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Behind the Miller’s 41st Juried Annual

In November, the Miller Art Museum unveiled its 41st Juried Annual, a regional exhibition celebrating two-dimensional works from established and emerging artists of Northeast Wisconsin.

This year’s call for entries brought in 172 images by 99 artists from Door, Kewaunee, Brown, Oconto and Manitowoc counties. When the exhibition opened Nov. 5, 53 pieces from 48 artists lined the museum’s walls.

“All Gas Pumps Go to Heaven” by Mauree Childress, recipient of a Juror’s Award from Brian Pirman. “It kind of reminded me a little bit of being pop art-ish; there was a real sense of nostalgia, a sense of lost Americana and it was highly tactile. I liked that part of it from a formal perspective, and it was very dreamy. It was dreamy in a way that played on my appreciation of symbols, nostalgia and lost Americana.”

“All Gas Pumps Go to Heaven” by Mauree Childress, recipient of a Juror’s Award from Brian Pirman. “It kind of reminded me a little bit of being pop art-ish; there was a real sense of nostalgia, a sense of lost Americana and it was highly tactile. I liked that part of it from a formal perspective, and it was very dreamy. It was dreamy in a way that played on my appreciation of symbols, nostalgia and lost Americana.”

But before those pieces could be hung, the challenging task of selecting them had to take place. That is where this year’s three-member panel of esteemed judges came in. Judging this year’s selections were Egg Harbor artist Marcia Boyd; Algoma resident Kendra Bulgrin, director of the James May Gallery and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Art at St. Norbert College; and Brian Pirman of De Pere, Associate Professor of Art at St. Norbert College.

I recently caught up with Marcia, Kendra and Brian to talk about their experience judging the show and advice for artists eager to get their work into a juried show.

 

Alyssa Skiba (AS): What appealed to you about being a juror for the 41st Juried Annual?

Kendra Bulgrin (KB): I was excited to view new work by local artists. So much of what I see, as a curator, is from artists from around the country and I wanted to get a better understanding of the art that is being made within the vicinity of Door County.

Brian Pirman (BP): It’s always interesting to peek under the hood in terms of what all gets submitted because it really gives you a different perspective and it helps you appreciate the final outcome.

 

AS: What were your judging criteria?

Marcia Boyd (MB): My initial response to the piece: is there some magic about it and does it invite me to take a closer look? That was number one. Also, originality. It’s important that it feels like it’s inventive, personal, fresh. Then technical execution is also something that I looked for.

KB: I was looking for images that struck me as relevant to some larger context or conversation within contemporary culture and are remarkable, exceptional, outstanding, arresting in their own right. Beautiful, inventive and original images were submitted, making our work both easier and more difficult.

BP: It was really looking for creativity – presenting thoughts and ideas in different ways that you have not seen before.

“Two Giants” by Tom De Mint, recipient of a Juror’s Award from Marcia Boyd. “When I first saw it, it was just a surprising choice of subject matter, the shipyards. It’s not a normal choice for most artists and just the bold composition that he chose, I thought it really worked well with the massive ships. I enjoyed the play of light and shadow and the use of rich colors. I thought it all worked together really well to create a mood.”

“Two Giants” by Tom De Mint, recipient of a Juror’s Award from Marcia Boyd. “When I first saw it, it was just a surprising choice of subject matter, the shipyards. It’s not a normal choice for most artists and just the bold composition that he chose, I thought it really worked well with the massive ships. I enjoyed the play of light and shadow and the use of rich colors. I thought it all worked together really well to create a mood.”

 

AS: Do you have advice for artists who would like to get into a juried show?

MB: You can’t try to fit into a show. You just have to be true to yourself. You are unique as an artist and your personal vision of something is more important than the something itself. Following your heart and exploring ideas and subject matter that fascinates you, I think that’s key and just to not get discouraged if you don’t get accepted into a show. Keep working hard and submit your best work.

BP: If you’re very passionate about what you do, eventually it’ll happen. If you really love what you do, the jurors will see that. There is a subjective element when it comes to the jurors which is another reason you should keep trying. All three of us brought our own personal baggage as far as what we thought was good to the table.

KB: I cannot tell you how many times I have been rejected as an artist, but I keep going. I work harder with a greater tenacity than ever before. Sometimes you have to change the trajectory of your life or the life you had envisioned for yourself entirely, as I have found, to become successful. Continue to live fearlessly and keep creating!

 

AS: Why would you encourage people to view the exhibition?

MB: It’s a beautiful and diverse show. It’s a good representation of what artists in Northeast Wisconsin are doing and looking at art, I think, helps us to look at our surroundings in a different way. It expands our imaginations. I think people are busy this time of year with holidays coming up and I think it’s good to just indulge yourself a little bit and relax and look at some art. It’s good for the soul.

 

The 41st Juried Annual continues through Dec. 29. Miller Art Museum is located in the Door County Library in Sturgeon Bay. Hours are 10 am to 8 pm on Monday, and 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, visit MillerArtMuseum.org or call 920.746.0707.

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