Amy Arnston, Lake Mills, Too Deep III, 2010 Transparent watercolor, Photography: Jon Bolton, Racine, WI

On December 11, 2011, RAM's Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts continues a splendid Racine tradition with the opening of Watercolor Wisconsin 2011. As one of the museum's most popular annual shows, this exhibition brings together the works of artists from throughout the state. Featuring 126 pieces by 84 Wisconsin artists, this year's show will be on view at RAM's Wustum Museum through April 21, 2012.

Organized by the museum since 1966, Watercolor Wisconsin exhibitions have established RAM's Wustum Museum as a center for watercolor activity in the Midwest. Encouraged to experiment and explore all the possibilities of painting on paper, the artists in the show have created works as diverse as their own imaginations.

Of 292 pieces submitted by 153 artists, approximately one-third of the pieces were chosen for this year's show. A least eight new works from this year's competition will be purchased for the Racine Art Museum's permanent collection, adding to RAM's holdings of extraordinary Wisconsin artists. The Curator of Collections makes these purchases for the collection. Cash and merchandise prizes will be awarded on December 11 to the artists whose pieces are selected as the best in the show by the jurors.

Exhibiting Artists by Wisconsin Community: Appleton: Gary Hanks; Black Earth: Linda Koenig; Brookfield: Art Bartkowiak, Christine Buth-Furness, Julia McMurray, Jean Pascek, Janet Roberts; Cedarburg: Patrick Doughman, Bruce Hustad; Delavan: Sandra Willard; Fox Point: Noreen R. Cook; Germantown: Mary Boettcher, Arpik Weitzer; Glendale: Francisco Mora, Fred Stein; Grafton: Jean Crane; Greenville: Deborah VandenBloomer; Hartford: Harold E. Hansen; Hartland: Barbara Sorenson Rambadt; Kenosha: James Block, Carolyn Gagliardi, Helen Napier, John Terhardt, Jil Wilson; Lake Geneva: Carol Smith; Lake Mills: Amy Arntson; Lake Tomahawk: Joanne Nock Olsen; Madison: Cary Hunkel, Elizabeth Ivers, Brian McCormick, Cynthia Quinn, Mary Ann Simon; Marinette: Ernie Pleger, Mequon: Jan Effinger, Kappy Schwab, Phyllis Stuart-Jacobson; Milwaukee: Helga Hilbert-Robinson, Susan Leopold, Gene Mihleisen, Judith Gahn Murphy, Jeanne Nikolai Olivieri, JoAnna Poehlmann, Claudia Prehm, Diane Richards, George Ronsholdt, Leslie Vansen, Priscilla Weissenfluh; Monona: Trudi Theisen; Mount Horeb: Peggy Flora Zalucha; Oconomowoc: Marilu McCartney; Pewaukee: Mimi Ruff, Sandra Wagner; Pleasant Prairie: June Ambro; Racine: Robert W. Andersen, Jerrold Belland, Russell Bohn, Jane Cascio, Doug DeVinny, Deedee Dumont, Lisa Englander, Nancy Greenebaum, Edwin Kalke, Jeff Kosmala, Nathan Mortensen, Joyce Ottum, Kate Proeber, Lance Raichert, Susan M. Sorenson, Maria Varga-Hansen, Sue Wolff; Salem: Harry Wirth; Sheboygan: Gayle Meves; Shorewood: Johnna Papin; Sister Bay: Craig Blietz; Stevens Point: Tim Ginnett, Jeffrey Morin; Theresa: Nancy Lamers; Union Grove: Karen Woolley; Waterford: Norman Abplanalp; Waukesha: Charles F. Wickler; Wausau: Rita Crooks; Whitefish Bay: Anne Miotke; Whitewater: Linda Tump; Williams Bay: Lynne Railsback

Experts from outside the state jury each annual competition, selecting the works to be included, as well as the awards. Lynn Basa and Lanny Silverman chose the 126 pieces by 84 Wisconsin artists that are represented in Watercolor Wisconsin 2011. Basa is a Chicago artist who divides her practice between studio work and large-scale public art commissions around the country. She is author of The Artist's Guide to Public Art, and instructs on public art professional practices at the School of the Art Institute. Basa is former chair of the public art committee of the Seattle Arts Commission and now chairs the Artists Advisory Committee on the board of the Chicago Artists' Coalition. Silverman is an independent curator and former Chief Curator of Exhibitions for the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs at the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, Illinois (1989 - 2011), where he curated over 100 exhibitions, most recently, Diane Simpson: Sculpture and Drawings, 1978 - 2009 and William Conger: Paintings 1958 - 2008.

The opening reception for Watercolor Wisconsin 2011 will be held at RAM's Wustum Museum of Fine Arts on Sunday, December 11 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. During the reception, Bruce W. Pepich, Executive Director and Curator of Collections will host the awards presentation beginning at 2:30 pm. Refreshments will be served.