Call to artists: Open Art Competition at RSAF

The Rock School Arts Foundation has announced the details of its annual Open Art Competition.

Artists may submit two-dimensional and three-dimensional works that are original and have never been shown in a previous Rock School Open Art Competition. There is a two-entry limit. Artists must be at least 18 years old.

Artwork must be submitted on either Wednesday, July 22, or Thursday, July 23, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Artist fees are $10 per artist for members, $15 per artist for nonmembers.

Several awards are up for grabs: first place ($500), second place ($200), and third place ($100). Winners will be notified before the exhibition opens. The People’s Choice Award ($50) will be voted on by visitors to the galleries during the show’s grand opening on Saturday, Aug. 8.

The show will remain on exhibit through Friday, Aug. 28.

The competition judge is Mark Poteat, who has been a practicing artist for more than 30 years. He has exhibited his work both regionally and nationally, receiving numerous awards for his achievements.

His artistic practice has evolved over time, encompassing industrial subjects, musical instruments, landscapes, and, most recently, the human figure. Deeply influenced by art history, his work draws from the innovations of the Cubists, the early Modernists, and the dramatic compositions of 17th-century Baroque painting.

In addition to his studio practice, Mark has served as the art coordinator and an art instructor at Western Piedmont Community College in Morganton since 2002. He holds a BFA in painting from East Carolina University and an MFA in painting and drawing from East Tennessee State University.

More information about presentation requirements and a downloadable participant application can be found at rockschoolartgalleries.com. RSAF is at 400 Main St. W, Valdese.

— AKC