The Awards Presentation
Juror: Nancy Hillis, M.D.
Gallery Director: Julie Weaverling
I was honored to be asked by Julie Weaverling, Director of Front Porch Gallery, to jury the annual contemporary art exhibition.
Front Porch Gallery is a lovely gallery in Carlsbad, California just north of San Diego. It’s funded by grants from California Lutheran Homes Foundation, FACT Foundation, Pacific Homes Foundation and Sunny View Foundation. The gallery is an outreach program of Front Porch.
Jurying an exhibition is no small task. There were 477 submissions and only 66 works of art were chosen to be in the exhibit.
I pored over the art for 8 hours.
Jurying Art Is Inherently Subjective
I wrestled with the fact that jurying an art exhibition is inherently subjective.
In the end it wasn’t about technique. They all had their own repertoire of technique and design skills.
It was ultimately about expression, about feeling something, some emotion, some sense of aliveness in the work, humanity, surprise, work that evokes the ineffable, the inarticulable, the mystery of life.
The decision between first, second and third places was the hardest. In many ways any three of the art works could have “won” first place.
So it came down, to me, to the question of: What is the artwork that is inscribed in your memory? The one or ones you’ll never forget?
The art work that was simply unforgettable to me was: Bad Liver and a Broken Heart by Shelby Marzoni.
Juror Statement
I would like to thank all the artists who participated in this exhibition as well as the organizers, in particular the director of Front Porch Gallery, Julie Weaverling. This has been a truly impressive show of creativity.
There were over 400 submissions and only 60 could be selected for display.
Jurying is an inherently subjective activity.
As a psychiatrist, author and artist I approached this task with an eye towards evocativeness and invention. I looked for art work that evoked surprise, inspired profound reflection, expressed deep feelings and/or mirrored the human condition.
I was not looking for rendering or technique, but rather to be moved emotionally. In this sense, technique was subservient to message.
It was challenging to choose which art works would occupy the featured spots in the exhibition. In the end, I asked myself: Which pieces could I not get out of my mind?
These are the “forever” works we strive to create. The ones we never forget.
Thanks to all the wonderful artists who participated in this exhibition,
Nancy Hillis, M.D.
Video Interviews of Artists
1st Place: Shelby Marzoni
Bad Liver And A Broken Heart | Juror Nancy Hillis
Riveting. Masterful, haunting and unforgettable painting. Evocative of Rembrandt in the depth of feeling in the eye’s expression.
2nd Place: Gina Pisello
Elegant and unforgettable. A book left over from the beginning of the world. Paradoxically purposeful and incomprehensible.
3rd Place: Tricia Alexander
Tricia Alexander | “Almost Shirt Sleeve Weather” | 3rd Place Front Porch Gallery Annual Exhibition 2019. Juror Nancy Hillis, MD
Mysterious. Eerily disquieting. A peaceful mother-daughter tableau replete with tension and sadness that draws the viewer into their story.
Honorable Mention: Paul Brown
A striking image both architectural and abstract juxtaposing modern and old elements and relationships.
Honorable Mention: Tony Gangitano
Honorable Mention: Lisa Bryson
Lisa Bryson “Silent Man”. Honorable Mention. Front Porch Gallery Annual Exhibition. Juror Nancy Hillis, MD.
Interview: Dr. Kevin Daly
Interview: Daniel Brogan
It was wonderful to meet the amazing artists at the Front Porch Gallery Annual Juried Exhibition.
From my studio to yours,
Nancy
The Artist’s Journey ©2018 by Nancy Hillis, M.D.
P.S. If you want to learn more about trusting yourself on your artistic journey, you can get my book The Artist’s Journey >>> HERE.
For those of you who want to have your hands free to paint while listening to The Artist’s Journey, you can find my Audiobook >>> HERE.
Nancy Hillis-Juror-Front Porch Gallery Exhibition
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Amazing range of artwork and artist’s interviews, Nancy. Great juror choices too! It would’ve been so difficult to choose.
