Exhibition Dates: April 13 - May 27, 2023
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 13th  5-7 pm

9th Annual Dirty South Cup Call and Competition - A Celebration of Ceramic Artistry, along with The Friends of the Juror Show and Sylvia Kerry

River Oaks Arts Center is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated 9th Annual Dirty South Cup Call and Competition, set to captivate the minds of the Central Louisiana arts community from April 13th to May 27th, 2023. With an impressive 218 applications this year, the guest juror, Gwendolyn Yoppolo, has had a vast and diverse collection of work to choose from and has spent hours narrowing the entries to include only the best of the best in the exhibition.

Gwendolyn Yoppolo, an esteemed ceramic artist, possesses a unique perspective on the art of pottery. Her background in ceramics, education, and sociology has given her a rich understanding of the relationships between ceramics, culture, and personal expression. Yoppolo's own artistic creations are sensuous kitchen- and table-wares that use the physical experience of hunger and satiation to allude to larger issues of human desire and relationship, challenging us to rethink the ways we nourish ourselves and others within contemporary food culture.

"The 9th Annual Dirty South Cup Call and Competition is a testament to the incredible creativity and artistry that we are honored to showcase at River Oaks,” says Rachael Dauzat, Executive Director at River Oaks. “Each year, we are amazed by the diverse range of talents and the unique works submitted by artists from across the United States. Entries were received from 23 US States, with mugs coming as far as 1,820 miles from Montana and as close as being hand delivered from Pineville. We are excited to see the exhibition continue to grow and inspire our community while bringing together artists of such caliber in friendly competition."
The competition is open to all artists working in the medium of clay, residing in the United States. It welcomes functional and non-functional pieces, as well as traditional and non-traditional creations. The awards for this prestigious event include Best in Show with a $500 prize, three Juror's Choice Awards at $100 each, and the Dr. Betsy Long Creative Cup Award, worth $200.

This year, the Dirty South Cup Show will again feature a dual exhibition format with both a physical gallery exhibition and a virtual presentation. The virtual show has significantly expanded the event's audience base, providing both viewing and purchasing opportunities for those who may be unable to attend in person. The virtual exhibition will go live on April 14th via riveroaksvirtualexhibitions.com - allowing patrons to browse and buy from anywhere in the world.

Also, be sure to mark your calendars for the Gwendolyn Yoppolo Workshop on April 13th and 14th, and the Exhibition Opening Reception and Awards Presentation on Thursday, April 13th from 5-7 pm, featuring juror remarks at 6 pm.
As the Dirty South Cup Call approaches its 10th anniversary, River Oaks Arts Center looks forward to honoring the event's rich history and the artists who have contributed to its success. A look back at the lineup of Guest Jurors is reminiscent of a Who’s Who of the ceramic arts.
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>> Inaugural Show DSCC - Tom Coleman (Nevada) 2015
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>> 2nd Annual DSCC - Kristen Kieffer (Massachusetts) 2016
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>> 3rd Annual DSCC - Matt Long (Mississippi) 2017 
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>> 4th Annual DSCC - Sam Chung (Arizona) 2018
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>> 5th Annual DSCC - Doug Peltzman (New York) 2019
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>> 6th Annual DSCC - Deborah Schwartzkopf (Washington) 2020
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>> 7th Annual DSCC - Dan Anderson (Illinois) 2021
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>> 8th Annual DSCC - Renee LoPresti (Texas) 2022
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>>9th Annual DSCC - Gwendolyn Yoppolo (Pennsylvania) 2023

The community's passion for art and ceramics has played a vital role in the exhibition's growth and influence within the Southeast region of the U.S. In anticipation of next year's anniversary event, the arts center is excited to announce regionally renowned ceramicist Randy Brodnax as the 2024 guest juror. The 10th anniversary promises to be a celebration of creativity, innovation, and artistic expression, highlighting the best of the Dirty South Cup Call's legacy.

As River Oaks Arts Center remains committed to fostering an environment of inspiration and learning for artists and patrons alike, the Dirty South Cup Call and Competition will undoubtedly continue to be a cherished tradition and a source of pride for Central Louisiana.
Concurrent in the Galerie des Amis will be resident artist Sylvia Kerry with her exhibition titled “Good Enough?”. An artist from Pineville, Louisiana, she loves spending time with friends and family and living an active life that enables her to enjoy the outdoors through walking, jogging, and hiking. Sylvia is always observing her surroundings for potential resources for art creations.

An opening reception for the cup show and Kerry’s feature has been scheduled for April 13 from 5-7pm with Jurors Remarks and following Awards Ceremony at 6pm. The reception is sponsored by GAEDA, The Arts Council of Central Louisiana, The Hotel Bentley, Captivate Minds Marketing, Rapides Regional Medical Center, Red River Bank and Louisiana Feed Your Soul.

“This is also the time when typically the registration for our ever-popular Summer Arts Studio Summer Camp opens for non-members, but the four sessions have already filled. With the camp being increasingly popular every year, membership does have its perks here at River Oaks,” emphasizes Dauzat. Every year, Central Louisiana’s largest visual arts summer camp opens its doors to campers ages 5-13 with afternoon art sessions and additional all-day options with pre-camp care. Members get to register a few weeks early and typically take full advantage early in the process.

For more information about the Dirty South Cup Call and Competition, exhibition openings and to inquire about availability for Summer Arts Studio, call River Oaks at 318-473-2670, visit RiverOaksArtsCenter.com or find us on Facebook as River Oaks Square Arts Center.


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