The Next Pictures Show will host the prestigious Illinois Watercolor Association’s 25th Annual Open Juried Exhibition.

The event opens with a reception and awards ceremony from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 16 at the gallery, 113 W. First St. The public is invited. The show, which is sponsored by Sauk Valley Bank, runs through Feb. 24.

“This exhibition is an opportunity for our community to see the best watercolor painting Illinois has to offer,” said Bonnie Kime, the gallery’s executive director. “It is exciting for us to host a show of this caliber.”

The mission of the Illinois Watercolor Society is to advance the education and caliber of watercolor painting throughout the state.

IWS member and artist Tom Francesconi will judge the show. Francesconi studied art at Eastern Illinois University and later studied watercolor with Irving Shapiro at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. After working more than 12 years in national advertising as a commercial artist, he has devoted himself to his painting. He has earned signature membership in five watercolor societies, including the IWS, the National Watercolor Society, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, and the Northwest Watercolor Society.

He has juried regional and national exhibitions and has lectured on watercolor at museums and colleges. Along with his weekly classes in Chicago, he conducts watercolor workshops for art organizations and watercolor societies through the country.

The public also can view the work of The Next Picture Show featured member artists Pat Lathe from Jan. 16 to Jan. 30; Rich Born, from Feb. 1 to Feb. 15; and Thomas Brain, Feb. 16 to Feb. 28. These artists' works will be at the front of the gallery during the dates listed.