Abstract Juried Show Rich with Colors & Shapes

The Falmouth Art Center’s Annual Juried Show attracted the most entries in its history this year and that made for a big challenge for juror Richard Neal of Centerville, an artist whose
studio is at the Old Schoolhouse in Barnstable Village. Of the 124 works that were submitted, Mr. Neal chose 40 works from 36 local artists.The exhibit is on view in the Art Center’s Hermann Gallery to Friday, November 20. It is also posted on the Falmouth Art Center’s website. After selecting the works in the show, Mr. Neal said, “With such an abundance of impressive work submitted, the task of selecting a show was not an easy one.”

He also commented on the fact that the Best in Show and other pieces in the show happened to be photographs. “An abstract picture at its most powerful can evoke impressions and emotions that are often nonverbal. It seems counter intuitive that photographs would be a good vehicle for abstraction since they are thought to be an embodiment of realism. . . but a discerning artist can locate powerful abstractions through the camera lens and I found many of the abstract photographs submitted to this show to be particularly strong,” he said.

Mr. Neal said the pieces he chose for awards are all satisfying when seen from a distance and close up. Amy Rader of Falmouth, longtime local photographer who has been studying painting at the Art Center for many years, won Best in Show with her photo, “Drips from a Dinghy.”
Mr. Neal said of the work, “This submission kept drawing me back repeatedly with its moody palette and somber streaks. For me, it evokes a duality of sadness and hope, where the strong emotions one can feel while in a myopic state are softened by glimpses of a spiritual infinity beyond.”

The other awards are for Most Creative Use of Materials to Annie Dean of Falmouth for her mixed media piece, “Untitled”; Most Evocative to Catherine Cetta of East Falmouth for a paper collage called “Underneath”; Most Ethereal to Carl Richards of South Chatham for a pen and ink work “Falling Snow #59”; and Best Abstraction through the Lens for Jeannine Lavoie of Bourne for “Study in Angles.” Receiving honorable mentions were Herb Edwards of North Falmouth for his oil painting, “Provincetown”; Jen Kano of Cataumet for her photo, “Ethereal Forest” and Joan Valle of East Falmouth for her paper collage, “Why”. Other artists who have works in the show are Pam Abrams-Warnick of Mashpee, Corine Adams of Pocasset, Barry Beder of East Falmouth, Joyce Caggiano of Milton, Sally Casper of Boston, Wendy Christern of West Dennis, Susan Ciampa of Sagamore Beach, Ellen Davies of Falmouth, Louise Forrest of Watertown, Edith Green of Mashpee, Ric Haynes of Mashpee, Carol Knox of Falmouth, Diana Lee of East Falmouth, Miki Lovett of Mashpee, Marilyn Pageau of Randolph, Jane Parhiala of Falmouth, Peggy Richard of Sandwich, Phil Richardson of Woods Hole, Judith Richardson of Woods Hole, Lisa Jo Rudy of Falmouth, Marie Shanahan of Plymouth, Mary Shiff of Falmouth, Claudia Smith-Jacobs of East Falmouth, Richard Tranfaglia of Southborough, Jean Tucker of Mashpee, Linda Walker of Falmouth, Marie Walsh of Falmouth, Christine Weisiger of Falmouth and David E. Williamson of West Falmouth.

The Falmouth Art Center located at 137 Gifford Street in Falmouth is free and open to the public daily, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm; Saturday 10am to 2pm and Sunday 1 to 4pm. For more information, go to FalmouthArt.org or call 508-540-3304.

The Falmouth Art Center, a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 1966, is dedicated to the visual arts, providing educational and exhibition opportunities and welcoming students of all
ages and abilities and all who enjoy and appreciate art.