Some of the PRAC members at the take-in table.
Standing: Lynda Meredith, Susan Brown, Gwen Williams, Elsie Hetherman and Mary Jo Smith
Seated: Anja Knuuttlia, Ramola Vanderhyden, Cathy Schnippering and Janice McHaffie
2013 Juror ~ Peter Marsh BA CSPWC SCA
COMMENTS
It is always exciting to be the juror for a show exhibiting work with considerable technical skill, and most importantly, substantial and innovative thinking in its visual imagery.
PineRidge artists can be proud of the quality of their work and the diversity of expression shown in this exhibition. For those who were accepted into the show congratulations, and for those who were excluded on this occasion, you should know that reducing the submissions from 150 down to the 64 to be exhibited is no easy task when the quality of the work is high. You should be encouraged to know that another juror may have made other choices.
Congratulations to all, with a special round of applause for the award winners. I was pleased to see a wide range of artistic expression, a fact that speaks well for a healthy arts community in Ajax/Pickering and beyond.
ABOUT
Peter Marsh is the past President of the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour and has been painting for over 50 years. Peter spent a long teaching career as the Art Director at Wexford Collegiate School for The Arts. Peter’s paintings have been included in national exhibitions and they are held in both public and private collections. He has served as a juror for many art exhibitions and continues to be involved in our national watercolour society. He is a "Member Emeritus" of the Scarborough Arts Council and also served for 10 years as the president of the Humphrey/Seguin Arts Council. Peter served for 12 years as an elected councillor for the Township of Humphrey/Seguin. He is a member of the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto. His work has been exhibited in four national juried exhibitions in the past two years which included the winning of an award in the CSPWC "Open Water" exhibition of 2011.
Guest Performer ~ Kim Michele, Harpist
Musings of an Artist: “Courage to Commit”
By Karen Bigelow
I opened my email. “PRAC has cancelled the Annual Juried Art Show.” What??? How can this have happened? Don’t they understand how important the Juried Art Show (JAS) is to Durham artists… to me. Why didn’t I get a call or email requesting help? Why wasn’t I given the chance to do something?
What a minute! My logical brain engages. Haven’t the volunteers of the JAS for the last few years asked for help? Didn’t I see the same faces, year after year, collecting and processing art submissions? Did I not hear their plea? Was I so wrapped up in my own world that I disregarded their plight? Accepted their contribution as my right?
I never thought about the effort and personal commitment as I walked into the McLean Community Centre, Ajax for artwork drop-off or pick-up, exhibition display or during the awards presentation. It never crossed my mind that an event that has been a tradition for thirteen years could cease to exist. I must confess. I have taken the PRAC Juried Art Show and the work of the dedicated volunteers for granted.
Did I plan my art submission for this year? Of course I did. It is an amazing, powerful, unique creation that would vie for first, best in show, a winner, selected. Am I heart-broken? Of course I am! And I KNOW I am not alone. There are many of you, members and non-members who geared up for this exhibition. You grasped the courage to be juried, acknowledging the value of PRAC’s Juried Art Exhibition.
How did this happen? A tradition broken. An Annual Juried Art Show cancelled. Was the cancellation a “fait accompli” “done deal” or was there a chance to reverse the cancellation? I scanned the front page of the July/August ArtScene for a phone number for immediate answers. The Volunteer Coordinator answered. Health issues of the committee members and reduced volunteer support forced an executive decision. Cancelled.
“What about next year?” Will the 2013 Annual Juried Art Show happen? You have the answer. Is JAS important to you? Is JAS integrated into your artistic journey? Are you a parent or grandparent of an up and coming artist? Are you a patron or friend of art? Will you commit time and effort to ensure a successful 2013 PRAC Juried Art Show?
The JAS Chairperson position is vacant. A committee of volunteers is required. Still more are needed to make it happen. This is about making a commitment of time and effort. Learning the nuts and bolts, behind the scenes of a JAS. There will be camaraderie, laughter and gaffes. And at the end of the exhibition a debriefing and sense of “accomplishment.”
Together we can ensure that in 2013, there is a 14th Annual PRAC Juried Art Show. It takes “Courage to Commit.” Step forward. Learn new skills. Participate. |
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