For immediate release
Contact: Julie Westendorff
jwestendorff@alleganyarts.org
301-777-2787
Allegany Arts Council presents 24th Annual Will’s Creek Exhibition of Fine Art
CUMBERLAND—The 2023 Will’s Creek Competition & Exhibition of Fine Art will be on display at the Allegany Arts Council from August 26-September 23, 2023. The show will include the work of 27 artists from throughout the United States, chosen from nearly 450 pieces submitted to the competition. A Public Opening and Awards Presentation with 2023 juror, Michael Lease, will be held Saturday, August 26, 2023, from 6:00PM-8:00PM, and is free and open to the public.
The Will's Creek Competition & Exhibition of Fine Art is one of the signature events of the Allegany Arts Council, celebrating contemporary art in a variety of mediums including painting, photography, and sculpture. Now more than 20 years since its inception, the show continues to stretch the boundaries of contemporary art, and seeks artists who push the limits and seek innovation in their artistry. In previous years, jurors have limited the work of a particular artist in the exhibition, but Mr. Lease has chosen to highlight artists making exceptional art and viewers will see a broader range of work by selected artists in this year’s show.
Michael Lease is an artist, educator, and curator based in Richmond, Virginia. Michael makes work with a focus on collaborative durational photographic and music projects that address a shared vocabulary of objects, places, and experiences. As an educator, Michael specializes in coursework that allows students to reveal, document, and exhibit complex and important stories about their varied communities. Michael earned a BFA from Frostburg State University, and an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. Currently, he is the director of facilities and experience design at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU.
In addition to the Public Opening, the Arts Council will host “Saville After Dark: A Look Inside the 24th Annual Will’s Creek Competition” on Friday, September 15, 2023, from 6:00PM-8:00PM. Featuring FSU Associate Professor, Art History, and Chair, Department of Visual Arts, Trash English will take a deeper dive into this year’s competition to explore themes and techniques, and to interact with viewers. The event is free and open to the public.
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