Congratulations to each artist whose work was accepted into Wild Heart Gallery's Ebb and Flow: Wildlife and Water international juried art exhibition! Artists were asked to submit their artwork of aquatic-centric animals or artwork incorporating animals and water.
It is the goal of Wild Heart Gallery to support and promote animal and wildlife artwork in a wide range of genres and styles. We are always thrilled to see the range of styles and mediums entered!
Artwork for this exhibition was selected by jury based on theme, originality, technique, skill, and quality of work.
Awards: Best in Show, Overall Runner Up, Artivism Award, Overall Honorable Mentions, Best in Category, and Special Merit Awards. More award details below.
This is our first time giving out an Artivism Award. Seeing and reading about the conservation and ecological-awareness themes in various pieces was enlightening and fulfilling. Thank you all for your thoughtful entries!
Click on an image to enlarge it.
BEST IN SHOW
Silk Snapper Wild USA $14.99/lb, by Rachel Hall
30 x 40 in, Oil on Canvas
The artist describes this piece as, "Animal as commodity."
An important aspect of the Ebb and Flow exhibition is animal activism in the form of art, also called Artivism. This piece falls squarely into that category as it noticeably nods to over fishing, and how those practices came to be commonplace.
This loose painting holds together well, capturing enough of the structure and color of the fish to make the painting believable and move our gaze through the work. The mood set by the brush strokes, composition, and bold color choices heighten the meaning behind the piece.
OVERALL RUNNER UP
The Great Blue, by Vanessa Thorman
20 x 20 in, Watercolor on cold-pressed paper
From the artist, "This beautiful creature lives in harmony with the other great blue (water) and relies on it for survival. The relationship between the Great Blues gives hope to what we as humans can learn from nature."
The tie between the great blue heron and the great blue ocean that the artist writes about is evident in the treatment of the paint. The heron looks wet. It's almost as if the feathers contain the essence of water and waves without going as far as illustrating it.
ARTIVISM AWARD
The Pulpo, by Eduardo Lopez
20 x 20 in, Watercolor on cold-pressed paper
From the artist, "With undertones of Mexican folklore animals known as 'Alebrijes' I created this octopus that's a part of a world somewhere in the near future, where tech and climate change have caused animals to evolve into something else. 'The Pulpo' is part of a series of works entitled 'Los Creatures Del Futuro'."
Loose and direct are great descriptors for this style. The combination of line work and scumbling to create texture are satisfying and enhance the otherwordly nature of this octopus.
OVERALL HONORABLE MENTIONS
Congratulations to our Overall Honorable Mention winners, Mary Smith, Jacque Price, Darlene Holman, Aurora Pagano, Lauren Fiasconaro, John Bisone, and Donna Dutra.
BEST IN CATEGORY
Congratulations to our Best in Category winners
Digital Art: Chelsea Dixon
Drawing and Pastels: Darlene Holman
Mixed Media: Linda McClure
Painting: Rachel Hall
Photography: Lauren Fiasconaro
Printmaking: Ted Shaine
SPECIAL MERIT AWARDS
Congratulations to our Special Merit Award winners, Linda McClure, Darlene Holman, Luisa Ruiz, Summit Chatterjee, Joha Bisone, Christine O’Dell-Ferguson, Swaroop Ashok, Eduardo Lopez, Martha Cederstrom, and Michelle Waters.
Best in Show receives $75 cash award and promotion on the following: Art Base, Art Week, Wild Heart Gallery’s (WHG's) growing social media and other online media channels, WHG's eNewsletter, and WHG's home page (for duration of the exhibition).
Overall Runner Up receives $25 cash award and promotion Wild Heart Gallery’s (WHG's) growing social media/other online media channels and WHG's eNewsletter and inclusion in a virtual group exhibition that lasts at least one month.
All award recipients receive promotion on Wild Heart Gallery’s (WHG's) growing social media/other online media channels and WHG's eNewsletter and inclusion in a virtual group exhibition that lasts at least one month.
This art exhibition was juried by Sarah Soward and Ashli Kingfisher.