VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

Archway Gallery proudly announces the opening of its Third Annual Juried Exhibition, juried by internationally recognized artist Bert L. Long, Jr. The exhibition will be on view July 2 through August 4, 2011. A portion of the sales from the exhibition will directly benefit the Houston Area Women’s Center. The juror and many of the participating artists will be on hand to visit with guests during the exhibition opening reception on Saturday, July 9 from 5 – 8 p.m. at the gallery. The opening reception is part of the annual ArtHouston, a free, public city-wide summer event established by the Houston Art Dealers Association encompassing exhibitions at more than 30 Houston area galleries.

This year’s exhibit drew the largest number of submissions in its history with 81 artists submitting 156 pieces of artwork. The challenge for juror, Bert L. Long, Jr. was to narrow the field to approximately 50 pieces and then select the winners to be announced during the opening reception on Saturday, July 9 at 7 pm. The winner for Best of Show will earn a cash award and guest artist privileges for one month at Archway Gallery. Second and third place winners will receive cash awards; Honorable Mention awards will be announced.

Long is recipient of an NEA Visual Artists Fellowship Grant in 1987 and a Bemis Foundation Residency in 1988. In 1990 he was named Texas Artist of the Year by the Art League of Houston and won a Rome Prize Fellowship. His works have been included in more than 100 solo, two-person, invitational and group exhibitions and reside in more than 110 private and public collections. Long’s work has been added to the collections of numerous museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Austin Museum of Art. He is represented by galleries in Houston, Austin, New York City and Los Angeles.

Long has generously donated a limited edition, signed and numbered photographic print of his painting “CUBAN MENTAL ASYLUM” to be auctioned at the opening reception. The image is from Long’s 2001 CUBA Project and is an Epson stylus Photo R2800 200 year archival custom ink-jet photograph print. The print will on view for bidding to begin on June 27 through July 9 at Archway Gallery. Bidding will close on July 9 at approximately 7:30 pm during the opening reception and a winner announced before the end of the event.

All proceeds from the sale of this print will benefit the Houston Area Women’s Center, which helps individuals and families affected by domestic and sexual violence in their efforts to rebuild their lives. The winner of the auction will be announced on June 9 prior to the close of the reception.

Pictured above:  Bert L. Long, Jr., "CUBAN MENTAL ASYLUM"