ABOUT THE MID-STATES EXHIBITIONS
Inaugurated in 1948 as the Tri-State Art Exhibition, the competition was organized by the Evansville Museum to showcase emerging artists residing within a 100-mile radius of Evansville. Paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, and crafts were reviewed by a jury of two or three arts professionals and, in addition to forming the exhibition, the jurors selected one work to be purchased for the Evansville Museum’s permanent art collection.
As the competition grew in popularity and the numbers of entries increased, a separate competition focused on craft objects was begun in 1960. The Mid-States Art Exhibition and the Mid-States Craft Exhibition were held annually until 1994 when they became biennial events. In 2022, we are celebrating the Mid-States Art Exhibition’s 61st year; and, in 2023, the 47th Mid-States Craft Exhibition will be presented.
Through the years, the Mid-States Exhibitions have grown to accept entries from artists residing in the six states of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Missouri. Some of our region’s most accomplished artists and art educators have exhibited their work in the competitions. The competitions have importantly encouraged the participation of young, emerging artists. We currently maintain an expansive mailing list of individual artists and invite entries from the art faculty and students at colleges and universities in the six-state area.
Purchase and merit awards are underwritten by Evansville individuals, corporations, foundations, and philanthropic organizations and given each year. Purchase awards allow the Museum to acquire works for our contemporary art collection and merit awards are an important encouragement to and recognition of regional artists.
Juror Statement
It was a pleasure to serve as a juror for the 61st Mid-States Art Exhibition for the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science. It was a great way to observe and participate in an artistic atmosphere operating on local, regional, and state levels. Selecting from the roughly 200 entries was an experience that I truly enjoyed. It was a pleasing experience, and I want to thank Curator A.J. Gianopoulos for organizing the jury tasks in such a comprehensive manner.
Between 2004 and 2021, my family and I lived in Evansville. As an art historian in the formidable Archaeology and Art History Department at the University of Evansville, I participated in the local arts community as an art historian, educator, and the first curator of the Peters-Margedant House. As a juror in this year’s 61st Mid-States Art Exhibition, I was able to resume that participation from afar.
At first glance, my eyes are drawn to works of art if they have a well-defined emphasis, skills, and often a clear narrative. When viewing so many art works at once, certain themes emerge. A number of artists focused on portraiture and landscape scenes, perhaps not surprisingly given the audience for this art show. It was delightful to see the sensitivity with which many of these artists rendered their subjects and favorite spaces.
As we emerge from the pandemic into a world seemingly impossibly divided by unnecessary strife and hatred, it is my hope that we continue to see and use art as a unifying force. My thanks to the artists who were a part of this important and timely endeavor in 2022.
Heidi A. Strobel, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs
Professor of Art History
University of North Texas
Purchase and Merit Award Winners
