“100 Miles: The 2023 Regional Juried Exhibition” opens Thursday, June 1, at The Gallery at Penn College, showcasing artwork by 101 artists living within 100 miles of the Pennsylvania College of Technology campus. A reception celebrating the creative display of artistic talent is set for 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 4, with awards at 3 p.m. The exhibition is presented through July 20.

“There was a wide variety of work submitted and many mediums explored, and a lot of thought and skill has gone into creating these artworks,” juror Elizabeth Gourlay said. “This show has great diversity and offers a wide variety of materials and thematic interests that I believe are important reflections and assessments of our current culture.”

Of the 505 individual works of art submitted in the “100 Miles” call for entries, 108 works by the 101 artists were selected by the juror.

“The enormous volume of submissions made it challenging to narrow this down to a workable exhibition,” Gourlay said. “I chose pieces that spoke to me, work that I thought had an impact. As I reflected on what was submitted, I tried to be as inclusive as possible to show the broad range of media, from sculpture and painting, to drawing, graphic design, photography, mixed media and textiles, and to capture some of the wide range of voices coming forward from regional Pennsylvania.”

Gourlay teaches applied color in continuing education at The Rhode Island School of Design.

Her work is shown nationally and internationally and has been written about in numerous arts publications. She is the recipient of numerous residencies, fellowships, grants and awards. Gourlay received a Master of Fine Arts in painting from Yale School of Art, Yale University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland.

The “100 Miles” exhibition will award $750 for first place; $500, second place; $250, third place; and $200, honorable mention.

“Making an art object requires thought and creativity, in addition to time, patience and inspiration drawn from our everyday lives,” Gourlay stated. “It also requires the courage to get the work out there in front of an audience, with the hope that it will resonate.”

She added, “I feel fortunate to have had a fascinating look at art and artists working today in Pennsylvania.”

A committed and vibrant partner in the local arts community, The Gallery at Penn College’s first regional juried exhibition was held in 2018.

The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

Located on the third floor of The Madigan Library, the gallery is in its 17th season. Summer hours are: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. The gallery is closed Fridays and Saturdays and will be closed July 2-5.

Serving as a cultural asset to the college and local communities, The Gallery at Penn College provides the opportunity for the appreciation and exploration of contemporary art and encourages critical thinking and meaningful experiences.