On Display January 4 – 28, 2023
Virtual Awards Ceremony will be January 8, 2023 from 4 – 5 PM via Zoom
Closing Reception at Circle Gallery January 28, 2023 from 4 – 6 PM
Awards
Conley Award for 3D
Across the Sands of Time, 3D printed ceramic, David Prete
Juror’s Choice
Split, wood, stainless steel, Antonina Enalieva
Dancing Rainbow, oil, texture spray paint, metallic leaf, oil on canvas, Cindy Mehr
Abstract # 61 – The Conversation, wood veneer, Robert Bruce Weston
Snack Time: Sea Hawk, fiber art – thread painting, Susan Schauer John
Extra Sprinkles, oil on panel, Deborah Kommalan
Honorable Mentions
Across the Sands of Time, 3D printed ceramic, David Prete
Sirra, oil on canvas, Megan Burak
Blue Study, archival digital print, Richard Weiblinger
Juror: Scott Hutchison, Associate Professor of Practice in Painting and Drawing at Georgetown University
Scott Hutchison is an American figurative artist based in Arlington, VA. After receiving his BFA at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in 1995, Scott was awarded the Morris Lewis Fellowship from George Washington University where he received his Master of Fine Arts degree in painting in 1999. He has over 20 years of combined teaching and professional art experience, much of that time was devoted to teaching painting and drawing at The Art League. He is currently an Associate Professor of Practice in painting and drawing at Georgetown University and has a home studio in Arlington.
Scott’s artwork has been featured in a variety of venues regionally and nationally. Most notably, his work was accepted for display in Dover, Delaware, at Biggs Body 2019 where his piece “Vertigo” was acquired by The Biggs Museum of American Art’s permanent collection. In 2021, Scott had a solo exhibition titled “Flux” at The Fred Schnider Gallery in Arlington. He has recently shown in a number of group shows: “Mind|Body|Soul” at The Smith Center for Healing Arts in Washington, DC, “Painting the Figure Now” at the Zhou B Art Center in Chicago, and “Inside Out, Outside In” at RJD Gallery in Bridgehampton, NY. See his work and learn more at scotthutchison.com.
Juror’s Statement
It was a pleasure to be this year’s Juror for the MFA’s Winter Member Show and review a wide range of submissions from talented artists working in various mediums. The selection process was difficult as the quality of the work was consistently high, making it challenging to narrow down the selection to a cohesive and compelling show.
Over 300 works were submitted and I was particularly struck by the diversity of styles and subjects. All combined, this number represents countless hours of hard work and creative exploration which produced so many stunning pieces. The final result is a show of 55 unique works that I hope showcases the vast range of artistic talent within the MFA membership.
I chose pieces that demonstrate a strong command of the medium, a unique perspective, and a clear artistic vision. I was particularly drawn to work that contained a conflict or visual effect that complimented the artist’s vision. A visual effect can be any number of qualities such as a bold or smoothly applied brushmark, or the experimental play of scale, textures, colors and lighting. My final selections were based on what I perceived as the idea being communicated in the work and how the effect was used to give it life. My intention was to choose a broad range of subjects and approaches and highlight work that best engages with the viewer in concept as well as the medium – hopefully sparking a dialogue between the art and the viewer.
One of the things that I love most about this show is the way it highlights the MFA membership. From traditional mediums like painting and drawing to more experimental forms like digital art and mixed media. I am honored to have played a role in selecting the works for this show and I can’t wait for you to see the work on display at The Circle Gallery.