I especially loved the photograph by Paul Brown. The tones were beautiful! I enjoyed seeing the juxtaposition of the hard steel frame of the modern structure and soft, light coloured stone of the older building. I also felt it had a cinematic quality to it…there was something about being able to see the architecture of the older building through the lens of the glass one. A dynamic impression and fabulous composition.
And Gina Pisello’s mica piece…book structure. Wow! How exciting was that! I would probably be able to ‘read’ that forever. A timeless quality. I’d have enjoyed seeing that one in reality. Virtual is great, only not the same.
Thank you for sharing the exhibition here.
This blog was enlightening and instructive. Thanks for making the trip and the videos to explain your thinking.
Thank you so much Elissa! It was an unforgettable experience. I loved making the trip and meeting all the wonderful artists and seeing the work in person.
Nancy, I wondered how important the titles of the pieces are with regard to the understanding and ultimate choosing of the winners. For example, if the winning painting was left untitled or called something else, like “Brother,” would it have been as compelling? I was immediately drawn to the title but I wondered whether jurists/judges are also swayed by the title or whether they only take the image into account when they judge. Of if it’s even possible to separate the two. Your thoughts?
Patricia, This is an excellent question. I had to reflect on your question awhile to see that my personal experience was that titles didn’t matter that much overall. I viewed over 450 art works without being aware of their titles- I simply didn’t focus on them in the initial decision for which pieces would be the 66 or so to be in the show.
For me, the works stood on their own- with or without titles. They could have been called “Untitled” and it wouldn’t have made a big difference to me. That said, I recall being aware of the titles upon the final choosing between equally amazing works for the awards.
If I had to say what the percentages were for importance of image vs. title- for me, it was about 99% image and 1% title. Titles can be intriguing and can aid in understanding the artist’s intention/exploration/experimentation- yet the title could be obscure or bland and the art work could stand on its own and win first place based on the power of an unforgettable image that accesses the ineffable, the mysterious, the inarticulable, the human condition.
Thank you for writing with your thoughtful question.
Warmly,
Nancy
Wow, what an incredible show. Thank you for taking the time to post pictures of the Winners and Honorable Mention artwork. I loved the interviews as I always walk away with some new insights. It is true that the First Place Winner piece is haunting. I can’t seem to let it go as I keep seeing it in my mind’s eye.
Appreciate the wonderful experience virtually.
Laura Naughton
Ah…thank you so much dear Laura! It was an incredible experience meeting all the wonderful artists. Yes, that was what it came down to for me- the piece that lodged itself in my mind, the one I could never forget.
There were so many incredible works there. I feel deeply honored to have been part of this. It was a wonderful experience to go down there and see the works in person, and to meet and talk with the amazing artists.
Thank you so much Laura!
Warmly,
Nancy
Hi Laura,
Thank you so much for writing! Yes, it was an amazing show! I loved meeting and interviewing the artists and seeing their work in person.
Warmly,
Nancy
Your comment “I was not looking for rendering or technique but rather to be moved emotionally. In this sense, technique was subservient to message.”
I am so glad to hear you say this. So many jurors look strictly for technique. I have always felt that moving a viewer is more important than being absolutely technically correct.
I am surprized not to see any nonobjective artwork in your choices.
Thank you Marilyn. Interestingly, there were far fewer non-objective works submitted for the exhibition. There were definitely a number of them selected for the show but they weren’t chosen for awards.
Nancy, I want to thank for interviewing these wonderful artist. The pieces were amazing and your questions and comments were right on point. You seem to be a kind, compassionate and intelligent artist and we need more of you in the world.
Regards,
Dennis
Dennis, Thank you so much for your kind and generous words. It was such an honor to be part of this exhibition and to meet and talk with the amazing artists and see their work in person! Thank you again.
Warmly,
Nancy
Loved seeing the interviews and your choices on the show you judged! You did a great job!
Thank you so much Jane. It was quite a challenge and wonderful to be able to go there and meet the artists.
Thank you so much Jane. It was quite a process and wonderful to be able to go there and meet the artists.