Congratulations to Kathy for being awarded Best In Show for her
self-portrait "In My Element" by juror Gary Faigin at the Collective
Visions Gallery Annual Show. The show runs through February 27 at CVG
in Bremerton and the gallery is just a five minute walk from the ferry
terminal. Here is a link to gallery info:
http://www.collectivevisions.com/Here is a link to an article about the show:
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/nkh/entertainment/39227279.htmlBelow are comments by Gary Faigin and a review by Marie Weichman.
Cheers,
Stan Raucher,
Photogapher
Gallery Member
Juror's Introduction to the CVG 2009 ShowArtistic Director
Gage Academy of Art
CVG 2009: Juror's Introduction
It's easier to pick out the art we like than to explain why we like
it. Looking at my selections and awards for the CVG show, someone
might legitimately ask: Why this piece, and not that one? What makes
this work better, and that one worse?
Ultimately, the artworks that were selected for this exhibition had to
pass these three successive tests: Attraction, seduction, and reward.
First is always Attraction, because before anything else a piece has
to make us want to stop and look, to take the time to pick it out from
the flood of imagery that constantly vies for our attention. All the
pieces in this show have that "hook": a mood, a sense of light, a use
of color, some compelling combination of elements.
But simple attraction isn't enough. Attraction has to lead to
seduction, where a closer look reveals things which encourage us to
linger, things in the piece that make it worth exploring further,
things that hold our interest. It's possible to be attracted without
seduction, but we can't be seduced without being attracted.
Finally, the works in the show all offered a reward, the result of the
artist's strong object-making skills combined with the strong concept
behind the work. This is the most intellectual of the three tests,
and requires the successful integration of form and content - the
piece has to look the way it does for a reason, and that reason has to
be somehow apparent.
Kathy Liao's Best in Show self-portrait, In My Element, (shown below)
scored high on all three tests - the painter's searching eyes stop us
in our tracks, and once we pause the layers of painterly surface draw
us further in. Finally, we are rewarded by the powerful way the artist
merges her energetic, expressive brushwork with her striking presence.
Visitors to the CVG show can draw their own conclusions as to which
pieces past their own particular quality test - the good news is that
there are so many strong works to choose from.
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A Gallery Full of Strong Pieces
by Marie Weichman
Art Professor, Olympic College
On February 1st Collective Visions Art Gallery opens its annual juried
art exhibit, THE CVG SHOW '09 to the public. This year the show is
stock full of a wide range of artworks representing everything from
humor to the dark side of life. Process dominates several pieces
while content is the driving factor for other works. It is easy to
see the world through the artist's eye in this show and those views
are vastly different from one another.
Upon walking through the door and turning to the left, the visitor is
confronted by one of the largest paintings in the show absorbing the
wall on which it hangs. "In My Element," by Kathy Liao is an
oil-on-canvas self-portrait that does not shy away from the viewer's
gaze. Just around the corner, intimately tucked away, is "Hands of
the Fisherman #1," by Kit Tayor. This photograph is simultaneously
disturbing and exquisite and in its own quiet way is one of the
exhibit's standout works. Directly across from Taylor's photograph is
Eva Funderburgh's "Eating Plums," a petite ceramic monster that might
appear perfect in any setting. Funderburgh's beast has all the humor
of a children's storybook while hinting at a more private desire for
all things luscious. On the way down the stairs to the gallery space
below, it is important to stop and look up because the life size,
mixed media piece "Zebra" has its mosaic eyes on every passerby.
Raquel Stanek successfully brings out the joy of this piece while
forcing the obsessive nature of the process to the end of the line.
Downstairs houses several surprises. Among them is Brett Walker's
"Coffee Filter Hat," a digital C print that evokes both the amusing
and the frightening sides of existence. "Golden Fleece," by Dorothy
McGuinness is an abstract weaving made from watercolor paper, mizuhiki
and acrylic paint. Its bright yellow color contrasts with the,
obviously, time consuming repetitive motion of process to communicate
a vibrant, but steady sort of passion. Other artworks such as Randolf
Sill's "Miyazaki Teaparty," Caleb Brown's "Shark Drop" and Steve
Sauer's "Soul of the Rhino" all make this exhibit a must-see-show.
Having said that, there is one piece that makes getting out of the
house worth every bit of effort. "Last Stand," by Karen Rudd is not
only the smartest piece of art in the show, but also,
socio-politically speaking, one of the most currently relevant works
in the show. At a distance this piece looks like nothing more than a
tree trunk, but upon closer inspection it is made of, (I pause here to
consider not telling you, thereby saving the surprise, but...), scrap
pieces of recycled cardboard and glue. Nothing more.
Juror Gary Faigin, founder of the Gage Academy of Art in Seattle, must
have had a hard time choosing the artworks for this year's CVG Show.
The abundance of strong pieces represented in the exhibit fills the
gallery and leaves one wondering how he managed the selection process
without becoming overwhelmed. Catalogues for the exhibit will be
available through the gallery.
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