BWW Preview: ENDURING BRILLIANCE at The National Arts Club

The National Arts Club and its Fine Arts Committee presents the 43rd annual exhibition of the Pastel Society of America (PSA), entitled "Enduring Brilliance." The exhibition will be on display through September 26, with a reception and guided tour on September 18th between 6pm and 8pm, hosted by master pastelist Richard McKinley.

The exhibition marks the continuation of a 43-year partnership between PSA and The National Arts Club and it will feature 183 artists including 15 from Canada, China, Finland, Hong Kong, Philippines, Russia, and Spain, and 168 from the United States. All pieces will be hung modified salon style to comprise the premier event for pastel artists worldwide and $34,000 in awards will be bestowed upon 66 artists selected by art scholar and curator Linda Downs, President and CEO of the College Art Association. The Flora B. Giffuni Foundation will present the major award of $5,000.

Each year, the PSA honors a pastel artist of exceptional accomplishment, by inducting them into the Pastel Society of America's Hall of Fame. This year, because of his outstanding body of work, the PSA will make Bob Gerbracht the 39th inductee into its Hall of Fame, where he will join artists including Duane Wakeman, Emily Guthrie Smith and Foster Caddell.

Jimmy Wright, President of PSA, comments: "The PSA aims to set standards of excellence and encourage the use of pastels, while continuing to establish pastel as a separate category in major art exhibitions globally. We continue to focus attention on the renaissance of pastel and we are educating the public regarding the permanence and beauty of the medium. We are very thankful to The National Arts Club for 43 years of steadfast support."

On Sunday, September 13th, The National Arts Club will host a Sunday Salon, entitled 'Enduring Brilliance - The Arts of Pastel'. PSA President Wright will talk about his recent visits to the prestigious pastel societies in China and the work of two Chinese master pastelists, Master Li TieShue of Beijing and Master Hang MingShi of Shuzhou. On September 19th, PSA will host a free, open-to-the-public product fair featuring 20 booths of the latest pastel materials. The 43rd PSA Awards and Gala Dinner on September 20th will complete this series of events. Tickets are available for purchase to the dinner.

Dianne Bernhard, Chair of the Fine Arts Committee, comments: "It is a little known fact that the NAC was instrumental along with Mrs. Giffuni in the founding of the Pastel Society of America which is the oldest pastel society in America. We are very happy to celebrate with them their 43rd year."

Founded in 1972 by Flora B. Giffuni, the PSA is largely responsible for the current renaissance of pastels in American art. The society's annual exhibitions at The National Arts Club in New York are the premier events for pastel artists in this country and abroad. PSA encourages artistic advancement through prestigious awards distributed during its annual exhibitions. Pastelists showing technical acumen and creative use of pastel techniques are awarded prizes for their achievements. Members winning three cumulative awards are named PSA Master Pastelists. Each year one noted artist is elected into PSA's Hall of Fame.

The National Arts Club is located at 15 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY 10003. "Enduring Brilliance" is a free exhibit and it will be on display through September 26th from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Sunday. For more information call 212.475.3424 or visit www.nationalartsclub.org.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of The National Arts Club