Tough decisions surrounded me today as I encountered so many talented and provocative artists at the 1st Annual Artwalk at the Promenade Bolingbrook, where I served on a panel of three judges.
Awards were given to artists- not to pieces in particular- so entire bodies of work were pitted against each other, no matter the medium.
We awarded three prizes- the Best in Show and two Awards of Excellence.
Jessey Jansen took home the one thousand dollar Best in Show prize, and a work from her "Ambient" collection is seen above. It's called "Off the Grid" and done in oil, collage, beeswax and resin on canvas. Jansen says the purpose of this series is "relaxation," but her mission in the arts is anything but relaxed.
Her MyPop Collection, standing for "my print on poverty" got the attention of all three judges today. Its intended to encourage dialogue and action on issues surrounding the poor in the U.S.
Works from the series are also on display at Flourish Studios on the city's North Side. You can read more about Jansen and her work by clicking on the following link:
http://www.littleladystudio.com
South Sider Clifton Henri was a unanimous choice to be a finalist. The 29-year old photographer shows remarkable maturity in work. He says his goal is to tell a story, and he does so in every image. I particularly enjoyed the above photo, "Shine"- its use of light and shadow is striking.
You can see more of Henri's work by clicking on the following link:
Ceramic artist Cory McCrory also won an Award of Excellence, and her work can best be described as "fun." It can even go in the dishwasher! To read more about McCrory, click on the following:
http://home.comcast.net/~potteryhead/site/?/home
I had other favorites, including acrylic on glass pieces by Yolanda Franklin:
http://www.artslant.com/global/artists/show/66852-yolanda-franklin
Roger Passman's photos on canvas:
But when it comes to work that I actually want to enjoy every day (and do so in my own home) Here are my preferences- they weren't entered into the juried competition. Pay attention to the Lidded Landscapes:
http://www.artslant.com/global/artists/show/50974-hank-olenick
Check out Tina Guide's gallery, especially the new "In Thin Air:"
http://www.artslant.com/global/artists/show/50923-tina-guide
