Silvermine Arts Center has opened its signature Art of the Northeast exhibition and announced winners of awards given at the July 14 opening reception.
A regional competition, open to artists from Maine to D.C., Art of the Northeast is now in its 68th year. Silvermine was honored to have Patricia Hickson, the Emily Hall Tremaine Curator of Contemporary Art at the Wadsworth Atheneum, serve as this year’s curator.
The Board Chair Award for Best in Show went to Sofie Swann of Stamford. Sofie will receive a $1,000 prize and a solo exhibition in 2020.
Tracy Kerdman of New York City won the Patricia Warfield Jinishian Award; the Carole Eisner Award for Sculpture went to Susan Clinard of New Haven; the Mollie and Albert Jacobson Award for Sculpture went to Jean Sausele-Knodt of North Yarmouth, Maine.
Kevin Ford of Norwalk and Michael Quirk of Shelton were the recipients of the Jerry’s Artarama Awards; and the Winsor and Newton Watercolor Award went to Christa Witten of Suffield.
Addressing the challenges of choosing from hundreds of submissions, Curator Patricia Hickson commented:
“In selecting the award winners, I placed emphasis on the unique voice and signature style of the individual artist. I find this particular combination is among the greatest challenges for artists working today.
“There are many artists who are excellent technicians. However, the more rare artist mines new territory, presents a singular vision, and delivers a surprising experience that captures one’s attention and interest.
“I had many captivating moments in reviewing the submissions for the Silvermine Art Center’s 68th Art of the Northeast. Art makes you look. Great art makes you look again.”
The Silvermine Galleries now welcome visitors six days a week from 12 to 5 p.m. and are closed on Friday. Sunday hours are 12 noon to 4 p.m. Art of the Northeast will run through August 25.
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