“December Juried Show,” an exhibition of all media—paintings in oil and acrylic, watercolor, drawings, prints, sculpture and ceramics—was chosen from nearly 160 entries. Show dates are December 4-29, 2019. A reception for artists will be held at the gallery Friday, December 6, 5-8pm, Gallery Night in downtown Ithaca, at which time awards will be given by prize judge Connie Sullivan Blum, Executive Director of ARTS of the Southern Finger Lakes. 120 W. Martin Luther King, Jr./State Street with curbside parking and ADA accessibility. Hours: Wed.-Fri., 12-6pm & Sat.&Sun., 12-5pm. Info: 607-277-1626 and www.soagithaca.org
Our prize juror for this show is Dr. Connie Sullivan-Blum. She has spent her life hanging out
with performers, painters, potters, and poets. While pursuing her doctorate in Cultural
Anthropology, she came to the realization that art is a necessary component of the transformation
of knowledge into empathy and connection with others. Connie has been the Executive Director
of The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes since 2014. For this show, Connie awarded
six prizes – two first place, three runners up and one honorable mention.
6. Honorable Mention – “Pitchers & Pears”, by Sandy Cook. This technically lovely piece with
every curve and surface perfectly represented is set in a moody background that highlights the
objects.
5. Runner up #1 – “Amongst the Trees” by Teresa Yatsko. This fascinating multi-media piece
combines a whimsical sense of humor with a clear message of internal strength. The details of
the piece are astounding.
4. Runner up #2 – “Clouds over the North Sea”, by Robin McConichie. A lovely pastel using a
peaceful color palette.
3. Runner up #3 – “Winter is Coming” by Denise Kooperman. Three juxtaposed layers of felted
paper evoke the fragility of life facing hardships. The color choices draw the viewer inside the
piece.
2. First prize #1 – “Harriet Tubman” by Cynthia Cratsley. By carving away a miniscule amount
of material, Cratsley brought to life a heroic figure with only two colors. The strength and
dignity of the figure is revealed in its simplicity.
1. First prize #2 – “Fell” by Allen C. Smith (aka Dennie). This piece immediately created an
emotional response. The color palette and the way the paint is laid on the canvas work together
in an almost musical fashion.
Special thanks to MaryAnn Bowman, the primary organizer of this show.
