2019 Shrine Show

Juror's Statement

No one ever says judging an art fair or competition is going to be easy. Most artwork we look at is pleasing or exciting in some fashion or form. So, deciding how one piece is better than another is next to impossible. So, judges come in and split hairs to try and make sense of it all. Some of the things I consider while judging is technique, composition, tradition, detail, expression, narrative, experimentation, display, metaphor, meaning, originality and the list goes on and on. At the end of the day the decision is a large percent subjective.

I like to think first off that art is made to express a feeling or idea that is difficult to put into words. Images, icons and symbols can be used to help form a narrative. Sometimes the materials alone are composed in such harmony that they create their own narrative. Use of the materials placed at the right place at the right time with right intensity can be pleasing and beautiful in and of itself.

This is why I chose Susan Rodgers “June Day” as Best of Show. I believe this image is a fine balance of all the items mentioned above. I feel similarly with the works by Christina MacMorran, Marty Spears and the rest of the Awards of  excellence. There is such a thin line of separation between all of these works.
It is difficult to make a specific distinction. Which in all says that the GEAG is fostering a large sum of very wonderful and profound work. It was a delight to see a hall full of strong imagery and creativity made by passionate artists!