: Autumn Joi Ellis of Youngstown used acrylic, watercolor, ink and spray paint to create “Culture.”...Submitted photo

The Mahoning Valley will be well represented when the 87th National Midyear Exhibition opens Sunday at the Butler Institute of American Art.

More than a dozen area artists are among the ones selected for inclusion in the juried exhibition.

“I think the art community in the Youngstown-Warren area is a vibrant one,” said Louis A. Zona, executive director for the Butler. “I’ve always said this. And Phil Desind, who lived in Bethesda, Maryland, and ran a gallery of representational art, was a big fan of the Midyear too and believed our area was as good as any in the country. I’ve been all over the country looking at art, and our art holds up with anywhere.”

Area artists selected this year include: Diane Beatty, Campbell; Bonita Bielski, Willie Duck Jr., Autumn Joi Ellis, Pamela A. Shane, James Sheban and Thomas Stine, all of Youngstown; Sean M. Butler, Canfield; Lisa Frederick, Austintown; Tina Grondin, Garrettsville; Carolyn Dixon Hrusovsky, Cortland; Dina Liguore. Poland; Terry Polonsky, Sharon, Pa.; Linda Steele, Leetonia; and Cori Surano, Hermitage, Pa.

In addition to those artists, Ron Barron of Poland and Thomas McNickle of Volant, Pa., were invited to show one of their works in the exhibition without going through the jury process.

This year’s juror was master painter and printmaker Gary Lichtenstein, who has collaborated with such artists as Marina Abramovic, Alfred Leslie, Robert Indiana, Jeff Gibson, Duane Slick, Shepard Fairey, Futura, Bob Gruen, Dave Navarro and Keith Haring in his 45-year career.

An exhibition of his work was on display at the Butler from March until earlier this month.

More than 300 artists from around the country submitted 810 works for consideration, and Lichtenstein selected 80 pieces, just below 10 percent. Zona referred to him as a tough judge.

“Even in the way we hang the permanent collection, I try to squeeze in as much as I can and leave as few as possible in storage,” Zona said. “I’d rather have a big Midyear show that brings in a wide range of artists and ideas. There is value in both directions, but I prefer the larger exhibition.”

Artists from 15 states were selected, and the show still includes plenty of diversity.

“As usual it’s a blending of ideas, a blending of skills,” Zona said. “There’s a wide range of works, some very original, some impressive in the skill level that they demonstrate.”

The exhibit will be on display through Aug. 20. An opening reception for the artists and Butler members is planned from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, and the works selected for awards will be announced there. Eight awards will be presented, and nine works will receive honorable mention recognition.

agray@tribtoday.com