The Arkansas Arts Council's annual touring visual arts exhibition, Small Works on Paper, will open on Oct. 1 at East Arkansas Community College in the Fine Arts Center Gallery at 1700 Newcastle in Forrest City.

The artwork will be on view from Tuesday, October 1 through Wednesday, Oct. 30. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Now in its 37th year, the exhibition spotlights Arkansas artists who are members of the Arkansas Artist Registry, an online gallery maintained by the Arkansas Arts Council. The 2024 tour features 39 artists from across Arkansas and will make stops at nine venues statewide. Most works will be available for sale, with all proceeds benefiting the artists. 

Each year, artists from around the state submit artwork that is no larger than 18 by 24 inches. An out-of-state juror selects the work to be included in the traveling visual arts exhibition. 

This year's Small Works on Paper entries were juried by Laura Blereau, curator at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Blereau reviewed more than 200 entries to select the 40 pieces that are part of the Small Works on Paper exhibition.

In addition, six artists' works were selected as purchase awards and will become part of the Small Works on Paper permanent collection. The artists receive cash awards that are equivalent to the value of their artwork. Artwork by the following artists was selected: Ryan Howard of Little Rock; Milan Jilka of Springdale; Alexia Lams of Pine Bluff; Madeline McMahan of Paragould; Vianny Nolasco of Rogers; and Sondra Strong of Bryant. 

Participating artists in the 2024 exhibition:

Ebony Blevins, Little Rock
Judith Beale, Jacksonville
Maria Botti Villegas, El Dorado
Jane Bonady Brackin, West Memphis
Jojo Buchmann, Little Rock
Catherine Burton, Little Rock 
Aaron Calvert, Russellville
Tami Chandler, Jonesboro 
Brian Cormack, Little Rock 
Laura Dowling, Little Rock 
Terra Fondriest, St. Joe 
Vince Griffin, North Little Rock
Jeri Hillis, Hot Springs National Park 
Matthew Howard, Pine Bluff
Ryan Howard, Little Rock 
Crystal Jennings, Rison
Milan Jilka, Springdale
Kimiara Johnson, Pine Bluff 
Adrianna Kimble-Ray, Jacksonville
Lisa Krannichfeld, Little Rock
Alexia Lams, Pine Bluff 
Kellie Lehr, Bentonville
Madeline McMahan, Paragould 
Vianny Nolasco, Rogers
Y. Hope Osborn, Little Rock
Joy Noir Phillips, Hindsville 
Laura Raborn, Little Rock 
David Rackley, Russellville 
Kasten Searles, Little Rock
Trevor Segraves, Siloam Springs
Dominique Simmons, Little Rock 
Derek Slagle, Little Rock 
Sondra Strong, Bryant 
Cathy Wester, Conway 
Evernus Williams, Searcy 
Mark Wittig, Sherwood 
Emily Wood, Little Rock 
Terry Wright, Little Rock 
Anna Zusman, Magnolia

For more information about Small Works on Paper, contact Cheri Leffew, special projects/events manager, at 501-324-9767 or at [email protected].