Black & White

Our fifth Art competition “Black & White” started in January 2022 and concluded on February 03, 2022. Art Room Gallery received entries from many countries around the world: USA, Japan, Romania, Canada, China, Israel, France, Switzerland, Italy, Taiwan, Hungary, Mexico and Austria. The Black & White theme in this competition included a diversity in types, styles and mediums (oil on canvas, acrylic, watercolor, pastel graphite, charcoal, scratchboard, collage, photography, digital). 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 158 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:

These hand-drawn graphite landscapes contain machine creatures, plant-animal hybrids and other conglomerations that might be found in the distant future or on other worlds. It is possible that post-technology ecosystems containing feral machinery might continue to evolve even after those biological agents that created the technologies have become extinct. And what differences might be found in life that has developed on other planets with different evolutionary mechanisms -and under the influence of non-human intelligences? Do exobiological ecosystems follow the general neo-Darwinian framework seen on Earth, or is there a wider variety of complexification of matter than would be evident from only observing Earthly life? -Andrew Lincoln Nelson, 2022 Andrew Lincoln Nelson’s work has been shown at Biosphere 2, The Tucson Main library Gallery, University of Arizona Galleries and various national conferences including ALife 14 and The 2017 Astrobiology conference at ASU. His work has received awards at National Arts Program and University of Arizona shows and has been included in various art anthologies and has been used in over 30 scientific and popular publications, TED talks and lectures.

Statement:

Maxwell Miller (b.1992) began his artistic career in theatrical arts. Serving as director, artistic designer, and scenic artist for several Cleveland based theater organizations, he specialized in large scale theatrical puppetry. He began to pursue visual arts professionally in 2017 with a focus on imaginative realism. After refining his technique and developing an interest in mythology and history painting, he became an apprentice of Anthony Waichulis at the Ani Art Academy in January of 2020. He now strives to incorporate his sense of theatricality into the development of his artistic skill.

Statement:

Shawna Hinkel is an award-winning photographer from Dallas, Texas. She received her Certification from Professional Photographers of America (PPA) in 2014 and her Master of Photography degree in 2019. Her work has been accepted in the PPA International Photographic Competition Annual Exhibition every year since 2016, with images published in the annual Showcase Collection and Loan Collection books as well. She was the Dallas Professional Photographers Association Photographer of the Year in 2017 and 2018, and was named as one of the Top 10 photographers in Texas in 2020. She also received the American Society of Photographers’ State Elite Award in 2020. She has won a variety of other awards, and has been featured in multiple art gallery exhibitions. It has been said that “the eyes are the windows to the soul,” and I have found this to be true. Not only in people, but also in animals - most especially in the great apes. My series “Almost Human” explores the eyes and expressions of these magnificent creatures, looking for the souls in our most closely-related counterparts. Chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans are so much like us that if you spend a little time with them, you can almost tell what they are feeling. Some are young and playful, some are old and wise, and some are shy and do not want to be bothered. They all have very different personalities and spirits. I want to show the heart of these beautiful animals so more people can find a deeper understanding and affection for them, and learn more about the conservation efforts in place to help them. What a better world it would be for man and apes alike.