Annual Contemporary Art Survey Engages Curiousity

           

What do masking tape, logs, and shrews have in common? You’ll find them all featured in various artworks in the Lincoln Center’s Annual Contemporary Art Survey exhibition.

            Since opening its new art gallery in 2011, the Lincoln Center has presented a national juried exhibition that “takes the pulse” of contemporary art in America each year. The exhibit is open to any artist around the country to submit artwork, without any unifying theme other than work that “reflects the artist’s capacity to consider the wide world of issues, objects, imagery and ideas they encounter in creating art.” The resulting exhibits have been a diverse exploration of ideas that  inspire and engage the curious viewer.

            Each year a Guest Juror from Colorado is invited to select the artworks that are entered for consideration. This year’s Guest Juror is Denver Post Fine Arts Critic Ray Rinaldi.  The exhibit has always resulted in an eclectic and thought-provoking combination of artworks, from sculpture to painting and everything in between. This year’s Annual Contemporary Art Survey is no exception. Mr. Rinaldi has selected works that explore a wide range of ideas from pure color and form, to figural work, to conceptual ideas and contemporary issues. 

            In a blind-jury process (the juror did not see the name and origin of the submitting artists) Mr. Rinaldi selected 56 artworks from nearly 600 images submitted by 177 artists from around the country. Twenty-eight artists from 13 states will participate in the exhibition.

            The diverse selection of media includes painting, drawing, print-making, photography, fiber arts, and sculpture. In addition are several installations made of unconventional materials including logs, embroidery thread, Chinese poetry dowels, and colored sand. One installation will be created from a blind-folded performance with masking tape.

            Mr. Rinaldi will offer a Gallery Talk on Friday, April 15, 5-6 p.m. in the galleries before the reception. He will also select a number of artworks that the Lincoln Center will award over $2,000 in cash prizes. The awards will be presented during the Opening Reception on Friday, April 15, 6-8 p.m. More information is available at www.lctix.com/exhibitions .

Scheduled Events:

Exhibition Dates: April 15-May 28, 2016

Opening Reception: Friday, April 15, 6-8 p.m.; Awards Presentation at 6:30 p.m.

Gallery Talk with Mr. Ray Rinaldi, Friday, April 15, 5-6pm

Performance/Installation: Friday, April 15, 4:30-5pm

Participating Colorado artists (contact information available upon request):

Susan Blake, painting, Denver

Amelia Caruso (Creator of the image at top of post), painting, Fort Collins

Mark Dolce, photography, Fort Collins

Carla Kappa, mixed media installation, Boulder

Scott Laumann, mixed media installation, Wellington

Elizabeth Morisette, fiber art, Fort Collins

Julia Mulligan, ceramic sculpture, Golden

Kimberly Noel, fiber art, Fort Collins

Roger Reutiman, sculpture, Fort Collins

Andrew Roberts-Gray, mixed media, Glenwood

Masha Sha, drawing, Boulder

Sam Smith, mixed media, Centennial

Matthew Weiderspoon, performance/installation, Greeley