SYLVANIA, Ohio — Saturday was the grand opening of the Visual Elements 65 Annual Juried Exhibition at Lourdes University.
The traveling exhibit showcases original artwork of artists from two countries, the United States and Canada and helps forge a bond between sister cities Sylvania, Ohio and Woodstock, Ontario.
The exhibit will run through December 22. Admittance is free.
Sylvania and Woodstock have been sister cities for over 30 years.
Earlier in the year, there was an open invitation for artists in the Sylvania and Woodstock areas to submit their art to the show. Over 100 submissions were received.
In the summer, pieces from Sylvania were exhibited in Canada.
Two jurors were selected from Canada and two from the US.
"The Sisters of Saint Francis are to be commended for helping bring this together," said Sylvania Mayor Craig Stough. "It's difficult to promote something across an international boundary and yet they've done it."
40 different artists have artwork being exhibited at the show, with roughly a third of them being from the US.
Some entries from the Woodstock artists had previously hung in the Canadian Embassy in London, Ontario.
The Canadian artists also marched in Sunday's Sylvania Fall Festival parade.
"This allows both sides to have international exposure," said Erin Palmer-Szavuly, chair of Lourdes University Art Department. "Even though we are different countries, we have things that we share. Art is one of those things."
Best in show was awarded to All Around Me Are Familiar Places by Tabitha Verbuyst of Tillsonburg, Ontario.
Other awards, including juror's choice and Woodstock's people's choice have also been awarded. A final award, Sylvania's people choice, will be given at the conclusion of the exhibition this winter.