This is a terrific time for celebration of artCentral! We are so blessed and fortunate to have our very own hometown arts center! Please lend your support to keep artCentral vital. Make your online donation on GIVE CARTHAGE DAY, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, or anytime at https://www.artcentralcarthage.org/give-4art-fund.html. Every gift makes a difference! No gift is too small.
On a summery day the silvery burst on the lawn’s green grass grabs your attention before you ever turn up the drive toward Hyde House. Like a magnificent firework of sparkling lines exuberantly exploding outward, Jason Shelfer’s newest installation for his outdoor SCULPTURAL SPECTACULAR exhibition is a celebration supreme! The arrival of this and two more of his recent creations is perfect serendipity, for this is indeed a time for celebration!
The 2020 Annual Membership Exhibition is open in Hyde House and waiting to awe you from the moment you walk through artCentral’s green door of hospitality. Oh, do come soon! Throughout this elegant, foursquare American farmhouse, walls and pedestals and shelves are filled with fifty wondrous artworks by some of our region’s most gifted artists. They will lift you up and make you laugh; confound you and inspire you; cause you to speculate and to hunger for answers; soothe you and make you wish for more. All artworks in the Membership Exhibition are available for purchase.
The generous underwriter for this fine collection is McCune-Brooks Healthcare Foundation for which artCental is immensely grateful. The Jurors for this exceptional exhibition are Beth Simmons, Director of McCune-Brooks Healthcare Foundation, and Reita Walker Miller, award-winning artist from Little Rock, Arkansas. They have selected four outstanding works to be awarded Underwriter, Gold, Silver and Bronze cash prizes for excellence. Additionally, two Honorable Mentions have been named.
Juror Reita Walker Miller writes, “I found the 50 entries to be diverse in media, subject matter and technical ability. I applaud each artist for their creativity and their willingness to share their work with their community and beyond. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in artCentral’s mission to serve your community through art and artists. The urge to create is strong in many of us, and to have a community that supports art and artists is vital to cultural enrichment for everyone.” Yes! This is a time for celebration with the announcement of these gifted, award-receiving artists, their artworks and comments offered by the Jurors:
UNDERWRITER: Andrew Batcheller, “The Sermon of the Dictator on the Mount (We Don’t Deserve Love)”, Oil on Linen, 49”x74”: Expansive and intimate, too. Like a story told to be understood, yet mysterious and intriguing. Who or what is the black bunny? The complex composition is balanced like a diptych fully unfolded. The application of almost garish pigments is masterful.
GOLD: Dan McWilliams, “Last Dance”, Oil, 16”x20”: Strong composition and use of light compels the viewer to move through each section of this painting. The artist’s expert use of color sets the mood. A high level of technical ability reinforces the theme throughout.
SILVER: Mary L. Parks, “CALM COOL CONNECTED”, Acrylic and Mixed Media, 11”x14”: The choice of colors and consistent application add to the overall calm of this work. The simple framing does not distract from the movement within the artwork.
BRONZE: Dustin Miller, “Joe’s Baby”, Charcoal, 22”x27”: The scale and simplicity of composition and presentation add strength to an already strong subject. Technical ability is very evident and the urge to over emphasize detail was resisted. The resulting understated drawing is serene and powerful.
HONORABLE MENTION: Linda Teeter, “Spiral + Sphere + Balance”, Archival Print, 26”x32”: Beautiful and simple, straightforward with expert lighting and presentation. Less is more.
HONORABLE MENTION: Jordy Vulpine, “Spirit of Michelle”, Charcoal, 9”x12”: The viewer is challenged to interpret the narrative through the individual objects. An intriguing idea and composition that could be developed more on a larger scale.
You may virtually preview and review all the artworks in the exhibit by visiting artCentral’s website at https://www.artcentralcarthage.org/2020-annual-membership-exhibition-21-aug-19-sep.html. Also, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/ArtcentralCarthage/photos/?ref=page_internal you will find the entire exhibit’s fine art showcased in a photo album.
This is definitely a time for celebration! Hyde House and the Annual Membership Exhibition are open and waiting for your visit at 1110 East Thirteenth Street in Carthage from August 21 through September 19 with Weekend Gallery Hours each Friday and Saturday from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. CDC protocols are practiced at artCentral. Face masks and social distancing are required for everyone entering Hyde House. Please help us keep each other safe and healthy!
