Winners of the Fine Arts League of Cary’s annual juried exhibition reflect three vastly different interpretations of a year in turmoil.
More than 500 entries were submitted to the FALC 26th Annual Juried Exhibition, which can be seen online through June 30. Submissions for the virtual exhibit came from across the nation, says show chair Tracy Carhart, with 191 artists submitting two-dimensional original art, the most submissions the show has ever received. Seventy works were chosen for the exhibit, and three top awards were awarded by juror Ryan Fox, an award-winning Raleigh artist.
Michele Benzamin-Miki’s “Ascending” is a drawing depicting a figure climbing a rope above an abyss as he or she heads over the edge.
“Mixed media shows are difficult to judge because of the wide range of styles, techniques and materials. Trying to narrow 500-plus images down to 70 was especially difficult,” Fox said. “The art I selected all displayed common elements: outstanding composition, interesting color, mastery of technique and unique vision.”
The three winners’ works highlight the wide variety of the submissions. First place-winner Kenzie Holzinger’s large-scale charcoal and ink drawing, “Twenty Twenty Identity,” is a triptych of masked figures all seemingly waiting for the pandemic to be over. Second place Derek Cracco’s abstract painting “Flash” is a field of bright red, yellow and blue dots playing across the canvas, in a visual color explosion. The two works couldn’t be more different, yet both were created this year. The third place winner, Michele Benzamin-Miki’s drawing “Ascending” is a work on paper depicting a figure climbing a rope above an abyss as he or she heads over the edge.
One challenge with this year’s show was not being able to view the art in person. Instead, Fox had to rely on digital images. This year’s application process, which did not require artists to pack up and ship their art to a location for hanging, resulted in the most submissions this show has ever generated.
“Having a show online has emboldened artists by removing the framing requirement and shipping costs. It has made it more convenient for people to enter shows, sometimes even using the same artwork in multiple locations at the same time,” Fox said.
This show usually takes place at Cary’s Page-Walker Arts & History Center, but this year the exhibit is hosted on Artwork Archive at www.artworkarchive.com/rooms/ronda-k-guy/b566b2.
The Fine Arts League of Cary, a local arts nonprofit, was founded in 1993 and quickly grew to over 150 members. The group welcomes artists, students, and art lovers alike. Activities include the annual Fabulous Fakes, the Teen Art Show, The Senior Show and the Annual Juried Exhibit.
Derek Cracco’s abstract painting “Flash” is a field of bright red, yellow and blue dots playing across the canvas, in a visual color explosion.
