The 75th Annual Exhibition by Artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Region is currently being hosted by the Albany Institute of History & Art through September 4, 2011. According to Tammis Groft, Deputy Director for Collections and Exhibitions at the Institute, this year’s exhibition is, “One of the largest Mohawk-Hudson Regional exhibits in recent history.” Submissions for the show, Groft said, reached an all-time high of 1,000 works from 235 artists. The final selection is comprised of 160 works by 85 artists, representing a wide-range of media, including paintings, drawings and sculptures, and videos.

Additionally, this year’s Regional raised a record amount of funding, with more than $5,000 in cash prizes and gift certificates for the featured artists. The names of prize winners will be announced at a later date.

This year’s entries were selected by exhibit juror Holly Hughes, who also curated the exhibition. Hughes is a nationally and internationally showcased artist whose work has been displayed across the United States, and in China, Finland, Germany, and France. Hughes is a professor at the Rhode Island School of Design, where she heads the painting program.

One of the longest-running regional exhibitions in the nation, the Mohawk-Hudson Regional was founded by the Albany Institute in 1936, and now rotates annually between the Institute, the University Art Museum of the University at Albany, and The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls.

An awards ceremony and reception will take place Thursday, July 21, from 5:30 to 8:30 pm, with the awards presentation beginning at 6:30. A special preview for Albany Institute members will be held on Saturday, July 9, at 10:00 am. Two free 1st Friday artists’ talks will be held on August 5 and September 2. Call (518) 463-4478 or visit albanyinstitute.org for information.