The Howard County Arts Council announces two new exhibits in the galleries at the Howard County Center for the Arts: HoCo Open 2022, an annual, non-juried exhibit showcasing Howard County artists, and Abstraction•Contraption, featuring works by Stanley Wenocur and Andrew Flanders.

Artists aged 18 years and older who live, work, or study in Howard County were invited to submit one piece of ready-to-install original artwork completed in the last two years for HoCo Open 2022, with submissions limited to the first 100 received. The salon-style exhibit is expected to feature art in a variety of styles and media, including watercolor, oil painting, sculpture, collage, drawing, photography, ceramics, and more.

The Gallery II exhibit, Abstraction•Contraption, showcases local artists Stanley Wenocur and Andrew Flanders. Wenocur’s abstract, mixed media works capture the fleeting feelings, emotional struggles, and visual and mental images that people experience. Andrew Flanders, a mixed media sculptor and fabricator, investigates the relationships between craftsmen, the body, and the contraption in his works through utilitarian and abstract dialogues.

HoCo Open 2022 and Abstraction•Contraption will be on display from December 18, 2021 through February 5, 2022. Both exhibits will also be available for virtual viewing at hocoarts.org/galleries. The Arts Council will hold a free public reception on January 28 from 6-8pm (snow date: February 4). A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the $500 Covington Emerging Artist Award, sponsored by HorseSpirit Arts Gallery, to an emerging artist participating in HoCo Open 2022.

Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10am- 8pm, Saturday 10am-4pm, and Sunday 12- 4pm. The Arts Council galleries will be closed on the following dates: December 24, 25, 26 and 31, and January 1, 2 and 17. The galleries will close at 5pm on December 27, 28, 29 & 30. Please note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, gallery hours are subject to change. Before visiting, please confirm gallery hours and review COVID-19 visitor guidelines at hocoarts.org.

To learn more about Arts Council exhibits and programs, call 410-313-ARTS (2787) or visit hocoarts.org.