Art comes to town
Tom Hasslinger | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 13 years, 5 months AGO
<p>Barbara Butler, an artist from Billings, Mont., paints a scene Wednesday along the Spokane River near the Post Falls Dam. Butler is one of a number of artists visiting the area for the Oil Painters of America’s 20th Anniversary National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils that will be held at Devin Galleries in Coeur d’Alene.</p>
<p>The Oil Painters of America’s 20th Anniversary National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils will feature 187 of the best pieces selected from an art search of the 2,100 images submitted from artists in North America.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - The return trip to Coeur d'Alene has brought the best of North America, not just the whole country.
Come Friday, that creme de la creme will be hanging on the walls of Devin Galleries, 507 E. Sherman in downtown Coeur d'Alene.
"To put it in perspective, last year's national event was held in Scottsdale's, Legacy Gallery," said Skip Peterson, Devin Galleries owner, on the Arizona gallery nationally recognized for hosting some of the best art exhibits. "That's the level. It's not like small galleries are getting these things."
Peterson's gallery will, though, as it was selected from hundreds of applicants and interested places to host the national Oil Painters of America's 20th Anniversary National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils.
The showcase will feature about 200 of the best pieces selected from an art search even more prestigious than the one for the gallery. Of the 2,100 images submitted from artists in Canada, United States and Mexico, 187 pieces made the cut.
Founded in 1991, in Chicago, the OPA has 3,400 members, and hosts three exhibits a year, with western, eastern and national shows.
Coeur d'Alene hosted the western show in 2008, and the artistic vibe of the city got the ball rolling on a return visit - only this time for the national show.
"A lot of things have to fit," said Kathryn Beligratis, OPA executive director, on the gallery size and community support that have to mesh well for the city to play host. "And it definitely fits here."
Painters are already getting into town, and they can be spotted at Tubbs Hill, the Cataldo Mission and Fernan Lake capturing North Idaho scenes on canvass.
"We're getting some painting done," said Robert Krogle, one of several local painters who made the national cut, on painting Coeur d'Alene's scenes with his fellow artists. "We're all enjoying it here."
The exhibition, which will run until July 9, will kick off the show with its grand opening from 5 to 8 during Friday night's Artwalk. The first week a number of meetings, public classes, exhibits and other events will celebrate the show. Awards for the show's artists will exceed $70,000, including a $25,000 'Best in Show' award.
Info: www.DevinGalleries.com or 667-2898.