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Welcome to the “8th Annual Faces International Juried Online Art Exhibition”. We never imagined there would be this much interest, however now we realize that this subject matter is used quite often worldwide as a means of expression.
The criteria of selections for this year’s show were determined basically upon the overall character of the piece and those receiving special recognition were those that represented a wide range of original style and content.
Herein are some observations about some particular works.
James Baines presents a high degree of skill and understanding of the human condition as indicated by the rich montages and character details. His works “River of Gold Detail - Aboriginal” and “River of Gold Detail” capture an awesome face in a wonderfully detailed setting of the panoramic view of the “River of Gold” piece. All of his subjects are outstandingly portrayed and show a lot of character artistically and in terms of personality depiction. His large work "Broome Odyssey - Historical Portraits" is one of those with a great vastness as well as covering a lot of history.
The strong tonal contrast and the rather strategic placements of intense warm and dull color in the contemporary cubistic-like facets demand respect in “D J Abernathy”, an oil on panel work by Caetlynn Booth. Her colorful relationships are remarkable in the work “Mike Kendall” as well.
Margaret Buie is known nationally as a juror for watercolor exhibitions and we are very pleased to have her participate in this year’s international. Needless to say that she is a master watercolorist. Her work “The Jester” is richly colored for such a colorful character. Her other four pieces are warmly heartfelt expressions. “I want To Be A Fireman” is especially strong in that the brightly colored youth is framed in a contrasting neutralized background.
“Grannie Oakley (Self Portrait)”, “Old Gray Mare (Self Portrait)” and “Phebe’s Phabulous Phountain of Youth (Self Portrait)" are catchy titles by a marvelous, humorous and delightful artist who is tops in our books. All ten of her works are deserving of praise. Way to go Phebe Burnham!
Adam Cady has that “techy” touch in all his works. “21st Century Artist (SH80KD)” is one of those digital orchestrations that are right on target with the intellectual and mathematical schema given by the computer language. “WDK_04-97” is another nice achievement.
“Self Portrait” by Jonathan Paul Chestnut is very strong visually with its central triangular and stark white against the dark. The line work that helps to emphasize the tenebristic approach is wonderful in creating movement.
Melinda D’Aloia provides another angular composition that is quite engaging and to top it off there is a figure that looks up at you. In her piece "Melissa" the secure-like structuring and the skillful painterly approach gives this one the seal of approval.
“Moments Gone” by Stephanie DiMuzio is recognized for its message and for her delicate handling of the media. The impressionistic-like style works well with the idea of moments or memories suggested as pieces that have vanished here and there as indicated throughout the work.
Linda Rudin Frizzell must have had a great time at her reunion or at least understands what it may be like seeing the different classmates as seen in her fabric piece “High School Reunion”. Using the grid reinstates the typical class photo arranged in the yearbook in grid formation. This is a great piece all around.
Although not actually about faces as such, there are faces in Eugenia Algaze Garcia’s piece
”A Brother’s Love”. Here is a presentation of recognizing the unborn child and showing how the young love one another, even the unseen - very engaging as a very important work.
Larry Green provides a look at a beautiful young woman in "Hooks". Her flowing hair and her upright posture is complemented with the window framework. The light and sensitive use of pencil reinforces a gentleness of the artist and his subject.
Segueing into the next work we have Teresa Healy’s acrylic painting entitled “Expecting” which depicts a healthy and happy young mother tenderly holding her stomach (belly) with great and loving anticipation. This profile composition is almost classical as well as the warm coloration.
“Gypsy”, a black and white photograph by Shawn Laksmi deserves some mention to round out the show. The unusualness of the frontal figure tilted to the left and countered by a middle ground figure tilted to the right creates a nice dramatic stage. All of these artist’s photographs speak volumes.
Aldo Lira’s “Portrait Study” shows the master at work. The control of the brush to capture the fineness and smoothness is stellar. What is great here also is the chiaroscuro in the face and the overall color and tonal contrast.
Intense feeling is portrayed in Magdalena Lis’ photograph entitled “Gena”. What feeling, what drama in the rhythm of light and dark placements and the upper right quadrant as the point of emphasis suggests this is a captured moment in time.
Robert Maniscalco is a fine painter. His depiction of “Daniel’s Arrival” and “Mary Rose et all” are indeed painted with love and tenderness. The Daniel piece which incorporates the dove suggests peace and love as well as being watched over. And the Mary Rose piece with everything else as el al is great as a visual record of a wonderful time in life.
