R O B E R T  R E G I S  D V O R A K

Judges comments:

First I want to congratulate and acknowledge each person who submitted one or more works to the exhibition. Taking a blank piece of paper, film, canvas, a hunk of clay or found objects and producing a work of art is a remarkable accomplishment. One must face their shadows—insecurities, fears, confusions, frustrations in order to create art. Beyond that, to select one or more expressions of personal creativity and prepare and permit it to be displayed takes another step of courage. I want the participants to know that I acknowledge them for each work submitted.

There were some works that "spoke" to me more directly than others. My selections for the show are based upon my own subjective connections. Being a watercolorist I am attracted to that medium but I also work in oil, acrylic, pastel, and collage and have been a printmaker for years. I have an appreciation of the technical expertise required for each media from personal experience. I have tried to make my selections represent the many different media presented. I looked for skill, personal expression, spontaneity, emotional impact, originality of concept and what I call the story factor—the narrative that comes through the work. My subjective feelings and my understanding of the piece and the medium prevailed. I wanted my selections to include technical skill and creative expression.

Best of Show Award

Susana Van Bezooijen, Yucatecan House

This small model is a very original statement full of content, story and humor. It is very original and very personal.

Best 2-dimensional work

Susan Varjavand, Boulder at the Source

This abstract painting has rich color, strong composition, lost and found edges, and reminds me of coastal rocks, earth color, and water. It is difficult to paint a strong composition in a square format. This person is a painter.

Best 3-dimensional work

Susana Van Bezooijen, Dame Regnell

The work has a primitive quality, full of life and vitality. It is a very strong ceramic piece down to the expression on the woman’s face. Everything works, the color and weight of the figure in a very small format. It demonstrates that bigger is not necessarily better.

Best Photo

Randie Marlow, Kamikaze Moon

Here I am attracted to the abstract composition made by the silhouetted figures hanging and flying through the night air with the full moon glowing below them. The grainy quality of the photo adds to the abstract quality of the composition.

Grumbacher Award

Sandra Smith, Helping Hand

Of the five works submitted in this category I picked this one for its color, vitality, story and painterly quality.

Merit Award

Michael Forte, Tomato Man

I don’t know what to call this—a photo painting? This is a digital manipulation, made with a computer, of a photograph. I like the strong light and color. Look again at the man’s shirt. There are a number of excellent works in the exhibition created this way.

Merit Award

Victoria Hamlin, Hangin’ Around

The figure placed in the confines of a cramped canvas border produces the feeling of tight space, the same feeling one might have trying to work high up on a ladder in an awkward position. The paint has been applied with confidence and tells the story.

Honorable Mention

Randall Reid, Gate Keeper

The primitive quality of the gown, the base, and the expression on the face exhibit a sureness of form and an emotional aliveness. Mr. Reid is a master of this medium.

Honorable Mention

Michael Wong, Brugge Canal

The axial space in this photo is a favorite composition of mine. I could look at the colors in the water for hours. The hard line edges of the architecture contrasts with the fluid movement of the water and the soft vegetation.

Thank you for the honor and pleasure to serve as your juror.

 Robert Regis Dvorak

e-mail: dvorak@best.com online: www.youcreate.com