The best that artists from across the region have to offer will be displayed and judged today during the annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri.

The exhibition, postponed last week because of inclement weather, will serve as the Arts Council's First Friday reception for December. Nearly 40 art pieces that show the diversity of the region will be on display.

"The exhibition is a neat snapshot of our region," said Murielle Gaither, executive director of the Arts Council. "Being the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, we're a also regional council and not just focused on Cape Girardeau. We're going to have entries presented by artists from as far north as Ste. Genevieve and Perryville and as far south as Sikeston and Charleston."

Gaither said most entrants will be paintings, but other artwork will include drawings, photographs and a few sculptures.

"It's good that there's a mixture," she said.

The exhibition will feature only original pieces of art and not works that have been previously displayed at the Arts Council. The artists submitting their work for the exhibition will be competing for cash prizes that will be given in conjunction with three honorary awards, second place and Best of Show, which is a $500 prize.

Recipients of awards will be designated by the juror, Dr. Joni Hand, assistant professor of Art History at Southeast Missouri State University.

"Dr. Hand has already whittled down the entries to the art pieces that will be displayed on Friday," Gaither said. "She's an excellent choice for juror for this occasion."

Hand has spoken at conferences around the country, including the Congress on Medieval Art in Kalamazoo, Mich., and the New York City Inter-University Consortium Annual Medieval Studies Colloquium at Fordham University. Her book, "Women, Manuscripts And Identity in Northern Europe, 1350-1550," was published this year.

According to Gaither, the exhibition represents more than giving out cash prizes.

"It's really about recognition for the artists," she said.

The exhibition will remain on display at the Arts Council until Jan. 25.

The Regional Juried Art Exhibition is from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, 32 N. Main St.

The awards will be presented starting at 6 p.m.

For more information, call the Arts Council at 334-9233.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address: 32 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau, MO