West Valley Art Museum

The quality of an exhibition lies solely in the quality of the slides entered, and it becomes a daunting job for the juror to select the best paintings when there are such a large number of good paintings from which to choose.

As I viewed the slides, I was impressed with the diversity of the submissions. It does not matter to me if the painting is representational or abstract. I look for paintings that reflect the artist's spirit and individuality. There are so many different criteria to keep in mind when viewing paintings. Is there good composition and design? What is the level of technical skill (authority) in the painting? Is there evidence of personal voice (authenticity)? Is the artist merely rendering what is seen, or is there a genuine effort by the artist to engage the imagination? Sometimes there is an elusive quality about a painting that touches me emotionally, but finding the words to wxplain why is often impossible.

Each artist has the opportunity to strive for artistic growth. Whether our paintings are accepted or not, we must all remain determined to strive toward commitment, growth, and a belief in ourselves and our art. The AWA should be proud of its efforts in providing artists with a fine showcase for visual expression. I wish to thank all the entrants for helping to make this a strong exhibition."