Door Prize for Portraiture third Annual Invitational Exhibition

DOOR PRIZE FOR PORTRAITURE  THIRD ANNUAL INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION
June 29-July 29 2012

This exhibit opened at my art space/studio/gallery/farmhouse on the evening of June 28, one of the hottest days of the month and we have no a/c. Worried about labels curling off the wall, people fainting from heat, food going bad from sitting out too long, I had a lot on my mind for a few hours. One thing I did not have to concern myself with - the show. It went up like a dream, 21 works from artists who I have known for some time, witnessing their growth and  efforts at meeting new challenges, some of the people in this exhibit are very old friends, some are new. All of them are talented individuals who Steve and I wanted to honor. I get to play out my fantasy curator-ship and since we seldom entertain, the evening is our once a year bash for friends and artists.  I  felt looked like I stepped out of the shower,  the heat/humidity index was brutal while we were greeting guests, maybe 70-90 people arrived and filled the airy space with lots of talk, renewals  after a long season away, several confessed that this event, still in it's infancy really, is one of their favorite art events of the season. Steve poured wine outside, tables set up and plenty of soda, water, raspberry tea and inside, tables piled high with some delish  delights from Top Shelf Catering and Town Hall Bakery, my catering friend Linda Hegner and some new friends including an artist named Arnie who has a gallery up by Ellison Bay. 21 artists responded to our invitation last fall, to submit a portrait. Included  were some returning artists and some newbies; Sharon Auberle, Cal Bonnivier, Lori Beringer, Julia Van Roo Bresnahan,  Emmet Johns, Lynn Gilchrist, Liz Maltman, Rick Risch, Archelle Buttons WOlst, Tudy Ekman, Cynthia Wolfe, Mark Zelten, Randy Rasmussen, Shelby Keefe, Mary Ulm Mayhew, Stephanie Trenchard, Sarah Bradley, Tim Nyberg, Ken Klopack  Suzanne Rose and myself.  Winners were Archell "Buttons" Wolst for her portrait ELENA, and honorable mentions went to Mark Zelten for GIRL IN VIOLET SILK and Suzanne Rose for her photograph DEAR ONE.  Graeme Reid, Assistant Director of the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend, WI was the awards  judge. He presented the standing room only crowd with his observations and commentary on the overall   quality of the show, describing his job as difficult, because the 21 artists presented their best work, the show was the creme de la creme. When awards were announced there was audible joy in the house,  and it was the moment that I had been working towards,  the moment when I can sit down and share a glass of wine, take my shoes off eventually, and savor the friendships, the talent and the beauty that surrounds me .