Westshore Arts Council Happenings

Speed Draw Competition

Have you ever wondered how an artist creates a lovely painting or drawing? Then come to a Speed Draw Competition presented by the Westshore Arts Council (WAC). Approximately 10 artists who are WAC members and Parma Fine Arts Council members will compete to finish a piece of art in the medium of their choice in one hour. All artists will use the same subject, which will be revealed prior to the start of the competition. Each artist will be given a different “twist” which must be included in their piece of art. Everyone is welcome to come and observe art in the making, cheer on the artists, and vote for your favorite piece. The winning artwork will be featured on the WAC website and on display at the 2027 COFA Show.

Speed Draw will take place on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Westlake Porter Public Library in the main lobby.

Visit the website for more information, www.westshoreac.org.

Save the Date

The Westshore Arts Council is bringing Dave Sterner’s Tricotism Jazz Trio to the Westshore on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the historic Huntington Playhouse at BAYarts. Mark the date on your calendar and watch for more details to be published. You don’t want to miss this presentation of Jazz by the Lake.

Another Wonderful COFA Show

The Westshore Arts Council just closed the 25th Annual Community of Fine Arts (COFA) Juried Exhibition for 2026. It was an incredibly successful show with 94 pieces of art representing 45 artists in two divisions and eight categories. This year’s show was colorful, thought-provoking, and covered many subjects. First and Second Place monetary prizes and Honorable Mention Certificates were presented to the winning artists at the closing reception on August 29, 2026. The Howard Hoehn Best in Show Award went to Mayuresh Dhond for his three-dimensional piece titled “Lunch Atop Skyscraper.” The judges for this year’s show were Joyce Bolte, local watercolor artist and teacher, Bill Beuther, award-winning fine art photographer, and Jessica Henry Gray, internationally recognized oil painter and teacher.

The Westshore Arts Council thanks the artists who participated in this year’s show, the judges, the community who viewed the show, and the local businesses who supported the show. The community involvement and support helps make this show better every year. Looking forward to 2027.