➡️ Do you love reading stories from Ponca City Monthly? Don’t miss a single article, sign up for our email newsletter and get them delivered directly to your inbox. You can subscribe here.
City Arts will launch its annual Members Show and Sale on Thursday, February 6, at 5 p.m. in the John McNeese Gallery, located on the first floor of City Central. This exhibition highlights various artistic mediums, from watercolor to wood burning (pyrography). Members can submit up to three original pieces created within the past year, many of which have never been displayed publicly.
The Ponca City Arts Association, now operating as City Arts, has a rich history dating back to 1966 and is credited with establishing the longest-running fine arts festival in Oklahoma. “Our Members Show is one of the longest-running members shows of any arts organization in the state, if not our region,” said Terron Liles, Executive Director of City Arts.
Like every year, this year’s show is a juried competition, with artists competing for top honors and aiming to sell their work. Entries are divided into two categories: professional and amateur. “Professional means you’ve been selling art for longer than three years, while the amateur division is for artists who haven’t sold a piece of art or have been selling for less than three years,” Liles explained.
One of the participating artists is Taylor Welborn, a new City Arts member eagerly debuting her work in this year’s exhibition. As part of her New Year’s resolution to “do art more,” Welborn has submitted three pieces to the show. Among them is a striking desert scene that marks a milestone for the artist. “It’s my first member show. I painted a desert scene; this is my first and the biggest painting I’ve ever done. So I wanted to prove I could do a big painting,” said Welborn.
Another standout piece from Welborn is titled Girl Dinner, a playful still life featuring an old-fashioned cocktail paired with a slice of pepperoni pizza on wavy paper plate. Framed in a vintage-style frame, the piece holds special significance for the artist. “I was actually having girls’ dinner while I painted that,” she shared.
A City Arts membership, available for $45, provides many benefits, including access to painting classes, artist talks, and opportunities to display artwork in shows like this one.
If you want to immerse yourself in the creativity of local artists, don’t miss the City Arts Members Show. The exhibition runs from Thursday, February 6, through Sunday, February 28, at the John McNeese Gallery. Hours are noon-4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Find out more about City Arts at pcarts.org or on facebook.com/poncacityarts.
➡️ Opt in or out of different newsletters on your “My Account” page.
➡️ Learn more about Ponca City Monthly+
Ponca City Monthly is a locally-owned publication that delivers hyperlocal news in print and online.
Like what we are doing? Feel free to forward this along and tell a friend.
Sponsorship information/customer service: email [email protected]
