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The Gallery

The Gallery at 118 Cotton

The Gallery at 118 Cotton is the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council’s exhibition space in the heart of downtown West Monroe. Located inside the Arts Council’s home at 118 Cotton Street, the gallery provides a welcoming space for artists, organizations, and communities to share work, ideas, and experiences with audiences across Northeast Louisiana.

With historic brick walls and a professional exhibition system, The Gallery hosts rotating exhibitions throughout the year while also serving as a gathering place for artist talks, workshops, receptions, and other creative programming.

Upcoming Exhibition...

COMING TO THE GALLERY SOON!

The Gallery at 118 Cotton proudly presents:

Through the Lens of Tianyu Wang

Shaanxi Province in the 1960s–2000s

Through the lens of acclaimed Chinese photojournalist Tianyu Wang, this exhibition offers a remarkable visual record of life in Shaanxi Province, China, across four decades of profound cultural and social change.

Wang was an award-winning photographer, author, and journalist whose work documented the people, places, landscapes, and traditions of his home province. Spanning the 1960s through the 2000s, the photographs offer intimate glimpses of everyday life while also reflecting a period that saw dramatic transformation in modern Chinese history.

More than a historical record, Wang’s photography invites viewers to consider the power of the camera to preserve memory, document change, and connect people across cultures and generations.

Opening Reception

Thursday, October 1
5:00pm-9:00pm

Presented in conjunction with the Downtown Gallery Crawl at The Gallery at 118 Cotton, 118 Cotton Street in West Monroe.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

About the Exhibition

The photographs featured in Through the Lens of Tianyu Wang portray local news, culture, landscapes, and daily life throughout Shaanxi Province from the 1960s into the 2000s. Together, they span years that included the Cultural Revolution, the establishment of U.S.–China diplomatic relations, and China's period of rapid economic growth and modernization.

Visitors are invited to experience the photographs both as works of art and as historical documents—considering not only what Wang captured, but what photography allows future generations to remember.

About Tianyu Wang

Tianyu Wang (1939–2024) was an award-winning photographer, author, and journalist from Baoji, China. His decades of photographic work created a firsthand visual record of the people, places, and cultural traditions of Shaanxi Province.

“Photography presents a way to remember our brilliant history in order to motivate us to make progress in the future.” — Tianyu Wang

Exhibition Partnership & Scholarship Support

Through the Lens of Tianyu Wang: Shaanxi Province in the 1960s–2000s is presented in collaboration with the ULM Foundation and continues the work begun through the Tianyu Wang Endowed Scholarship in Communication.

Established in honor of Tianyu Wang, the scholarship supports upperclassmen pursuing a degree in Communication at the University of Louisiana Monroe. The exhibition was created to amplify the scholarship’s impact while sharing Wang’s photographic legacy with the wider Monroe/West Monroe community.

Proceeds from this exhibition will benefit the Tianyu Wang Endowed Scholarship in Communication, helping support future students while carrying forward Wang’s belief in photography as a tool to educate, preserve history, and inspire progress.

This exhibition is presented in partnership with the ULM Foundation and with the generous support of the Tan family. Proceeds benefit the Tianyu Wang Endowed Scholarship in Communication at the University of Louisiana Monroe.

Are you a practicing artist interested in showing your work in The Gallery at the NELA Arts Council?

We’re happy to offer the opportunity to submit your exhibition proposal for consideration.

Visual artists working in any medium are encouraged to apply below.

Applications are open year-round and proposals reviewed twice a year.
How it works:
  • Submit your exhibition proposal by providing the following: Artist Biography, CV, Artist Statement, Exhibition Statement, & artwork examples in the form below.
  • All works submitted will be reviewed by Region8's Gallery Committee. While artists may provide a specific goal for an exhibition, the scope, final selection and layout of works will be determined by Region8’s Gallery Coordinator & Committee in consultation with the artist.
  • Artists should bear in mind the need for a consistent and very strong body of work when submitting.
  • Following each review, artists selected will be notified.
First Name *
Last Name *
Country
Address Line 1 *
City *
State/Province *
Postal Code *

Please reference the example above then upload CV in list form below as a PDF. Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 128 MB.

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Provide a 200-300 word statement that summarizes your background and significant experience as an artist. Begin by introducing yourself with your name, medium, and some background information. This can include where you were born, where you work, and when you first became interested in the arts. Discuss any art training or schooling you have completed, along with any awards, exhibitions, or other relevant achievements. If none, state that you are self taught. You can also mention if you’re featured in any important collections or prominent art publications. Include any recent shows or important projects you’re working on.

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Write a short paragraph about your general artistic practice. This can include your inspirations, technique, interests, or topics you frequently find yourself addressing throughout your body of work. When writing, ask yourself the following questions: What am I doing? How am I doing it? Why am I doing it? What influences me most? How does my art relate to the art of my contemporaries? What do I want others to understand about my art?

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In under 500 words, provide a concise plan for the exhibition that tells us what the physical work is, the general theme, and a sense of the exhibition’s scale (how many pieces, size, etc.). When writing your exhibition proposal, consider the following items: A brief overview of the concept behind the show. What does this body of work communicate? Tell us about the influences or inspirations behind this work. How are the methods or techniques you use important to this body of work? Tell us how, or what, the choice of medium or process contributes to this work. Number of works and description of works to be included. Specifics of installation. If your work requires specific installation techniques or equipment, let us know what those are. For example, numerous electrical outlets, audio-visual equipment, or specialized wall mounts.

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Terms & Conditions

By clicking submit I confirm that...

  • I have thoroughly reviewed and comprehended the provided instructions.
  • I understand if chosen, I will be responsible for the transport of my work to and from the gallery.
  • I understand all works submitted will be reviewed by Region8's Gallery Committee. While artists may provide a specific goal for an exhibition, the scope, final selection and layout of works will be determined by Region8's Gallery Coordinator and Committee in consultation with the artist.
  • I understand all work selected for the exhibition must arrive ready to install. Works not gallery-ready may be omitted from the exhibit. Accepted work that differs significantly from the submitted images may be omitted.
  • I understand artists should be aware that they are responsible for the retrieval of their art within the loan period. Any artwork that has not been retrieved within the loan period becomes property of the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council.
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