In December of 1944, the Swope’s second director (1944-60), Dr. Allen Albert, and curator Hazel Dodge announced plans for a new and exciting annual exhibition where all artists of Terre Haute and vicinity could enter their work. They planned for it to become as permanent and noteworthy as the Hoosier Salon program, and the first Wabash Valley show opened May 6, 1945 to an outstanding attendance of 350 people.
The Wabash Valley Exhibition remains one of the Museum’s most popular events, attracting a diverse array of artists and patrons alike. Because of this, it is safe to say Dr. Albert and Ms. Dodge achieved their goal of furthering the support and interest in Midwestern art.
Artists will have from August 1st to August 15th to submit artworks to be juried.
The Wabash Valley Exhibition presents opportunities not just for artists but for art collectors and benefactors as well. Benefactors and collectors may participate and support our regional artists by sponsoring honorary juror’s awards or by purchasing from the show as a purchase award. Click here to learn more about how you can sponsor an award.
John Yau has been writing about art for more than forty years, starting with Art in America in 1977. He was the Arts Editor for the Brooklyn Rail (2007–2011) before he began writing regularly for the online magazine, Hyperallergic. He has published monographs on Catherine Murphy, Liu Xiaodong, John Pai, and Joe Brainard, as well as contributed to many museum publications. He lives in New York.
The 79th Annual Wabash Valley Exhibition is proudly sponsored by
