sixth through eighth grades
- High school
- Adult student/amateur original composition
- Adult student/amateur copy (your rendition of another artist’s work accompanied by a photo of the original)
- Mixed media/textile
- Adult professional
- Amateur photography
- Professional photography
- 3-D art
- Eclipse-themed art (all ages and levels)
All artwork will be returned to artists at the Greenwood Public Library on Saturday, April 27, 2024 between 12 noon and 2 p.m. Please contact Heather Diers, event chair at [email protected] or (317) 701-6833 with any questions.
