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National
artists Rita Orr, Joseph Orr, Dennis T. Yates, and Pete (A.K.) Peterson along
with arts advocates William R. Mitchell, Martha Mitchell, and Dr. Donald Ruthenberg
began planning a national exhibit in 1990 which would focus on paintings of oil and acrylic
media. A not for profit status was set up and these visionaries were soon
joined by Betty Fitzgerald, James Baumgartner, and our current President, Kenneth Gerardy.
The first annual exhibit of The National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society, complete with full catalogs, became a reality in 1991.
The National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society was organized for the purpose of
"governing, administering and maintaining such
activities as will provide a national forum and
standard of excellence in which artists can fully
express the media of oil and acrylic on canvas and
panel."
The
primary objective of this not-for-profit
corporation is the annual national juried art
exhibition and competition. In 1991 the first exhibition
took place with 100 artists submitting 300
paintings to the jury panel. From this humble
beginning, the group has grown to a membership base
of over 1400 artist and patron affiliates who are
currently welcoming the 18th annual exhibition The
BEST of America! 2008.
Focusing
on the emerging artist, rather than the well-known
painters who have
already gained acceptance in the Visual Fine Arts
industry, the NOAPSociety has continued to encourage these
extremely talented, artists. This philosophy has served well
during a decade of steady growth as evidenced by its
tremendous appeal to not only the art connoisseur,
but also to the general public, which persists in its
relentless quest of "The BEST!"
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