Butler’s National Midyear Show survives decades of changes in art

STORY & PHOTOS

By ROBERT K. YOSAY

YOUNGSTOWN

With a few weeks left, the Butler Institute of American Art’s 74th National Midyear Show has appealed to both the artist and the artist at heart.

“For 74 years, The Butler’s National Midyear Show has drawn artists and visitors from every state in the union, said Dr. Lou Zona, institute director. “Each year it seems to deliver something for every taste, and this year’s edition has lived up to its predecessors. It’s a terrific exhibition.

“This year’s show is a good indication of what is being done in terms of styles and new technologies,” he said. “It’s a nice survey on what two-dimensional American art is all about.”

The exhibit also makes a nice statement about an enduring local tradition.

“Seventy-four years is a long haul for a juried exhibition,” Zona said. “A lot of juried shows have fallen by the wayside because they haven’t changed with the changing nature of art. By permitting photos, prints and digital images in addition to paintings and drawings, we have helped keep this juried show going strong.”

Read the full story along with photos from the show Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com