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Maryland Pastel Society

Shades of Pastel:  See the Show and Pick Your Favorite!

This year were introducing a brand new tradition at our biennial Shades of Pastel National Juried Exhibition: a Members Choice Award. Were confident that Richard McKinley, our esteemed juror, will select a fine slate of award winners, but as hosts of this exhibition, it is also most appropriate that the member artists of the Maryland Pastel Society have the opportunity to select their own award winner, chosen by the members popular vote. So when you go to the Strathmore Mansion in Bethesda to see the show this year there are 99 works by 67 artists from all over the U.S. we invite you, as a member of the Maryland Pastel Society, to review all the paintings closely and, based on your personal assessment of technique and your emotional response to the work, vote for your favorite pastel painting.

Starting on Saturday, September 26, when the show officially opens, there will be two ballot boxes set up at the Strathmore, one on the first floor and one on the second, and ballot slips available for you to use. Just decide which piece you like the best, fill out a ballot, and place it in the ballot box. As its name implies, this is a members choice award, and only Maryland Pastel Society members may vote: one ballot per person. You can submit your vote any time from the September 26 opening day up until about 1:30pm on Sunday, October 4, the day of our artists reception and awards ceremony. Just before the awards ceremony begins at 1:45, we will collect and count the ballots; this is so that we can announce the Members Choice Award winner at the ceremony.

We want to encourage all our members to turn out to see the Shades of Pastel National Juried Exhibition, and we sincerely hope you'll enjoy this opportunity to recognize excellence and have a voice in the awards process.

Click here For Directions to the Mansion at Strathmore

Gallery and Gift Shop Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10 am to 4 pm
Wednesday, 10 am to 9 pm
Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm
Closed Sunday