January 2010 - Members' Juried Awards ExhibitionAward Winners & Judge Peggy Banks' Comments |
JANUARY 2010 - JUDGE PEGGY BANKS' COMMENTSBEST IN SHOW - IN MEMORY OF FULVIA RUSSO: #152 - “Securing the Gates” - Steve McLachlin The energy and lyrical movement in this powerful work commands the viewer’s attention immediately. Skilled use of color and line, and dark accents, move the eye throughout the piece. The shapes are somewhat open-ended and invite interpretation; are they musical or figurative or both? Or something else entirely? A compelling work that really stands out. FIRST PLACE : #159 - “A River Runs Through It” - Cleo Williams The artist incorporates superb technique and use of color in this dynamic composition; strong diagonals, asymmetry and reflective light are used effectively, as is the strip of black at the top of the painting, repeated in darks in other parts of the work. The artist also displays attention to detail, as in the crisp surface of the apples, and the treatment of the fabric. SECOND PLACE: #49 - “Where is He Now?” - Peter Cerreta This work features a strong narrative, a story of resignation and concern, and a universal theme to which we can all relate. The watch and the cigarettes enhance the feeling of waiting and fretting. The composition features a repetition of the L-shape, and the red in the hair creates a strong focal point and a nice contrast to the soft greens. The faceting of the shapes adds to the strength of the work. THIRD PLACE : #125 - “Keys to the Past” - Linda Knight Formal order, craftsmanship, and attention to detail make this an outstanding piece. The weaving is impeccable, and the keys have been well-integrated into the work. AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: #30 - “Unbridled Spirit: Charmed” - Mindy Z. Colton The horse is quite graceful and seems to be posing and showing off with a bit of an attitude. The stylized legs give it a somewhat surreal feeling. The Milagros are an interesting embellishment and are effectively spaced over the figure.
The artist has made a wise choice of medium in this piece and used the pastel to her advantage to create a soft and mysterious work. Asymmetrical composition, well-placed accent lines, and subtle details contribute to the overall effect. This piece is an example of “less is more”. DISTINCTION: #31 - “Terra and Cat” - Amelie Rogers This artist is a master painter of light, evidenced by the variety of lost and found edges in this work. The treatment of the fabric is especially noteworthy. The adoring look on the woman’s face adds to the soft, gentle, and beckoning feeling of contentment. Curiously, the cat looks a little grumpy, adding an interesting tension to the piece. DISTINCTION: #91 - “Tama”, Marta Crawford This artist is a master painter and highly skilled in superb technique. This woman seems alive and comes across as someone we want to know. The eyes are especially compelling, and the attention to detail, such as the reflections in the earrings and the highlights in the eyes, speak to the artist’s keen observation. The purple in the garments is lush, and is repeated around the edge of the painting. The reflected colors and the subtle halo of turquoise around the woman’s hair add to the strength of this painting. DISTINCTION: #44 - “Wisdom” - Marj Fiore The work depicts a generational shift between the young boy and the rabbi imparting his “wisdom”. Each character in the painting has a point of view, a personality, and a story to tell. DISTINCTION: #75 - “ Grand Ave.“ - Marion Adler The artist has used a unique combination of layering, selective abstraction, broken light, and subtraction to create a unique depiction of an urban scene. The superimposing of shapes creates a collage-like feeling, and the more we look at this work, the more we discover. ACHIEVEMENT: #7 - “Raisin II” - Melissa Mason Simply put - raw energy! Bold color, descriptive lines, dancing shapes, addition and subtraction - all add to a feeling of immediacy and sense that this work was created “alla prima”. ACHIEVEMENT: #57 - “Morning” - P.Z. Thompson The artist’s sensitive handling of the monochromatic palette - with accents of blue - shows a keen knowledge of color. The artist has achieved a successful fusion of realism and abstraction in the combination of the landscape and the grid. An effective example of artistic synergy. ACHIEVEMENT: #121 - “ Highbridge Road”, Donna Bissell The artist has employed sensitive brushwork, strong composition, light and shadow, and subjective color to create a fresh and painterly depiction of a Florida scene. The sky is especially well-handled. The work has a strong feeling of “old Florida”. ACHIEVEMENT: #165 AND 166 - “The Form” and “The Kiss” - C.M. Djordjievski These wood sculptures are equally strong and both merit recognition. The artist has made use of positive and negative space in both pieces, and has created an interesting interplay of texture and smoothness in the wood. Both are elegant in their simplicity. RECOGNITION: #118 - “ Pecos” - Joy Shaffer Bold color and a selective eye are hallmarks of another piece where “less is more”. The artist has show great skill in suggesting a landscape without overworking it. RECOGNITION: #96 - “Dreams of Surf” - Carolyn Land The artist has made effective use of watercolor and texturing techniques to create a piece that celebrates the feeling of the surf. Strategically placed hard and soft edges add to the feeling of water and waves. RECOGNITION: #33 - “Needle Grass and Water” - Kristine Boysen This soft and serene work depicts a place we want to be. Simple yet elegant, this meditative and healing painting invites the viewer to sit and think. RECOGNITION: #83 - “Construction and Emergence” - Antoinette Slick The artist makes effective use of geometrical forms and texture in this work. The uneven divisions of the grid, repetition of red, and effective placement of the rectangle keep the eye moving, while the texture adds surface interest. MERIT: #35 - “Slave Houses - Bonair” - Jan Obendorfer The houses imply the existence of people, while their absence in the painting sparks our interest. The artist has also used color in the dramatic contrast between the cool blues and hot oranges. MERIT: #135 - “Red Zone” - Grace Senior Morandi The artist has created a feeling of fun and festival in this fresh piece, with colors and shapes reminiscent of Matisse. MERIT: #39 - “Here Comes the Sun” - Barbara Perrotti The handling of color and reflective surfaces in the foreground of the painting create a strong focal point. The artist uses the figures to effectively tell the story of a day at the beach. MERIT: #102 - “Angel” - Deborah Elmquist The artist displays excellent technique and sensitivity in the handling of the effects of light in this portrait. The fabric is shaded and colored beautifully, and the young lady is imbued with a sense of elegance that transcends her youth. HONORABLE MENTION: #92 - “A Walk on the Beach” - Susan Olsen The artist takes advantage of the long, horizontal format to create great depth of field with the receding buildings and figures, and sets up the feeling of a typical Florida afternoon - sunny but with an ominous storm approaching. HONORABLE MENTION: #105 - “In Reflection” - Tom Silvey This work has a meditative simplicity and evokes a spiritual response. HONORABLE MENTION: #53 - “Am I Coming or Going?” - Rick Crawford An elegant piece with a Zen sensibility that also has a sense of humor. HONORABLE MENTION: #16 - “Going Solo” - Kathy O’Meara This small work is strong enough to stand on its own. The intriguing marks and lines seem to indicate a ladder - or something ascending? JUDGE’S CHOICE: #19 - “What You Can Make Your Letters Do”, Earl Weydahl The artist has used sgraffito, shapes, colors, and collage to create a highly energized surface. JUDGE’S CHOICE: #38 - “Out Yonder“, Nanette Long The artist has successfully created a work that celebrates the colors and shapes of clouds. JUDGE’S CHOICE: #14 - “Redrocks and Snow”, Gretchen Nass This piece effectively communicates the feeling of snow melting over the rocks. Strong diagonals create movement within the picture plane. JUDGE’S CHOICE: #140 - “Assemblage #6”, Barbara Kurp The artist has used moldings, trims, and other objects to create a “shrine” in this innovative work. |