October 17, 2020 - January 3, 2021 75th Art Annual Juried Exhibition Art exhibits have been a significant part of the Neville Public Museum's history since its beginning in 1915. This juried art competition began in 1942 during the height of World War II. Originally known as the Northeastern Wisconsin Art Annual, today the Art Annual is open to anyone 18 years or older who lives within the 24 counties of Northeast Wisconsin, or the 14 counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. For three-quarters of a century, many of this region’s most celebrated and talented artists have exhibited their work as part of this Green Bay tradition. Each year a new juror from outside the region is asked to guest curate the exhibition. This year's juror was Annemarie Sawkins, PhD. Annemarie is an independent curator and art consultant from the Milwaukee area. Submitted artworks must be original works and produced within the past three years. Many of the selected works speak to the societal challenges of the past year; from a global pandemic to social injustice. Despite the uncertainties of life, we hope this body of work will be emotionally inspiring and mentally healing to all who view it in person. Keep on keeping on! 1st Art Annual Exhibition — 1942 Juror: Annemarie Sawkins Independent Curator & Art Consultant — Milwaukee “Congratulations to the artists and their families, and congratulations to the Neville Public Museum on 75 years of Art Annual Juried Exhibitions. This year 62 artists submitted over 130 individual works of art for consideration. The gallery space for the exhibition however, can accommodate less than half the number of entries. After careful consideration approximately 50 works of art were chosen to mark this occasion. As juror, I considered each entry, while also carefully bearing in mind the selections, overall, and how they would work as an exhibition. This, at times, results in viable work not being afforded space in the final presentation, but should not deter artists in the future. With an open call to area artists, there is always a range of mediums and artistic approaches along with a variety of themes and ideas. As this exhibition reveals, I was drawn to conceptually strong art that is at times abstract but always well crafted, along with skill in an artist’s chosen medium. Whether your work was accepted or not, juried exhibitions are important community events. They motivate artists to take risks and to contemplate new future directions. Regardless of individual outcomes, the community can be proud of the collective creativity on display. Enjoy the art and how it is thoughtfully presented. Continue being creative, sharing your work with others, and striving in all your endeavors”. - Annemarie Sawkins, PhD Christine Alfery Lac du Flambeau , WI The Key Acrylic & Watercolor on Paper (40” x 30”) For Sale My work is inspired by conceptual abstractions. How do I understand conceptual abstraction? Abstraction is the process of isolating, separating certain parts of reality from all other things. My art is formed by uniting these abstractions into an idea/concept, and trying to think of them differently, expanding them, growing them into something wonderfully unique and individualistic. This uniqueness comes from how I understand myself and how I wish to present this self to others. Art for me isn't about presenting another person’s ideas - for why would I want to copy their ideas, I would only be copying who they are and their work. And that is not how I understand art. I understand art to be a one of a kind thing - not a one size fits all. Cristian Andersson Appleton, WI de Wardener's Music for Detuned Pianos: Deranged Landscape Oil and Graphite on Canvas (30" x 46") For Sale This painting is from my second ongoing series, "Symphonic Series." They are interpretations of contemporary classical music, using the tone and quality of the instruments, their placement in sonic space, and the overall mood that the composer is working with to guide my execution of the painting. Lisa Baltes Omro , WI Peaceful Protest Linoleum Block Print & Watercolor on Paper (9” x 12”) For Sale This piece was inspired by a small group of protesters in downtown Oshkosh who gathered shortly after George Floyd was killed. I was encouraged by their multi-ethnicity, peacefulness, and bravery. I still am. I am a self-taught print-maker/mixed media artist. I think that printmaking is an especially magical art form. I burnish most of my prints by hand. I am concerned for our environment therefore I use non-toxic inks and re- purpose materials and paper