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An all media juried exhibition centering on the words that inspire our imagery.
In compiling our thoughts towards exhibit themes, we often turn to interesting verbiage that inspires imagery. Now we offer that form of inspiration to artists. We asked artists to share artwork inspired by words in any form. Perhaps a quote, a passage from literature, a newspaper article, a favorite poem? How do words inspire your thoughts, your creation, your passion? How do you respond? Artists were asked to provide the text, along with the source to credit those words. This exhibit was open to all media.
Featuring artwork by:
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Sharon Bauer
Pam Blevens
Dennis Borgman
Marcus Burzota
Gloria Henderson
Pat Jackson
John Jurgiel
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Christine Lohse
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Douglas Simes
Ben Underwood
Tricia Wakeman
Andy Wheeler
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| CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE EXHIBITION ALBUM |
First Place
Self
Jill Beyder
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Second Place
The Clock – St. Louis City Hall
Linda S. Wilmes
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Third Place
Swing at Red Hill Farm
Melanie Priest
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People's Choice Award
TBA at close of Exhibition |
Honorable Mention
February Grays
Pat Jackson
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Honorable Mention
Light/Dark View #2
Christine Lohse
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Honorable Mention
Impending Turmoil
Marty McKay
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Juror Statement:
“The power of life and death is in the tongue.”
“…and calleth those things which be not as though they were.”
Words, spoken as well as written have power. Images also have power, and how these different ways of communicating connect, disconnect, relate and conflict, have long been important to writers and visual artists. Our culture favors the written word over the spoken word; laws must be in writing, and yet I continue to advocate oral tradition and the spoken word.
I make images, so my bias or perhaps simply my expertise, lies more with image making. And as we know from recent history and the cuts to funding visual art ongoing, images wield great power. However, I admire writers, and have become an avid reader even though I grew up in a community mostly illiterate. The combination of text and image has the potential of a kind of “double power” perhaps even a superpower! For visual artists, the combination of image and great text can be a wonderful and effective. Like the artists in this exhibition, I have taken my inspiration from writings/words, and have even used the text as part of my image as well. Words
do have power.
I have enjoyed what all the artists brought for us to see and to read, sharing both the images they created, and the written source of inspiration. Some chose a kind of illustrative approach; others had text as instigation. I enjoyed reading what was shared, looking at the images, the range of styles and skills reflective of a community of artists from this area. Thank you for sharing your vision. I know it can be vulnerable, especially in juried exhibitions, and I do not take that for granted. Choosing the awards is always difficult. I look at skill relative to each media. I look for originality, insight, and I try to do this beyond my personal taste. I am also taken by sensitivity,
tenderness, and fearlessness. These last three can at times surpass elements of skill, or perhaps I should say transcend. Jurors have to operate within their own limitations. What intrigues me most as an artist is the space between words, often the meanings that form
from combinations of objects, places, and suggestions through the combination of image and word. I have been literally carrying a word around with me these days on the back of my cell phone. Evoke.
Evocative - to recall to the conscious mind, a feeling, a memory, an image
The second quote of the beginning of my juror’s statement comes from the book of Romans. As a visual artist, I think making images has power in the same sense as this quote talks about speaking. We can imagine/image the world around us. We can “speak” to, and for, and speak into existence, though the images we create, the world we desire. ~Eric Shultis
Juror Eric Shultis received an Associate Degree in Illustration from Kendall College of Art and Design, a Bachelor Degree in Fine Art from the same, and a Master of Fine Art from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. His work has been exhibited in Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and locally at Gallery 210, The Sheldon Art Galleries, The Foundry Art Centre, The International Photography Hall of Fame, and The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. His work was included in the 2004 Illinois State Museum exhibition Think Small curated by Robert Sill.
Eric is Vice President of the Alton Area Landmarks Association, has been accompanist (piano) for the Chapel Choir at Greater Faith “City of Love” Missionary Baptist Church, where he serves as Deacon. Eric is a Professor and Gallery Director for the Art Department at St. Louis Community College Florissant Valley in Ferguson, Missouri. Learn more about the juror at his website www.eshultis.com
