Academic Artists National Exhibit Opens at Arts Center East

The Academic Artists Association 69th Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Realism opened at Arts Center East June 2. Artists and art lovers from across the state and beyond came out to support the exhibit and celebrate the award winners.

The Academic Artists Association is a national organization. It “was founded to celebrate ‘the enduring triumph of realism.’ Each year, we sponsor a national exhibition to showcase a cross-section of two- and three-dimensional art that represents the current trends of representational art in the US” (quoted from http://academicartistsassociation.org). This exhibit features portraits, landscapes, still lifes, and sculptures. The featured artists hail from all across Connecticut to as far as Illinois, Arizona, and Colorado.

Arts Center East has had a relationship with the Academic Artists Association since 2013, with several Arts Center East members also being Academic Artist members. Those who come to ACE member shows may recognize the work of Ann Maulucci, Barbara Groff, Scott Rhoades, and Jane Penfield hanging in this year’s AAA exhibit. This annual exhibit is one our community looks forward to each year.

This exhibit is currently on display in the galleries through June 23, Wednesday–Sunday, 1:00–5:00pm.

Award Winners

Acrylic
Academic Artists Honor Award: Steve Wilda, “The Chosen One”
Academic Artists Excellence Award: Del-Bouree Bach, “A Blast From the Past”
Academic Artists Merit Award: Douglas Gillette, “Gold Star Mother”

Graphic Arts
Academic Artists Honor Award: Mary Felton, “Man Cave,” charcoal
Academic Artists Excellence Award: Gretchen Dugan, “Adhesion One,” graphite
Academic Artists Merit Award: Jonathan Weisbach, “Paul,” derwent pencil

Oil
Academic Artists Honor Award: Violet Wilcox, “Still Life with Chinese Vase”
Academic Artists Excellence Award: Mary Jane Q. Cross, “Called Out of Darkness Into this Magnificent Light”
Academic Artists Merit Award: Elizabeth Torak, “Poultry Prep”

Pastel
Academic Artists Honor Award: William Schneider, “Sweet 16”
Academic Artists Excellence Award: Barbara Groff, “China Blues”
Academic Artists Merit Award: Kimberly Provost, “Sunny Side of the Street"

Sculpture
Academic Artists Honor Award: Susan Zurles, “Thea,” painted terracotta
Academic Artists Excellence Award: Pokey Park, “Morning Stretch,” bronze
Academic Artists Merit Award: Douglas Aja, “Echo & Calf,” bronze

Watercolor
Academic Artists Honor Award: Cindy Barbec-King, “Perk Up”
Academic Artists Excellence Award: Marija P. McCarthy, “Pakistani Butcher”
Academic Artists Merit Award: Bivenne Staiger, “Dutch Ducks”

Memorial Awards
Mary Bryan Memorial Award for Watercolor: Robert O’Brien, “Holyhock Light,” watercolor
Alden Bryan Memorial Award for Landscape: Michael Graves, “Tumbling Water, NH,” oil
Frank Tencza Memorial Award: Shauna Shane, “Early Morning Harness,” acrylic
Marguerite & Francis Walker Memorial Award: John Caggiano, “Quiet Now,” oil

See the full list of accepted works.