whenever possible. My idea of art is to find beauty and peacefulness. When I use text in my pieces, I want it to be uplifting and to create a positive message. I will occasionally take on certain issues facing our world today such as equal rights, fostering peace, and promoting anti-racism. Sally Berner Green Bay, WI The Girls at the County Fair Oil on Canvas (24" x 18") For Sale I have been painting for over 30 years in the realist tradition and, although animals are my favorite subjects, I also enjoy still-lifes and landscapes. It is the light that makes it interesting. This painting represents two Holstein cows that were shown at the Brown County Fair. Laurie Boyer Green Bay, WI The Hive #2 Mixed Media (21” x 39”) For Sale Locally grown sheep's wool (brown East Friesian x Polypay, white Navajo-Churro) was sheared, scoured, carded then handspun into my own rendition of lock yarn, then crocheted into “The Hive #2”. The bumble bee photo was taken in my small butterfly garden. I rarely see honey bees any more, so these must be fulfilling the pollinating niche. Bumble bees are mostly solitary ground- dwelling species, but I couldn't resist placing this one in a big shaggy hive. Janine Buechner Sturgeon Bay, WI The Force Is Strong Lino Cut Block Print (17” x 12”) For Sale This was so much fun to make! I was inspired by the love of our pet bunny. Her name is Puppy! My goal with this piece was to capture the positive power of pets in our lives. This image was cut from linoleum and printed on mulberry paper using oil-based ink. Often I will add color by hand-tinting; but, for this piece...the contrast of light and dark works so well. Virtual learning, social distancing, the world at odds. We are all leaning on the love of precious fuzzy friends now more than ever. In the face of evil the power of pets prevail. Cherie Burbach Oostburg, WI The Blessing of Work Oil, Stick, Ink, Acrylic, Paper, Lace (16” x 20”) For Sale Cherie Burbach has been an artist and writer since she was very young. Words and images have always been linked for her when it comes to expression and creativity. She paints with vibrant colors that offer a positive, hopeful message. Sometimes this is done with whimsical animals, girls, or flowers, and other times it combines words and poetry. For Cherie, art is all about emotion. Cherie loves to reuse items for her art, and works with ephemera, acrylic paints, oil sticks, pastels, and ink. Very often words combine with the art in some way, either from Bible verses, a thought or emotion, or lines from her original poetry. Cherie encourages people to get up close to her art and see the small details that are included. Dan Cross Egg Harbor, WI Red Rising Mixed Media on Canvas (43.5” x 47.5”) For Sale I've been working on a series called “Land Before Time.” Dually, an exploration of mixed medias creating layers and layers, while subconsciously envisioning the energy flow of how the world was formed. William Dias Green Bay, WI Immaculate Descension Oil on Canvas (60” x 48”) For Sale A fresh-faced woman nonchalantly descends from an other -worldly vessel, into the wet embrace of a calm freshwater body. The scene is set in the Midwest, a barometer of the cultural zeitgeist. Two figures that could be Catholic nuns from a bygone era, or Muslim women in chadors float across the water. An ideological fusion or fission seems imminent. Chelle Diederich Green Bay, WI Time Machine Operator Oil on Canvas (36”x36”) For Sale I am inspired by the color and implied texture in stained glass windows. This is an expressive and abstract way to tell a story or express a theme. Kathryn Dreifuerst Oshkosh, WI Of Restlessness and Water Oil (30” x 30”) For Sale This work is from my series of surreal skyscapes, each of which begins with a transcendent sky. The inspiration of the women swimming through the clouds came from my routine of swimming laps at dawn. The title comes from Nightswimming, a song by R.E.M. I am a potter and a painter, a gallerist, a teacher, and an arts advocate. I paint for myself. My paintings often are inspired by words, (poetry, prose, or lyrics) My recent work has become more surreal and escapist. My oil paintings are guided by Tolstoy’s words: “All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow.” Gregory Frederic Green Bay, WI Continuity Acrylic on Canvas (20” x 24”) For Sale The inspiration for my colorful pieces comes from emotion felt through music, human form, injustices, and people I meet. I hope to inspire change, living in harmony and respect for one another. My intuitive process uses color and movement to capture the viewer.