November 2009
Becoming Animal
All-Media Membership Show
November 4 – December 7, 2009
Award(s): The Bob Hof Award, and Honorable Mention Awards.
Show Info: Opening Reception, Thursday, October 8, 6:30–8:00 pm, in the gallery. Awards presented at 7:00 pm.
463 entered, 83 accepted
Juror's Statement:
with Erica Fortwengler
For the “Becoming Animal” exhibit, artists were asked to explore the animal within us all or submit images of animals, real or imaginary, including everything from our favorite pets to endangered and/or extinct species.
Artists were also encouraged to explore the fine line between humans and animals.
Juror Jesse Cohen states on his blog, artdc.com, “It was my goal to develop a selection of works that did exactly that. It was important for me to attempt to move beyond the average pet picture and find raw emotion within a tremendous pool of work.”
Cohen chose work that he found interesting and compelling. “I appreciate humor, skill… I was drawn to pieces exploring the idea of the human animal and that possessed a raw, uninhibited emotion. If an artist intended a work to be realistic, I wanted to see great technique; otherwise I was looking for emotion. I wanted to see ideas that were interesting and different, and I wanted to see the work go beyond portraiture.”
“I want viewers to come away from this exhibit realizing that artwork depicting animals can be more than a pet portrait.”
The works Cohen selected as award winners were the pieces he was continually drawn to. “Best in Show” was awarded to Suzanne Twyford for “Hunters of Dreams.” “This is a modern take on a traditional subject/landscape. I love the colors, the technique, the forms, the proportions… this is a great painting.”
Cohen is an artist living and working in the DC area. He is a photographer using alternative processes. He is also the founder of artdc.org a grassroots organization, and the President of Fine Art Ventures, LLC. Artdc.org’s goal is to provide an environment for emerging and established artists to communicate with each other, with galleries and with collectors. The result of this collaboration has been many exhibits organized and curated by Cohen around the metro area. His work can be seen at www.jessecohen.com.
Sample Work:
To view all of the images from the show, please click here.
