Concord Art's 20th Annual Frances N. Roddy Exhibition

Concord, MA (October 2019) The 20th Anniversary of the Annual Frances N. Roddy Open Art Competition is on view now at Concord Art until October 18, 2019, at 37 Lexington Road, Concord, MA. The exhibit includes artists who reside throughout the New England who were called to submit 2D and 3D work. The Frances N. Roddy Open Art Competition was established in memory of the late artist Frances N. Roddy, a beloved member of Concord Art who was a sculptor, watercolorist, gardener, friend and generous supporter of the arts. Concord Art was pleased to welcome Josephine Halvorson, Professor of Art, and the Chair of Graduate Studies in Painting at Boston University, to jury the competition. Monetary awards were given out to fourteen artists for their outstanding work and the . exhibition contains a variety of media and techniques, including painting, photography, sculpture and drawing.” Concord Art is located at 37 Lexington Road in Concord and the Gallery hours are Tuesday–Saturday 10:00am–4:30pm; Sunday 12:00pm–4:00pm. This exhibtion is free and open to the public. Go to www.concordart.org for more information.

The Frances N.Roddy Prizes were given out on September 12 at Concord Art to fourteen artists. Among the winners were two artists, Marjorie Glick and Marie Anthony, who each received a prize for their beautiful and astute use of color. Marjorie Glick is a member of the faculty at Concord Art, and her painting is titled, Late September Garden. The juror gave the following comments about Glick's work: "The luminous color in this piece is striking. The greens, in particular, describe the particular plants and their state of growth with such sensitivity. Looking at this piece I feel as if I could smell the garden and taste the vegetables that grew there." Artist Marie Anthony was awarded a prize for color for her painting, Still Life in Pink, 2019. Juror Josephine Halvorson stated: "The color combinations and relationships in this painting remind me of looking through a stained glass window. They are luminous and bright. The shapes feel like letter-forms spelling out the words of the colors that appear in the painting, creating a synesthetic experience."

Karen Rothman and Timothy Kadish were awarded prizes for the painting category. Rothman's painting; Juggling Democracy, prompted the juror to remark: "This painting captures the turbulence of our current political climate. Simultaneously a game and a warning, the gestures express anxiety and urgency. Art historically, it reminds me of earlier painterly precedents such as works by Jasper Johns. Timothy Kadish was also given the painting prize for Spatial Relations: Orbital Relief XIX-A. Juror Josephine Halvorson states: "I responded to the craftsmanship of this work, particularly the finish of the surface and the composition of the collage elements and diagrammatic lines. It looks like a puzzle or a video game, inviting me to rearrange the visual elements to create my own syntax of meaning.

Artist Martha Brill was given a Frances N. Roddy prize for her video Capricorn from 2018. The juror stated; "I was really impressed with this piece because the original poem and imagery are so eloquently woven together. Its emphasis on the perception and description of nature and its transformations was especially moving. I watched it several times, not just to evaluate it for inclusion in the exhibition but because I find it so compelling."

Michelle Stevens, Tally Forbes and Margo Hurley won prizes for the drawing category. Steven's work is called; Collective Unconscious and Halvorson remarked: "It’s difficult to put an idea like “collective unconscious” into visual form, but this drawing succeeds at it. I appreciated the subtle shifts of form from one figure to another, and the overall storytelling of this drawing. The next prize went to Meditation I, by artist Tally Forbes. The juror stated; "Submitting a piece with this simplicity requires courage and confidence. These qualities are evident in the drawing itself. The economical, swirling line of the brushstroke describes the sensation of a figure in space." Margot Hurley won a prize for her drawing called Bombshell, 2019. Halvorson remarked; this detailed drawing invites me to look at it closely because of the attention to the nuances of light on skin. The expression of the face is at once severe and serene, clearly a strong portrait of a strong person.

Timothy Wilson and Ellen Royalty both received a prize for their outstanding photography. Tim's work, Orr's Island Crevice, 2019 provoked the juror to say, "This sensual photograph shows more than meets the eye. It appears to be both a rock face and a human body in equal measure. Looking more closely one can locate a small purple object wedged in the crevice, showing us the coloration of the photo and the scale of the subject," Halvorson said about the work of Ellen Royalty, Main Street, "This photograph is a timeless portrayal of a New England street scene. It reminded me of Edward Hopper’s paintings and told so many stories through a single image. A storefront like this could easily be passed by without notice, but this photograph allows us to realize the magic of our everyday environment."

Kim Triedman's work Idol Worship was given a prize for the Mixed Media category. "This piece stood out because of its experimental use of found material and image. I immediately responded to the use of collage, scale, and sequence of images that show an intensity of feeling and a passing of time." Kirsten Fischler, also won a mixed media prize too for Layered Intrusion I, "This piece, both two-dimensional and three-dimensional in nature, confuses the literal with the illusory. It is interesting to consider found vs. applied color in this work and discover the many textures that each material reveals."

The prize for the textile category was given to Kara Patrowicz for her embroidered Ring Dish. Halvorson remarked: "Small in size yet true to life in scale, this lovely woven piece celebrates the intimate yet important objects and moments of our everyday lives. I will never forget this piece.

Honorable Mention

Rose Keefe was given the Honorable Mention award for her Self Portrait as St. Sebastian, 2019 "This painting deserves a category all its own, because I’ve never seen a painting of Cumberland Farms before. As New Englander, it made me smile to see the regular fixture of Cumby’s — and a car with Massachusetts plates — elevated to the pictorial space of religious iconography, " remarked Josephine Halvorson.

At the opening of this special exhibition, Concord Art Director, Kate James shared a deep appreciation for the artists who entered their work. She also thanked Gibbs Roddy, son of Frances N. Roddy, the beloved namesake for the annual tradition at Concord Art.

“This important show continues to year after year to fulfill Concord Art’s mission to promote and advance the visual arts and artists. We are grateful to Josephine Halvorson and who selected from a new record number of over 620 entries, which was a very daunting task. I also want to give special thanks to Gibbs Roddy and the Roddy Family for creating this wonderful exhibition to honor his beautiful mother, Frances N. Roddy”. Gibbs Roddy, Frances’ son, stated: of his mother, “Frances truly loved Concord Art…she cherished the friendships she made with fellow artists through the many classes and exhibits in which she participated and it is my honor to help continue her legacy and love of art. "

Accepted entries are on exhibit at the Concord Art through October 18, 2019. Since 1917, Concord Art has been dedicated to promoting and advancing contemporary art and artists. It is the 20th Anniversary of the Annual Frances N. Roddy Open Art Competition and on view now at Concord Art until October 18, 2019, at 37 Lexington Road, Concord, MA. Gallery hours are Tuesday–Saturday 10:00am–4:30pm; Sunday 12:00pm–4:00pm and is free and open to the public. For more information on classes and workshops, lectures, films and a host of Concord Art’s dynamic programming, please visit: www.concordart.org.

More info: KathleenJacobs@concordart.org