2026 Members’ Challenges
Each show cycle, we offer our members the chance to participate in a themed Members’ Challenge. Members’ Challenges are non-juried shows are designed to motivate our members to explore new directions as artists as they create pieces specifically for these unique show opportunities. There is no fee to participate in the Members’ Challenges, but you must be a BRAC member. There are no size, medium or other restrictions, unless specifically listed in the Call for Entries.
Upcoming Shows…
“Echoes of the Lake” – On display: July 17 – August 21
“So lovely was the loneliness of a wild lake.” – Edgar Allan Poe
Blue Ridge Arts Center is pleased to partner with Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS) to present “Echoes of the Lake”, a Members’ Challenge at Blue Ridge Arts Center. There’s something so peaceful about sitting on edge of the dock, toes dipping in the cool water while watching reflections dance across the surface of the lake. Or how about a cool Spring evening paddling along the shoreline, listening to the crickets chirp and watching the fireflies hiding among the high grasses. Life on the lake is endlessly inspiring. We want to see how it inspires this in this month’s Members’ Challenge, “Echoes of the Lake”. Grab your pencils, paints, or pastels and head to the lake to create your next masterpiece.
- Register Your Work Online by Thursday, July 9 @ 5pm
- Drop Off Artwork on Friday, July 10 (1-4pm) or Saturday, July 11 (10am-1pm)
- Opening Reception: Friday, July 17 (5:30-7:00pm)
- Closing Reception: Friday, August 21 (5:30-6:30pm)
- Pick Up Artwork: Friday, August 21 (6:30pm) or Saturday, August 22 (10am-1pm)
Past Shows…
“Leave Your Hat On” – On display: May 15 – June 19
If you’re looking for a perfect hat for the sunny days which are just around the corner, all you have to do is take a look at art history. Rembrandt was a master of portraiture and fluffy hats! He painted many self-portraits, always posing in a different hat. Umberto Boccioni’s Modern Idol exhibits a stunning hat, while René Magritte’s The Son of Man highlights the simplicity of the bowler.
“Zorn Color Palette” – On display: March 20 – April 24
The Zorn palette is a restricted palette of four basic colors: black, white, red and yellow (more specifically Vermilion, Ivory Black, Flake White and Yellow Ochre. However, because of the unavailability of Flake White and the expense of Vermilion, these colors are often exchanged for Titanium White and Cadmium Red respectively).
The limited palette has been ascribed to Swedish painter Anders Zorn, born in 1860. He was not the first to use it, and nor did he use it exclusively, however he is an artist who greatly excelled with it. During the 19th century, many more pigments and colors became available to artists, so the use of a limited palette became less prevalent.
