Wishing Spring adds new artists to juried exhibits to sell and display

There are usually approximately 50 artists who exhibit and sell their work at Wishing Spring Gallery, but this month the numbers have swelled to 62. Gallery Director Sandy Pogue was happy to welcome an exceptionally large group of new artists even though she didn't know why the group was so large.

Wishing Spring is run as a co-op, she explained. Members of the Bella Vista Art Club who want to have work in the gallery must be juried. The jury, usually a group of about five club members, consider artisanship, design, quality originality, appropriateness and overall salability.

Wishing Spring Gallery

8662 W. McNelly Road

It is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

For more information, visit its web site: http://www.wishings…

The artist is asked to submit three or four examples of their work and they are displayed without any identifying information in the studio behind the gallery for the judging. The jury is warned to put aside their own preferences and consider what other people may like. That's why there are some Anime works in the gallery, Pogue explained. They're not necessarily her taste, but they are well done and someone else will like them.

Originality is a big consideration, she said. They try not to duplicate what a participating artist is already showing.

"We may have several potters, but they all use different methods," she said. Or they create different products.

Some artists who aren't accepted return and try again, she said. They may bring completely different work for a second try. If they are accepted, but want to exhibit something different, they have to submit it for another jury process, Pogue said.

Each artist signs a contract that includes the promise to work in the gallery three days each month. They man the counter and handle customer service.

But there are a few exhibitors who aren't local. They send their pieces from out of the area or bring them when they visit Bella Vista. If an exhibitor can't work their share of hours at the gallery, they pay a higher percentage of their profit to the gallery. Some artists with full-time jobs like that arrangement better, she said.

"Our mission is to supply scholarships for art students," Pogue said. After expenses are met, profits from the gallery go towards scholarships. The Fall Arts and Crafts Fair also funds scholarships, Pogue said.

Currently, the Art Club is helping to support four students with scholarships of $2,000 each semester. They sometimes grant as many as six scholarships a semester.

Students from all over northwest Arkansas can apply, Pogue said. More information on scholarships is available on the Village Arts Club web page: http://www.village-art-club.org/scholarships.php.

Community on 02/25/2015