WSNC 2026 Western Exhibition

Description

To begin registration, click the orange Register & Apply button (top of page)

Download the Prospectus
Exhibition Overview
The 2026 WSNC Western Region Exhibition will be presented both online and in person and is open to all current WSNC members residing in the Western Region.
The in-person exhibition will be hosted by the Art Place Gallery in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and will be on view from May 1 – May 30, 2026.  Juror of Awards is Pat Morgan. 
All eligible entries will be included in the online gallery, where artwork will be available for public viewing.  
WSNC Regional Exhibitions are designed to promote excellence in watercolor while providing accessible, professional exhibition opportunities for members within their respective regions. These exhibitions follow the same professional standards as the WSNC Annual Juried Exhibition, while reflecting regional participation guidelines.

Venue
Art Place Gallery, Art League Henderson County, 730 Locust Street, Hendersonville NC 28791
Wednesday - Thursday 11 AM - 4 PMFriday & Saturday 11 AM - 5 PM
Sunday - Tuesday    closed

Important Dates

Call for Entry Opens:

1 February

Call for Entry Closes:

31 March

Hand Delivery of Work to Gallery

27 April, 11 AM – 1 PM

Show Opens to Public

01 May

Reception and Awards Ceremony at Gallery 

01 May 5 - 7 PM

Last Day Open to Public

30 May

Take Down and Pick Up Work

01 June, 11 AM – 1 PM

Eligibility

The WSNC Regional Exhibition is open to all current WSNC members residing in the Western Region, including Associate, Signature, and Master Signature Members. Membership dues must be current at the time of entry.

Artwork must:

Be the original creation of the artist
Not be completed under instruction, whether in person or online
Not be copied from, derived from, or substantially based on another artist’s or photographer’s work
Not include AI-generated or digitally produced imagery
Have been completed after January 1, 2023

Works previously exhibited in a WSNC Annual Juried Exhibition, or any previous Regional Exhibition are not eligible. Works exhibited in any WSNC Online Exhibition are eligible, provided they have not appeared in a WSNC Annual Juried Exhibition.

Every effort will be made to display all submitted paintings in the physical gallery. However, please note that due to space limitations, only one work per artist is guaranteed to be exhibited in the gallery. During entry, you will be able to indicate which painting you prefer to be exhibited. You will be notified after the call closes if one or more of your paintings will be included in the physical exhibition

Acceptable Media

Water-soluble media including watercolor, gouache, water-based ink, casein, acrylic, egg tempera, and watercolor pencil, stick, or crayon. Other media may be used only in conjunction with water media, which must be visibly dominant in the finished work.

Not permitted: collage, pastel, water-based oils, canvas, prints, reproductions, digital artwork, heavy impasto, texture gels, or excessive relief.

Acceptable Surfaces

Natural or synthetic watercolor paper, watercolor board, Yupo, Aquabord, Claybord, or similar absorbent rigid supports that are framed.

Size Requirements

Maximum framed size: 44” framed longest side
Minimum image size: 80 square inches

Framing and Presentation

All accepted paintings must be professionally framed and ready to hang according to WSNC standards. Framing should not draw unusual attention to itself.WSNC Framing and Packaging Guide

Entry Procedures

Call for Entry Opens: 1 February 2026
Entry Deadline: 31 March 2026

To enter, go to the top of this page and click on the orange Register & Apply button at the top of the screen.
Non-Refundable Entry fee: Thirty Dollars ($30)
Maximum number of entries per artist: Two (2)

During the entry process, you will be asked to select a first and second preference for your submitted works, in the event that there is limited space in the gallery and not all paintings can be displayed.

Digital images must be submitted in JPEG format, under 5 MB, showing only the image (no frame or mat). Images should be at least 1,200 pixels on the longest side.

No changes may be made after submission. By entering, artists acknowledge they have read and agree to comply with this Prospectus and the WSNC Framing & Packaging Guide.

Judging and Awards

Regional exhibitions are not juried for acceptance. All entries that meet prospectus requirements will be exhibited (as space allows).

Awards will be judged in person after delivery and hanging.

The exhibition will include monetary awards for both Signature and Associate Members, with First, Second, and Third Place
awards in each category.

Participating artists will have the opportunity to vote for an Artist’s Choice Award through the online gallery.

Other awards, not determined at this time, may be included as determined by the Exhibit Director based on contributions that may be received.
Juror of Awards: Pat Morgan.  Upon her retirement, Pat began classes in watercolor and it was love at first stroke. She studied with well-known artists Charles Reid and Mel Stabin, a wonderful painter and teacher. She has taught for many years in New York, New Jersey and currently Western North Carolina. Pat has received several local and regional awards and is a signature member of the North East Watercolor Society and a former elected member of the NJ Water Color Society and the Salmagundi Club in NY, one of the oldest art organizations in the US.

Sales
There is a 40% commission for this exhibition; the artist retains 60% of the sale price.
Sales will be facilitated through the Henderson County Art League.   
Prices listed at entry may not be changed during the exhibition. Artwork sold during the exhibition will remain on display until the end of the exhibition.

Delivery and Pickup
All artwork must be hand-delivered and picked up by the artist or an authorized representative.Shipped artwork will not be accepted, and no artwork will be shipped back to the artist.Delivery dates: April 27, between 11 AM and 1 PM.All boxes and packaging must be removed by the artist at the time of delivery.Pickup date: June 1, between 11 AM and 1 PM.If an artist authorizes another person to pick up their work, a signed note identifying the individual must accompany the pickup.Artwork not picked up by the stated deadline will be placed in storage, and a $50 storage fee will be charged.

Liability

While every reasonable care will be taken, WSNC and the hosting venue assume no responsibility for loss or damage. Artists are encouraged to carry their own insurance. Submission of an entry constitutes agreement to all terms and conditions.

Artists acknowledge that their work will be publicly displayed online and may be offered for sale. WSNC assumes no responsibility for loss, copyright infringement, or disputes arising from sales or online display of artwork. Submission of an entry constitutes agreement to all terms and conditions.

Regional Contacts
Western Region Co-Directors:  Diane Seifart (Charlotte) & Kathy Sabbath Oravecz (Lenoir) Email: westernregion@ncwatercolor.org

About WSNC

The Watercolor Society of North Carolina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting excellence in watercolor through education, exhibitions, and community engagement across the state.

Artist Agreement

By entering this exhibition, the artist agrees to all terms stated in this Prospectus and the WSNC Framing & Packaging Guide
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