Hopkins Arts Center Prepares for Salon 300 State Fair Overflow Show

Editor’s Note: The following announcement comes from the . The Salon 300 exhibit runs from Aug. 11 to Sept. 2. The opening reception takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 11.

The galleries at the Center will be bustling with activity in early August as up to 300 artworks are installed in a four day period.

The Hopkins Center for the Arts is proud to celebrate its 9th year of partnership with the MN State Fair. HCA hosts Salon 300, where approximately 300 works of art which were submitted to the State Fair Fine Arts Building but not selected are on view at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.

Due to the highly competitive nature and large volume of submissions for the fair, even previous award winners are sometimes not in the selected group the following year.  Salon 300 provides an opportunity for them to show their work. 

“Salon 300 is a boon for local art lovers. By hosting this exhibition, we can bring in an eclectic and interesting cross-section of art to downtown Hopkins. There is no admission charge to view the exhibit, and free parking is available so there are no barriers to visiting.  Many of the pieces are available for sale, which is an affordable way to build an art collection in a comfortable setting.” said Amanda Birnstengel, Arts Center Director.

The Hopkins Center for the Arts also hopes to foster longer term relationships with the artists.  Participants range from established, full-time artists to emerging artists who may not have exhibited before.  They are encouraged to join the Artist Membership program which offers exhibition opportunities throughout the year as well as free networking and educational events such as the Hopkins Arts Social Club and the Artful Book Club.

Last year medium represented in Salon 300 include photography, pastels, oils, acrylic, fiber, mixed media, Chinese paper cutting, stoneware, metal, glass, wood, and more. This year is expected to be just a diverse. “Hanging such a varied show, on a tight timeline is a real adventure,” commented Birnstengel.  “Fortunately we have a great group of volunteers and all the staff pitches in to make sure we have everything looking great.”

The exhibition is free and open to the public:

• Monday-Friday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
• Saturday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
• Sunday 12:00-5:00 pm

This exhibition is part of an ongoing series of free public exhibitions at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.  The Hopkins Center for the Arts welcomed over 210,000 visitors last year and is a focal point for arts, education, and entertainment in the center of downtown Hopkins.  The Arts Center builds community through the arts by fostering creative expression and providing artistic and educational opportunities for people of all ages.   For more information go to www.hopkinsartscenter.com.