OPEN
SEPTEMBER 2024
BEST IN SHOW
MARJORIE MOSKOWITZ
"DENVER"
Oil
“My current oil paintings of colorful, engaging but otherwise overlooked and isolated flora are magnified to reveal their importance. My subject matter is discovered from remote to obvious locations across the country. Coming from an orientation in abstraction, my choice to work in a close-focus, hyper-realistic style remains ever mindful of the abstraction that exists in nature. These paintings examine mark making and the nuances of color and light in nature. This process involves the close observation of many aspects of landscape and the amplification of these images. They magnify a moment in time and in nature, when plants are at the peak of their reproductive cycle and are fully asserting their seductive beauty/perfection/ splendor/ripeness. The focus has been on select blooms to show the importance of their smallest components.” — MARJORIE MOSKOWITZ
GOLDEN TRIO AWARD
KENNETH RICCI
"OUR GUIDE TO"
"KEEP THE HEAT" "NOTHING MUCH NOW REMAINS"
Collage
"I work in a sort of literary/philosophical framework so within that context my reference points are the parables of Kafka and the aphorisms of Kierkegaard. Because elements determine content, the process of creation is both constrained and liberated by the available elements at any given time and it is the improvised procedure of choice, assembly and judgement that settles the argument.” — KENNETH RICCI
GOLDEN TRIO AWARD
SAMIRA MOHAMMADKHANI
"THE INNER SUN"
"TREE OF LOVE" "THE GRAPE LADY"
Gouache, watercolour on handmade paper
“My paintings, centered on the motif of the Persian cypress, explore themes of resilience, identity and spiritual connection. The cypress, deeply rooted in Persian culture, represents stability and endurance, serving as a bridge between my heritage and contemporary experiences. These trees act as eternal observers in nature and containers for the concepts I explore in my work. After migrating to the United States, I found myself drawn to the evergreen cypresses of Seattle, which now inspire my art as I navigate the complexities of cultural integration. They have helped me find my roots in this new place. My compositions deliberately place the cypress at the center; a choice driven by my search for balance and mental grounding amidst the upheaval of migration.” — SAMIRA MOHAMMADKHANI
DIAMOND AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
NELL-LYNN PERERA
**SAPPHIRE ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2023**
**CRYSTAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2022**
RUBY AWARD
JOHN DIEPHOUSE
**CRYSTAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2023**
EMERALD AWARD
GABRIELE GRACINE
**EMERALD ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2021**
SAPPHIRE AWARD
LINDA MCCORD
**SAPPHIRE ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2022**
CRYSTAL AWARD
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AWARD OF MERIT
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**WINNERS VIDEO**
FINALISTS
