Abstract

Our third Art competition “Abstract” started in February 2020 and concluded on March 11, 2020. Art Room Gallery received entries from many countries around the world: USA, France, Italy, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Japan, India, Armenia, Ireland, Romania, Hong Kong, Estonia, Bulgaria, South Africa, Israel, Ukraine, Finland and South Korea. The Asbtract theme in this competition included a diversity in types, styles and mediums (oil on canvas, acrylic, oil on linen, photography, pastel, mixed media, digital, collage, marker on paper, gouache, pearlescent paint on yupo, iron and resin). The following evaluation criteria has been used for judging the artwork: creativity, interpretation of the theme, originality and quality of art, overall design, demonstration of artistic ability, and usage of medium. Jury decided to select 85 artworks for inclusion in the exhibition. Aside from First, Second, and Third place Jury also presented Merit awards and Honorable Mention awards.

Thank you, and enjoy the exhibition!

Statement:

Marlene Siff has exhibited in public and private institutions and events throughout the United States and abroad, such as: the U.S. Capitol Building, Washington D.C., Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah,NY, Columbia/Barnard University, New York, NY, Art Venice Biennale 3, Embraer Executive Jets Showroom, Melbourne, Florida, B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum, Washington D.C., Regeneron Pharmeceuticals, Tarrytown NY, Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield CT, New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain CT, Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, CT, Galerie Musée, Nagoya Japan, and many others. Her work is in major corporate, public and private collections around the United States including the Nevin Welcome Center at Cornell University. She was featured in an episode of Creative Women Today on Connecticut Cablevision 2010 and selected to appear in Years in the Making, a documentary film by Martin West 2009. Since 2014 Marlene has been juried into 102 exhibitions throughout the United States and abroad and has won 33 awards. Siff was born and raised in the Bronx. She graduated from the eponymous High School of Music & Art in New York, now Fiorello LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. She went on to major in Art at Hunter College where she received a B.A. and was elected to Kappa Pi, the honorary art fraternity. My paintings, works on paper and sculpture depict imagery of personal events and psychological issues. They are expressed through geometric shapes, color, light, space, texture, edges and movement each interplaying with one another engaging the viewer to participate. The multi-dimensionality and multi-layering of my work reference what one must uncover to penetrate the illusions of reality and reach the mystery within us.

Statement:

Mark Dunst is an abstract, non-objective artist intent on discovering what exists in the elusive space between thoughts. His abstract expressionist paintings utilize simple, dynamic compositions where veiled layers of sweeping lines, monolithic shapes and modest colors build a rich conversation of marks. His color palette is sophisticated and uncomplicated; his brush strokes are hurried and raw. Serendipity is sought and mistakes are not hidden, rather they help reveal a path forward. Mark's work is in public and private collections, nationally and internationally. His recent work can be seen in his gallery+studio in Portland's trendy Northwest District (Nob Hill). His paintings have been shown on SFMOMA social media, Open: Journal of Arts and Letters, and the MAC Group Show. In early 2019 five pieces were featured in the Claiming Voice Group Show in Gallery 157 PNCA. Two new pieces will appear in the ArtFolio book coming Q1 2020. He participated in Portland Open Studios—two weekends in October 2019. Two more pieces were in the juried show at Beaverton Arts Mix October 2019. Mark is a member of the Contemporary Art Council at Portland Art Museum.

Statement:

Daumants Brunins graduated MA Painting from Wimbledon College of Arts, University of Arts London, while previously receiving the Dean’s Purchase Prize at the end of his BA at the University of East London. He gets inspiration from natural objects, humans and nature as well as canvasses and paint by themselves. Another side of his artistic language is working with multiple layers, thereby revealing the materiality of mediums through various finishes As an artist, to create artwork, he uses techniques, mediums and tools from traditional art teachings with an experimental and contemporary approach. This appears visually as symbolic and abstract sculptural paintings. I get inspiration from an ordinary objects such as cones, nuts and stones. Another source of inspiration is humans as a physical, mental and metaphysical beings. This combined by my opinion creates associations with daily happenings in the form of process based sculptural paintings and prints. During my creative process, I follow my intuition and pure instinct of creative behaviour. Throughout the momentum of creativity, I use techniques, mediums, materials and tools from painting, printmaking and sculpture fields. These sources create conversations between different objects of inspiration and also create visual conversations as well as a symbiotic bridge between art fields. Another side of my artistic language is working in multiple layers, where the story is built-up, revealing materiality of mediums through various finishes, as well as a deeper meaning of conversations between chosen sources of inspirations. As an artist, to create artwork, I use techniques, mediums, materials and tools from traditional art teachings with a contemporary approach. This appears visually as symbolic and abstract paintings, reliefs, prints or sculptures.