“Training Day” by Natalie McGuire is quite humorous and is reminiscent of those “funniest home videos”. The situation is comedic yet presented nicely in a triangular arrangement with two complementary heads setting the stage.
Maria Modopoulos is a master painter. Her handling of paint is flawless. All of her works are astounding and beautifully developed. “Déjå Vu” shows her imaginative abilities. This work is fascinating considering the situation of thinking something has happened exactly as before. This is an awesome painting!
Ability to deal with humor and/or seriousness is found in all the terrific works by Rosemary Kavanagh O’Carroll. Her work "Invasion" may suggest the idea of being taken over by foreigners on Native American soil. One of the most striking paintings is “Three Mountains”. It’s quite difficult to put into words what is captured so profoundly here. This is a very important work of art!
Catherine Panebianco gives the gallery a little journey in her carbon digital print series. One of the loving animals series “Vinnie - From Tails of Love Series” speaks about those wonderful companions or pets many people have. It’s interesting how so many pets look similar to their owners or their human friends.
This type of show would be remiss without including a successful representation of our Native American Indian. Colorfully presented with full headdress, Allan A Philiba captures a richness in “Hopi Chief, Grand Canyon”. The complementary blue and orange makes for a strikingly handsome photograph.
Dean Rubino is another one of our star artists whose signature trait is depicting other stars in their fields of life. “The Champ (Floyd Mayweather Jr.)” is given special recognition among so many others of his great works. Here the use of color provokes a strength of presence. The color shifts in the face especially demand respect.
“Homeless Man” is a subject that many find difficult. Mayda Rumberg is given a rich vocabulary of imagery in the great city of New York and she wonderfully finds some very strong statements. What is so engaging with this color photograph is the darkness in the covered face area and the metaphor of the brick wall. This is another important work!
Amelia Santiago in “Carmina’s Tears” as well as in her paintings of Edgar, especially “Edgar’s Anguish” reveal the tenderness and struggle of the human condition. Tears are like pearls of emotion and crying is a very healthy part of life, helping to purify the body. Her works are sensitive and very well painted.
“Alone in a Crowd” is quite significant. Nicky Y Schleider’s style makes a strong impact with this grouping using her rich painterly textural treatment. The simplicity and directness evokes a truth of material and honesty. This Schleider quality is definitely appealing.
Tracey St. Peter has some very interesting messages with signs and symbols throughout the works. “Jeff” is one of those moving works in oil in a rather large size. This particular piece has a good side-by-side arrangement giving it a vertical strength for the smaller parts.
What emotion, what understanding, what expression is found in all the works by Giannis Stratis of Greece. One of the many outstanding pieces is “The Fugutive”. This oil on wood with the tender feeling in the choice of a pink-like background surrounding the dark colored face gives a strong contrast especially when given the dramatic thorny crown-like treatment above the head. All of Stratis’ work is sincerely enticing.
P J Sulzby gives an interesting array with the concept of faces. Each of his pieces show his creativity. His work "Faces 5", in its open form with the clustering of faces and parts of faces is rather joyous and illustrative of the interrelationships we have as humanity.
Tatyana Uspenskaya grapples the thought of the heaviness sometimes felt with time in her oil painting “Weight of Life”. The tilted head, the diagonality of the hat and the wide fur collar tend to pull downward as if to strengthen the idea. Also the facial expression shows the burden.
“Member of the Cabinet - Jesse” and “Member of the Cabinet - Sherry” by Paul D Van Hoy II bring a freshness to the show with the humorous title and the strong contrast of the animated with the still life in the adjacent cabinets full of personal hygeine items in both pieces.
Cleo Wilkinson has a virtuosity of skill and expression, especially strongly felt in her drawing “Neville Bonner Portrait”. The interesting facial characteristics of the person played against the soft and even glowing hair makes for a deeper message than just a portrait.
“No Words” by Hillel Zhenwirth is on the more serious side of his work. The dramatic lighting and the wonderful expression need no words because the emotion is certainly felt. The strongly shaped sideburns complement the strong characteristics of the face.
Upstream People Gallery wishes to thank all the artists who have submitted and who have been selected for this international exposition. May each continue their high caliber of artistic expression and personal styles.
Sincerely,
Larry Bradshaw
Curator, Professor of Art |
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Sincerely,
Larry Bradshaw
Curator, Professor of Art |
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