Western Federation of Watercolor Societies
The mission of WFWS is to encourage and recognize artistic excellence and promote the visibility of watercolor in the West. Membership in WFWS is automatic for any member of one of the eleven different regional societies. IWS is one of eleven regional society members of the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies. WFWS sponsors an annual juried exhibition hosted each year by a different member.
2020 WFWS-45th UPDATE (3/21/2020)
In light of the coronavirus pandemic and increasing personal risk factors of COVID-19, the WFSW-45 convention portion of WFWS-45 at The Riverside Hotel in Boise, Idaho has been cancelled, including the Opening Banquet, Delegate Meetings, Convention, and excursions. The Steven Quiller free presentation at JUMP has also been cancelled, along with his May workshop. IF YOU HAVE MADE RIVERSIDE HOTEL RESERVATIONS, PLEASE CANCEL THEM.
Decisions regarding the WFWS-45 Exhibition will be announced by May 1st:
PLAN A. If health conditions rally, the Gala, Awards, public reception, and Exhibition will proceed as planned June 5 – July 26 at the Idaho State Museum. The prestigious WFWS-45 Exhibition itself, presented in the Syringa Gallery of the newly renovated Idaho State Museum, will open on June 5, 2020 and continue through July 26. From 945 member entries, 100 paintings will be selected for display by juror Stephen Quiller, world-renowned water media artist and author. To be selected, or “juried in” as the artists say, is a significant professional honor. Artists compete for over $10,000 in cash and prizes.
PLAN B. If the Idaho State Museum is closed for a period of time, the Exhibition will be framed and hung for only one month – July. A smaller catered public reception at the museum may be possible.
PLAN C. If the museum does not reopen, the Exhibition will be shown on-line along with video comments about the Award-winning paintings by juror Steven Quiller. Video links will be posted on our IWS website, YouTube channel, and social media.
The beautiful WFWS-45 catalogs will be available.
Stay safe and use that social distancing to your right brain advantage!
Respectfully, Anne Watson Sorensen, WFWS-45 Project Chairman and Pam Grant, Co-chair
Visit our Video about WFWS-45 and Area Map
Who is juror Stephen Quiller?
Stephen Quiller is an internationally known painter who has written 6 books on water media and color and 20 art instructional videos. He is a Dolphin Fellow (highest honor), and signature member of the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, National Society for Painters in Acrylic and Casein, Rocky Mountain National Water Media and Watercolor West. He has been painting for 48 years and his work is collected internationally. Visit his website at www.quillergallery.com
The Western Federation of Watercolor Societies (WFWS) is a consortium of ten regional associations of watercolorists from Idaho, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Texas. Its mission is to showcase works on paper created with a variety of water-based media. Members of the regional member societies are members of WFWS, at present numbering over 5,000 artists. Delegates from each society meet annually to plan, coordinate and hold the Annual Exhibition, with each society taking its rotating turn hosting the event. This is first opportunity for IWS to host and bring the prestigious WFWS Exhibition to Idaho.
The Idaho Watercolor Society (IWS) is a statewide association of over 200 watercolor artists/members. It is honored to host the WFWS-45 Exhibition with its opportunity to bring to Idaho a world class art exhibition and to treat guests to an appealing, arts-alive Gem State.
Our WFWS-45 Team Leaders include:
Project Chairman: Anne Watson Sorensen aewatsonart@aol.com
Co-Chairman: Pam Grant pamgrant@fmtc.com
IWS Delegate: Dennis Hayzlett dchayzlett@gmail.com
Hospitality: Lori Seale lkseale@msn.com
Banquets: Pam Flora pfdesigns@cableone.net
Art Talks/Trade Show: Carol Hasbrouck Browning hazzy1900@gmail.com
Publicity: Karen Hickman khickman1013@msn.com
Print & Publishing, Workshop: Joanne Duffin zsduffin04@msn.com
Finance & Fundraising: Steve Seale shseale@msn.com
Grants: Paula Sinclair paulabs@cableone.net
Volunteer Co-Coordinators: Margaret Thomas matblttt@gmail.com
Volunteer Co-Coordinator: Nancy Inaba nancysinaba@gmail.com
Framing Coordinator: Roy Gover: rlgover@msn.com
IWS would like to thank our patrons, sponsors and partners in our community and state for their enthusiastic and generous support! Art builds, beautifies and connects communities! Especially water media art! IWS acknowledges the generous financial support of the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, Boise City Department of Arts and History, Greater Boise Rotary Foundation, Harry W. Morrison Foundation, Idaho Arts Commission, IWS members, and many local businesses. Partners include the Idaho State Museum, Boise Art Museum, and the Riverside Hotel.
I W S – 1 0 0 C L U B:
The IWS-100 Club started the grass roots fundraising effort with $100 and up donations, totaling $6400! Thank you IWS members!
Linda Aman*, Maryann Artis, Loretta Barra, Don Belts, Elizabeth Bowhan, Linda Carlson, David Dillon, Joanne Duffin, Phyllis Edmundson, Patricia Fennell, Joni Frey, Renee Galligher, Pam Grant*, Tom Greco, Gail Greco, Carol Hasbrouck-Browning, Dennis Hayzlett*, Kay Henry, Nadine Hergenrider, Kathy Holzer, Neila Loebs, Laurel Lake McGuire, Mike Sessions Fine Art, Zona O’Neal, Bernadette Regnier, Marjorie Reinecker, Lori Seale, Gloria Shirley, Paula Sinclair, Anne Sorensen, Wendy Taylor, Mareth Curtis Warren*, Barbara Watkins, Helen Grainger Wilson, Ann Winslow, Jackie Zumalt. *donation of $300 or more
Idaho Watercolor Society is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. If you would like to donate to WFWS-45 or IWS-100, please mail your donation to: Steve Seale, IWS-WFWS Fundraising, 5260 S Maverick Ave, Boise, ID 83709.