70th annual Piedmont Regional Art Show and Sale

When the art show at Grace Episcopal Church, The Plains, VA, first started, Harry Truman was president, a gallon of gas cost 15 cents and the average cost of a new car was $1,300. Now 70 years later, the Piedmont Regional Art Show & Sale remains a must-see event, and it keeps growing by leaps and bounds. Last year, 138 artists submitted 352 entries.

This year’s Piedmont Regional Art Show and Sale at Grace Episcopal Church, 6507 Main Street, The Plains, will kick off May 19 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. with the Opening Gala for artists and sponsors. The show continues May 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no admission fee the last two days, and donations are appreciated.

“This is a wonderful show because there’s so many different mediums,” says Susan Gibbs, last year’s Best in Show winner for “Sweet Fragrance,” an oil painting on canvas. The Haymarket, VA, resident again this spring plans to enter the art show, which is steeped in tradition.

The first art show at Grace Episcopal in 1947 was inspired by the Reverend Harold Peters, an artist himself. It began as a project of the Episcopal Church Women. Today, the show and sale has grown to involve volunteer efforts of the entire parish and is a favorite spring event in the region. Throughout its history the art show has featured the works of artists of all media, ages and levels of experience, including the work of established professionals.

This year’s jurists include Charlie Westbrook, Robin Hill and Diana Bunting. Westbrook is an award-winning self-taught expressionist oil painter currently represented by Richmond-based Manchester Contemporary Gallery. He has been a Fauquier County resident since 1996. Hill, who has a studio in Georgetown, is one of the world’s most distinguished bird painters and artists. His career has spanned five decades and three continents. Bunting teaches at her gallery in Marshall, VA. She’s a contemporary plein air painter. Her works hang in private collections in the U.S., Peru, Canada, Uruguay and Argentina.

Admission to the Gala opening is complimentary to exhibiting artists and sponsors. There is a $15 admission charge for additional guests.

Proceeds from the show benefit local ministries of Grace Church, and help ensure the continuation of the show.

For more details, visit www.gracetheplains.org, email [email protected], check out www.facebook.com/artshowatgrace, or call 540-253-5177, Ext. 104.