Neches Art Show

The Beaumont Art League (BAL) will hold its annual Nech­es River Festival Art Show Sun­day, April 6 – Saturday, April 19, with its opening reception sched­uled for Sunday, April 6, from 2-4 p.m., when the Neches River Festival (NRF) Royal Court vis­its the BAL. The reception is free and open to the public.

The show’s focus is the Neches River and its life-sustaining natu­ral resources, economic vitality, and the countless recreational opportunities it offers to Southeast Texans, BAL’s website states.

Participating artists do not need to be BAL members to enter.

“This is an open-call art show, and we will accepting entries from artists starting March 26-29,” said Sarah Hamilton, gallery director for BAL. “The show is open to all artists 18 and older in any medi­um, but (submissions) must be related to the Neches River in subject matter.”

Interested artists can view show guidelines at www. beaumontartleague.org.

Since the 1940s, the Beau­mont Art League has collab­orated with the Neches River Festival to provide an exhibi­tion of works by local artists who, through a variety of subject matter and media, encapsulate the many facets of this natural resource that lend vitality and culture to the region, according to the BAL website.

This year’s BAL invited local artist Mark Nesmith to serve as the judge. Nesmith is an accomplished artist, musician, songwriter and teacher who lives and works in Southeast Texas. He earned his B.F.A. in Studio Fine Art from Lamar Univer­sity in 1998 and has also studied art at the University of North Texas.

His artwork has been exhibited throughout Texas, including shows in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Lufkin, Beaumont and Denton, as well as in Oklahoma, and appears in several public and private collections.

Nesmith will present the awards at the opening recep­tion.

Prizes are as follows: first place, $350; second place, $250; third place, $100. Hon­orable mention numbers will be determined by show judge.

The Beaumont Art League is at 2675 Gulf Ave. in Beau­mont and is open Wednesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Admission is free.

The Beaumont Art League is the oldest art organization in Southeast Texas and was instrumental in the develop­ment of the arts in the area.

For more information, vis­it www.beaumontartleague.org or call (409) 833-4179.