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Middletown Arts Center Hosts GSWS 56th Open Juried Exhibition
Top Annual Watercolor Exhibit by GSWS to Draw Visitors
The Middletown Arts Center is hosting the Garden State Watercolor Society (GSWS) 56th Annual Open Juried Exhibition. Congratulations to all the artists! The 64 paintings were accepted from a larger pool of 112 paintings submitted. The juror for acceptance and awards was Joseph Gyurcsak, resident artist for Blick/Utrecht. Discover more at https://josephgyurcsak.com.
This exhibition is GSWS’ largest exhibition of the year. It is on display April 1 through May 30, 2026, as well as online at www.gswcs.org. An Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held April 12, 2-4 pm. This event is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served. The awardees are:
| Award | Value | Winner | Title |
| Best in Show – Dagmar Tribble Award (GSWS Founder) | $1000 | Zina Umyn | Garden Tangle |
| 2nd Place – Nummie Warga Award | $600 | L. A. Hart | Evening Ferns |
| 3rd Place – Cotswold Industries Award | $500 | Joanne Amantea | The Quiet Before |
| Sakson Memorial Award for Excellence in Transparent Watercolor | $500 | Lisa Peters-Milheim | One Fish, Two Fish |
| Alber Hunker Memorial | $400 | Hana Aviv | Temptations of Chianti |
| Bristol Art Award | $250 | Gwynn Di Pilla | Nancy's World |
| Golden Artist Colors Material Award | $250 | Terry Smith | Brooklyn Exit |
| GSWS Members Award (Funded by sale of Bob Sakson paintings donated.) | $250 | James Toogood | A Venetian Canal |
| Marge Chavoosian Memorial Award | $100 | Sharon Buttress | Bushkill Falls |
| Holbein Material Award | $90 | Denise Croft | Historic Rt 66: 1926-2026 |
A unique display outside the main art gallery is GSWS’ 8th Annual Art Installation, Revolution as Reinvention: 250 Years of Defying Artists Convention. The installation includes 55 miniature paintings honoring the history of artistic rebellion through bold color and radical reinvention. Paintings are a modern reflection, positioned as powerful mosaic of reimagined, yet familiar historic American art.
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Middletown Arts Center is located at 36 Church Street, Middletown New Jersey. The public is invited to visit for open gallery hours 11 am – 4 pm on Mon., Wed., Thurs. and Fri. Weekend and evening access is by appointment; it’s also possible during any scheduled events held there. Visit www.Middletownarts.org or call 732-706-4100 for more information.
BACKGROUND:
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Garden State Watercolor Society has led a community of artists and inspired generations of art enthusiasts. The society’s founding goal is to encourage painting in watermedia and provide educational and exhibition opportunities for artists and residents of NJ, PA, NY or DE. GSWS holds 3-4 exhibitions a year including our largest endeavor, the Annual Open Juried Exhibition; an online Members Exhibition; Small but Mighty Exhibition, and a live Art Sale via pop up gallery. In 2023, they donated a permanent exhibit of botanical-style watercolors of items grown onsite. The exhibit is inside the Discovery Center at the former estate of Joseph Bonaparte at Point Breeze, Bordentown, NJ.
Over its existence, GSWS has been a beacon for award-winning artists to inspire generations. The nonprofit organization’s goal is to encourage painting in water media, provide educational and exhibition opportunities for adult artists of NJ, PA, NY and DE. Visit www.gswcs.org for more information.
