As Newburyport Art Association executive director Elena Bachrach mulled whom she would ask to judge this winter's members art show, she soon realized she had to look no farther than Market Square.
While jurors for past shows have come from numerous locations — Jane Young, owner of the Chase Young gallery in Boston, served as the juror for the fall set — Bachrach opted to tap local talent for this season's show.
Christotha Fitzmaurice from Chameleon and Kari Bernard from The Walsingham Gallery are uniting as the juror team for both parts of the show.
"I thought it important to tap our local talent and for our membership to have the benefit of their feedback," Bachrach said. "It seemed like such a natural fit to reach out to our local gallery owners. Our artists are going to be so interested in their reaction."
Fitzmaurice and Bernard met Tuesday to examine the 172 submissions from member artists. They accepted 144 works into Part 1 of the show. Part 1 includes oil painting, watercolor, drawing, printmaking, sculpture and digital art.
While this was the first time the two gallery owners sat and judged an art association show, they are eager to tackle the second half in a few weeks.
"It's been really fun," Bernard said.
As they studied each piece, the pair say they had similar reactions as they made their selections. They picked the winners based on connection to a piece and its overall quality.
Seeing Holly Crocker Garcia's sculpture called "Iris Courtesan," the pair was moved, they said. The work was elegant, graceful, fluid and masterful, they said.
"When you see it, it really speaks for itself," Bernard said. "It's exquisite. It's a museum piece."
"It's an extraordinary piece," Fitzmaurice agreed.
The pair awarded the piece by the Amesbury resident "Best in Show."
The show will open to the public tomorrow. The public is invited to attend a reception with the artists Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. where artists will receive their awards.
Selecting only four artists to receive honorable mentions was difficult, the pair said.
"There are so many worthy of mention," Fitzmaurice said.
"There's a strong body of work here," Bernard said.
In addition to the Best in Show, the winners for the first part of the winter show are:
Robin Thornhill for "Stage Harbor Lighthouse," Mary Alice Arakelian Memorial Award for work in oil
Holly Crocker Garcia for "Iris Courtesan," Strem Chemicals, Inc. Award for work in sculpture
Karen Jones for "Off the Beaten Path," Institution for Savings Award for work in drawing
Mary Pollak for "Higher Place," Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank Award for work in printmaking
Suzanne Papin for "In Solid State," Newburyport Development Award for work in digital art
Jane Russell for "Transformation," H. Patterson Hale, Jr. Charitable Foundation Award for work in watercolor
The following artists received honorable mentions:
Warren P. Moskowitz for his sculpture "Reclining Nude"; Caroline West for her watercolor, "New Creation"; Don Reed for his oil painting, "Seven Thirty on Elm"; and Robin Thornhill for her oil painting, "Sunrise — Maine Coast."
The second part of the winter show will be held Feb. 3 to Feb. 25, and includes acrylic, pastel, mixed media, fine crafts and photography.
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