During the intimate act of looking at art, an intangible relationship forms between work and viewer – an exchange of creative energy, a nourishing spark for the soul and imagination. Such is the principle underlying the 2023 Works on Paper National Juried Competition and Exhibition, on display in the Main Gallery at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences in Loveladies through July 4.

A set of three collage-and-ink drawings from Miranda Maher’s ‘Wild Rivers’ series. (Photo by Victoria Ford)

All 80 pieces in the show were created within the last two years. They represent 76 artists’ visions of paper’s potential – via drawing and painting,…