The Tennessee Watercolor Society became an organization in 1971. The first annual exhibition was held in 1972 at the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga. Today we are a Biennial Exhibition organization with a statewide membership of more than 230 members. We continue to be a non-profit and a volunteer organization with board members throughout the state. Our biennial exhibitions rotate across the state, with the last four exhibitions held in: Chattanooga - 2002, Jackson - 2004, Clarksville - 2006, and Knoxville - 2008. In 2010 the exhibition returns to Chattanooga. We have dedicated Contacts in each of our five Regions to act as coordinators of communication and activities. Our regions are located around the five metropolitan areas: Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville and the Tri-Cities area of East Tennessee.

The 31st Exhibition was hosted in Knoxville during June and July 2008. Internationally renowned Cheng-Khee Chee served as juror for the competition. Mr. Chee was the instructor for the exhibition workshop. Kay Yazdi and Harriet Howell served as co-chairs and led a team of local volunteers for a successful event.

A full-color catalog of the 2008 – 31st TnWS Exhibition has been produced, showcasing the sixty juror-selected paintings and features the award-winning paintings. We are also pleased to announce that Knoxville PBS – EPT TV, filmed and produced our 31st Exhibition video. The video was made possible by a generous grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission. The video features all of the works selected for the exhibition, and contains Mr. Chee’s comments about the award-winning paintings. PBS will be airing the TnWS Exhibition video on dates TBA. Please see their website for future listings. Knoxville PBS will share the video with other PBS stations across the state. The video is an education and outreach project for TnWS.

Both the catalog and the video are available for purchase. For DVD, VHS and catalog sales, contact Harriet Howell, 386 Burkhart Rd., Rutledge, TN 37861 or at howellh@frontiernet.net. Prices per item: DVD: $15.00 plus $6 S&H; VHS: $15.00 plus $7 S&H; Catalog: $15.00 plus $5.00 S&H.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Tennessee Watercolor Society, please contact Max Hochstetler, Membership Chair, for more information at mhochst@gmail.com.

To connect with a Regional Contact near you, see the Board & Committees listing on the About TnWS.

The Tennessee Arts Commission is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to ensure the citizens of Tennessee have access to and participate in the arts.