Summer Sensations, an open all media juried show
July 16 – August 9, 2024
Juror Statement:
Art appreciation can be very subjective. One juror’s criteria can vary dramatically from another’s. We see art through our own unique lens, filtered by our own standards which tend to change and evolve over time. For me, it starts with the traditional elements: composition, color theory, use of light and shadow, dimension, balance, precision, and overall technical excellence. Then the intangibles came, mood, energy, style, an unusual technique, storytelling, and the element of surprise. Even so, it can still be unnerving to rate one work of art against another that might be completely different, yet have great merit in its own right.
So, it was invigorating and challenging to review and choose among the amazing range of work presented here. Everyone brought their very best to this exhibition. From realism to impressionism, landscapes to portraits, abstracts to high-concept—it was an honor to jury such wonderful work, and I have tried to be fair and even-handed in my decisions.
Congrats to the winners, and a heartfelt thank you to all the members and staff of Art Center Manatee for allowing me to participate in this outstanding and captivating show!
Mark Mitchell
First Place, Ellen Kirwan, Blazing Aegan
I surprised myself when I chose this beautiful abstract for 1st Place! The genre is generally a bit outside my typical preferences, and yet I could not ignore the “wall power” of this large-scale piece. The murky depths of the blue field below conjure a contemplative mood, contrasted by the lively splashes of warm tones above—dancing like fire and energizing the room.
Second Place, Susanna Spann, The Yellow Cup
A beautiful subject and a flawless execution. The cherubic girl’s warm smile and charming silhouette are perched asymmetrically on the top left, drawing you in, as your eye wanders through the greenery. A studied, subtle use of light and shadow illuminate the scene. True mastery of the watercolor medium.
Third Place, Lynn Mann-Hallmark, Jungle Vibe
This big, colorful triptych will bring a smile to anyone’s face. The explorer and jungle creatures set against a sunset are carefully composed to keep your eyes engaged. The poster-like quality of the foreground elements appeal to my pop art aesthetic, while their simplified style remind me a bit of the work of Henri Rousseau.
Merit, Rajini Kanth Reddy, Back To Life
This stark dimensional piece stands out from the pack, with its unusual material choices, textures, and the way it reacts to light. It has a bold, contemporary feel I can imagine exhibiting well in an upscale commercial gallery, or a modern home.
Honorable Mention, Stephen Brewer, Tropical Invite
Not “just another seaside” painting, this large-scale piece boasts a dynamic and unusual composition, contrasting a bright sunlit beach with a stormy sky, while roughly a third of the canvas is cast in shadow. The well-studied shapes and impressionistic hues of those shadows are what really sold me.
Honorable Mention, Gary Green, St. Armand’s Corvette Summer
Who doesn’t love a classic sports car? The artist captures the spirit and energy of a curious local car show crowd, while rendering this timeless Corvette with reverance, painstaking detail, gorgeous reflections, and a creative use of color.
Honorable Mention, George Stuart, Elysian Fields
This is one of those special paintings that invites a conversation with the viewer. A world-weary face in the foreground elicits one’s empathy, lost in a daydream of elusive dandelion wishes. It is a conceptual piece, begging questions about life and spirituality. The intricate rendering of detail and use of color add layers to appreciate here.
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