Submitted photo
Gail Trunick of Burghill is represented in the Butler Institute of American Art’s 85th Area Artists Annual with the mixed media sculpture “The Entertainer.”

The Butler Institute of American Art is home to works by many of the greatest artists in the history of the United States.

For most of its 100-plus years, the museum also has showcased talent closer to home.

Opening Sunday is the 85th Area Artists Annual, a juried exhibition open to artists living in or from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio and Mercer and Lawrence counties in Pennsylvania.

Gail Trunick, a Burghill artist who makes three-dimensional clay and mixed media sculptures, has been participating in the show off and on for more than 40 years.

“You don’t very often get to have your work shown at a real museum, one of the quality that the Butler is,” Trunick said.

In those early years, Trunick’s work was featured along with her mother’s, who also was an artist, which made it more special. The Area Artists Annual also was an early juried show that embraced some less-traditional fine art forms.

“In those days, it was harder to get clay into a show, because it was considered a craft rather than a fine art, which it’s considered today,” she said. “There were a lot of paintings and things like that in it, but in those days it was just beginning to accept fine crafts.”

This year’s exhibition includes sculpture, ceramics, photographs, prints, drawings, pastels and paintings in oil, watercolor and acrylic.

Graphic artist Bob Barko Jr. has been selling his Mahoning Valley-centric work locally for more than 30 years, but this is only his second time in the Area Artists Annual. He submitted once for the Butler Midyear, the museum’s annual juried exhibition open to artists nationwide, but wasn’t accepted. That submission got him on the Butler’s mailing list, and he would receive information about applying for the regional show.

“Last year was the first time I applied, and I was accepted,” Barko said. “I got an honorable mention. That was very exciting for my first time out.”

Even more exciting was the company his art had.

“It is very exciting to have a piece in the Butler,” he said. “(Norman) Rockwell is one of my big influences as far as the type of work that he did, so to be in the same building as Rockwell, and then, of course, several of my instructors at YSU (Youngstown State University). It’s quite an honor.”

Juror Tom Acosta, a West Virginia-based, self-taught artist, selected 120 works by 102 artists for inclusion.

The other artists in this year’s exhibition are: Venise Abell, Tom Antonishak, Jacquelyn Bader, Zachary Bako, Gary Balog, Virginia Banks, Ron Barron, Beth Basista, Diane Beatty, Andy Bednar, Hazel Bobosky, Kay Bohren, Danielle Brant, Robert Buchanan, John Burkard, Maryanne Caleris, Anthony Campanizzi, Shawn Catterson, Brenda Myers Cohen, Carole Conaster, Lisa Curry, Kristina Danklef, Lindsay DeLullo, Marie Dippolito, Willie Duck, John Fire, Karen Fisher, Richard Fisher, Lisa Frederick, Shari Fry, Nicholas Galipo, Debra Gangale, Angela Garner, Carri Goodwin, Jeanie Gordon, Sarah Greer, Anthony Grier, Becca Gruitza, Melissa Hackett, Richard Hahn, Millie Hawkins, Rebecca Hawkins, William Hnida, Michael Hornyak, Kimberly Hunter, Susan Jacobs, Toni Jaric, John Johnson, Nils Johnson, Edward Jones, Bryan Joseph, Christi Kacvinsky, Robert Kassan, Mackenzie Kratsas, Ron Krygowski, Steven Leahy, Sheri Liebschner, Andrea Little, Joshua Long, Beth Lowe, Sophia Lynch, Katelynn McHugh, Justin McIntosh, Lindy McMurray, Suzy Mikusevich, David Misalko, Joy Mistovich, Joyce Mistovich, Carole Moadus, George Nelson, Jody Nudell, Alan Charles Orr, Lynn Parry, Rhonda Peterson, Jeffrey Piper, Janice Prince, Lynne Provance, Lori Ramus, Audrey Richards, Lynn Rosati, Patrick Russo, Josh Ryhal, Paul Santone Sr., John Schlabaugh, Thomas Sewickley, Stephanie Sferra, Daniel Shields, Gregg Silvis, Pamela Shane, Renee Sheakoski, Guy Shively, Paula Smith, Christine Swetye, Phil Thomas, Taci Turel. Linda Vasconi, Derek Winkle, Victoria Yatsko-Watson, Noreen Yazvac and Tulla Zambetis.

Award winners will be announced at 2 p.m. Sunday as part of an opening reception from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Butler, and the work will remain on display through Feb. 23.

If you go …

WHAT: 85th Area Artists Annual.

WHEN: Sunday through Feb. 23 with opening reception from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: Butler Institute of American Art, 524 Wick Ave., Youngstown .

HOW MUCH: Admission is free. For more information, go to www.butlerart.com or call 330-743-1107.