Juror, Nancy M. Stuart’s Statement:

Congratulations on your 125th Anniversary Exhibition. I can’t join you because tonight, I am celebrating an anniversary of my own, forty years of marriage!

It was a pleasure “getting to know you” through your art. For such a small state, we are blessed with a plethora of art schools, institutions, museums, galleries, clubs and, of course, artists. I was introduced to most of your works for the first time and I look forward to following your exhibitions and awards going forward.

I started teaching when I was too young and inexperienced, but photography was all the rage, and the local community college couldn’t find enough instructors to fill the demand. I loved photography and was a good teacher, but I despised grading! Some students worked so hard with moderate to poor results while others put little to no effort into near perfect outcomes! Of course, I eventually found a way to work and grade fairly. I must admit I experienced a little of that early grading “angst” when deciding how to parse the generous awards made available through this annual exhibition! Although all the work here is exceptional in concept and craftsmanship, making it a totally subjective decision. What speaks to me? What raises more questions than answers? What makes me remember? What makes me wonder? What makes me smile? What makes me think?

So, thank you for putting all the people, places, animals, botanicals, shapes, colors, lines, and ideas that you love in a medium to share with the rest of us. In the age of artificial intelligence, human creativity is more important than ever!

Nancy M. Stuart

Removal Dates: Saturday, June 20th, 2-4 pm and Sunday, June 21st, 12-2 pm.