Frederick’s Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center hosted a special reception for its annual Regional Juried Exhibit on Saturday, June 9. According to Programs Manager Diane Sibbison the exhibit, which will be open from June 2- July 22, took in 308 submissions, of which 55 were selected for display. The Regional Juried Exhibit has been scheduled every year since 1992. Sibbison says, “The Delaplaine wishes to choose a juror for the exhibition who is not only from out of the region but also someone who is affiliated with a larger arts institution.”

The man selected for that task, Tom Ashcraft, said that the judging is,”very tough” because all of the work submitted has its merits. Ashcraft, who was on hand to announce the prizes, is an artist and an associate professor at George Mason University. Entry into the exhibit was open to all regional artists, therefore allowing for a wide range of style, subject matter, and media. However, the pieces in the gallery seemed to live comfortably together at the Delaplaine.

The prizes for the Regional Juried Exhibit are as follows:

First Prize: Kevin Hluch Turquoise Figure Vessel

Second Prize: Michael Mendez The Hemmingway

Third Prize: Margaret Kennedy Dawn of the Dead Thurcydida’s Fire Line

Honorable Mentions: Erin Antognoli Footprints

Allison Long Cluster 1, 2 + 3

Jerry Ward Phlox and Friends

Meredith Springer National Merit Award: Kristen Bohlander Compulsive Circumstance

Non-cash Award for Best Title: Sara Hay The Cat Who Walked by Himself

 
Asked about what he thought of the show, Tim Ryan, Manager of Special Projects, said, “It’s an opportunity for people who normally don’t show their work to do so.”

All photos and captions by Michael J. Maginnis