NEW BRITAIN — Two Newtown residents have had works accepted into “The Nor’Easter: 46th Annual Juried Members Exhibition” at New Britain Museum of American Art (NBMAA).

The annual show is NBMAA’s opportunity to present contemporary visual art to a wide audience. The showcase highlights the exceptional work of emerging artists throughout the country in a variety of media.

Judith McElhone, executive director of Five Points Gallery in Torrington, served as this year’s juror.

“The pieces selected for ‘The Nor'Easter’ not only speak to the incredible talent of the NBMAA members, but also to the diversity of expressions, concepts, materials, and subjects that define contemporary visual art,” she said.

Accepted works are being presented in the museum’s new 3,000-square-foot Stitzer Family Gallery, within the museum’s recently opened 17,346-square-foot addition. An opening reception was celebrated on January 10; “The Nor’Easter: 46th Annual Juried Members Exhibition” is on view until February 14.

Of the 859 submissions received for the exhibition, Ms McElhone selected 124 works in a variety of media for this year’s show.

Among those are works by Newtown residents DeAnn Prosia (“Harlem – 125th Street Station,” 2014, line etching, 9 x 12 inches) and Amy Vensel (“Contra,” 2015, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24 x 1½ inches).

The majority of the artists in this exhibition reside in Connecticut, however selected entries came from states as distant as Ohio, Florida, and California. Of the exhibition, Ms McElhone stated that it “not only speaks to the incredible talent of the NBMAA members, but also to the diversity of expressions, concepts, materials, and subjects that define contemporary visual art.”

First prize was awarded to “TRASHED – Dyslexic Love” by Janet Lage, an abstract expressionist from Old Lyme who in her work combines logic with absurdity. Ms Lage received $1,000 and the opportunity for a solo show at McElhone’s Five Points Gallery.

Ms Lage will join Ms McElhone for a panel discussion exploring the world of contemporary art on Thursday, February 11, from 5:30 to 8 pm. Cost is $15.

In addition, selected artists of the exhibition will participate in conversations about their artistic backgrounds and media processes in gallery talks scheduled for Wednesday, January 20, at 1 pm; and Thursday, January 28, at 6 pm. The talks will also look into the creative and professional world of exhibiting artists, and cover both the struggle and glory of showing artwork in museums and galleries.

The gallery talks are free with museum admission ($15 adults, $12 senior citizens, $10 students, and free ages 12 and under; also free between 10 am and noon on Saturdays).

Acknowledged as the first museum in the world dedicated solely to collecting American art, NBMAA is renowned for its preeminent collection spanning three centuries of American history. The award-winning Chase Family Building, which opened in 2006 to critical and public acclaim, features 15 spacious galleries which showcase the permanent collection and upwards of 25 special exhibitions annually featuring American masters, emerging artists and private collections.

NBMAA, at 56 Lexington Street in New Britain, is open daily. Visit nbmaa.org or call 860-229-0257 for additional information.

This article has been updated to reflect the correct admission fees for New Britain Museum of American Art.