JAS9 Opening Reception

Tonight was the opening reception for the 9th Annual Jersey Shore Juried Art Show at the Belmar Arts Council.  The muddy fields that we had to cross were a distant memory (finally paved yesterday morning), and hundreds of people showed up to see the 89 artworks.  My contribution can be seen above (the story behind it can be seen here) in the back room of the gallery.  No prize for me this year, but that's ok, as I'm running out of things to show in the Boatworks.  Maybe in a few years I'll have built up enough to be able to do another one.  The show remains on display through May 3, 2013.

Also in the back room was another piece that may be familiar to readers of this blog.  The above painting was chosen by the juror to receive the top award for painting, out of about three dozen paintings in the show.  (just one woodcut, by the way)  However, back in December, this painting from critique regular Sheilagh Casey was shown in the Studio as part of that month's critique.  She had recemtly started experimenting with encaustic [and encaustic style surface effects with acrylics], and the positive response she got to this piece convinced her to keep pursuing this direction.  Well, she's got a show in Belmar now early next year, so she better get to work.  As for everyone else out there, come to our monthly critique, and see tomorrow's big time art today.