In the last 38 years of the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts Juried Art Show, one constant has remained: originality.
Each year the winners are different and when the submissions chosen for the exhibit are hung on the wall, new artists are discovered for the first time by a public audience.
“I know this show has really invigorated us and we’re proud of it,” said Susan Cook, BMFA manager.
“It has invigorated the community too,” said Jill Bates, chairperson of the Juried Art Show organizing committee.
The Juried Art Show is a competitive, submission-based exhibit featuring the works of area artists and students that have been selected by a panel of three jurors. The jurors select three winners in four categories (adult 2D and 3D and student 2D and 3D) and fill out the rest of the show with their top picks. This year, the BMFA received 173 adult submissions and 62 student submissions. The jurors whittled that down to 60 adult submissions and 20 student submissions for the exhibit at the BMFA building on Hurontario Street. The result is an art show as varied as the artists who submitted the work.
“The diversity of the paintings is a reflection of the society that mixes together to form this area,” said Dave Saunders, chairperson of the BMFA board of directors..
This year’s jurors were Marian Masters, Beverley Smith and Dean Raeburn-Bell. They each looked over every submission, filling out a critique on the technique, originality and composition of the piece. Every artist gets this feedback whether or not their work is chosen for a display.
According to Bates, this is the education component of the Juried Art Show.
She said the quality of work has improved year over year, and she’s particularly encouraged by the high-calibre of work coming from students at local high schools from Meaford to Stayner.
“We’re promoting an interest in art, not only from the point of view of the artists, but also from the spectators,” said Bates. “People are so excited.”
Thanks to a long list of community sponsors, the volunteer-run event can award cash prizes to each of the top three artists in each category. The sponsorship money also covers promotional costs and other show-related expenses.
“We would have a show without our sponsors,” said Bates.
The Juried Art Show exhibition runs at the BMFA until Saturday, May 26. Anyone who attends the show is encouraged to fill out a ballot for the people’s choice award.
This year’s winners were as follows:
Adult 2D:
1st prize - David Fisher, “Storefront Confidential”
2nd prize - Don Kilby, “Gallery Greeter”
3rd prize - Mark Hope, “Protected"
Hilda Noble Honourable Mentions:
Sharon Barfoot, “Comfortably Numb”
Karen Bowen, “Veiled Wheat”
Adult 3D:
1st prize - Fred Hummel, “Stalking”
2nd prize - Brian Graham, “From Burl to Beauty”
3rd prize - Pam McCowan, “Community”
Honourable Mention:
Emile Gaudet “Cutthroat Trout"
Juror’s Choice:
Rosemary White, “Flowers for Summer”
Alison Boyack, has 2 awards: “Winter Shadows”; and “Sushi”
Student 2D & 3D:
1st prize - Madelyn Goguen, “Cotton Club”
2nd prize - Emma Young, “Blood Moon”
3rd prize - Jillian Sward, “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon”
Honourable Mentions:
Isabel Lewin, “Iconic Trees” *
Hannah Stockford, “Untitled 1”
Juror’s choices:
Isabel Lewin, “Buff Blue”
Sophia Donais, “Memories of You”
Kendall Tyson, “Raven and Woman”
