34th Juried Annual Exhibition Opens at Miller Art Museum

“Days End” by Betsy Bunda-Ostran.

The Miller Art Museum’s “34th Juried Annual Exhibition” opens Saturday, September 19 and the 52 works by 44 Wisconsin artists will be on exhibit through November 10.

The public is invited to meet many of the artists at a reception Monday, September 21, 7 – 8:30 pm. Seven cash awards, including the Gerhard Miller Award of Excellence, will be announced at 7:30 during the event.

Artists 18 or older and residents of Door, Brown, Manitowoc, Kewaunee, and Oconto counties were invited to enter the juried exhibit. This year, 90 artists entered 164 works to be evaluated by the jury, each artist submitting up to two pieces in media including painting, drawing, graphics, and photography.

The jury consisted of three different specialists in the visual arts, including Cheryl Stidwell Parker, painter and art educator from Baileys Harbor; Graeme Reid, Assistant Director at the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend; and Richard Steinberger, photographer and owner of Richard Steinberger Photography in Sturgeon Bay.

“Margot and Mosaic” by Sandra Murzyn.

Of the entries, Reid said, “Some artists [are] still finding their voice, their style…others are fully developed, confident, and mature…This makes for an exciting and stimulating exhibition.”

The jury was required to agree upon all pieces to be included in the exhibition and also agree upon three Special Merit Award winners. Each juror was also asked to individually select one work for a Juror’s Choice award.

“Santa Fe” by Brian Pirman.

A gallery talk and art critique by artist/art educator Craig Blietz will be held at 10:30 on Thursday, October 8. Blietz is a painter, art instructor, and Artistic Director of the Kewaunee Academy of Art.

The Miller Art Museum, located within the Door County Library at 107 S. 4th Avenue in Sturgeon Bay, is open Monday 10 am – 8 pm, Tuesday through Saturday 10 am – 5 pm. Admission is free, and the museum is fully accessible. For further information call the museum office at 920.746/0707.