A Library Of Artwork Fills The 33rd Annual SCAN Juried Spring Art Show

By Shannon Hicks

The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown accepted 141 works of art for its 33rd Annual Spring Juried Art Show last week, and an opening reception on May 3 honored all of the artists accepted into the show and highlighted the works of 15 of the artists with awards.

Show chairman Virginia Zic and co-chairman Patricia Barkman breezed through an awards ceremony mid-Saturday afternoon that lasted just about ten minutes. It was long enough to honor each of this year’s 15 award recipients, yet not so long that it broke up the comfortable flow of the show’s opening reception. The opening drew a few dozen people into the lower community room of C.H. Booth Library, where the annual show remains on view until May 11.

One-hundred forty-one works were juried into this year’s show, with the panel of judges considering works by members and nonmembers of SCAN. Lalit Masih, AWS, NWS, John Swatley, AWS, and Janine Wesselmann were this year’s three-person Jury of Selection and Awards. Mr Masih is a full-time watercolor artist, his second career. Mr Swatsley is a celebrated contemporary wildlife artist who works in conté and crayon. Mrs Wesselmann is known internationally for her impressionistic oils, which offer a satirical look at society.

The jury selected –– and many in the audience agreed with the decision –– Janice Baragwanath’s amazing watercolor “Sea Grapes” as the recipient of this year’s Larry Newquist Award for Excellence/Best in Show. It was obvious that many studio hours went into the incredibly realistic work.

In addition to Ms Baragwanath, this year’s spring show boasts a number of works by familiar names to those who visit SCAN shows. Ms Zic has one painting, a watercolor called “Earth Fragments: Spring” on view. (Mrs Barkman, who is preparing for her annual in-studio art show and sale, does not have any works in the spring hhow.) Also on the roster of familiar names this year is Mel Crawford with an acrylic, Rainie Crawford with an award-winning pastel, Betty Christensen with a pair of her very recognizable watercolors, Deborah Dargaty with an acrylic, Hope Kocian with a graphics piece, Kita Macon with one pastel and one oil (artists were allowed up to two works in the show), Marija McCarthy with a watercolor, Michael Morshuk with a mixed media work, Ruth Newquist with a pair of oils (one an award-winner), Plonia Nixon with an award-winning pastel and a mixed media work, Ralph Schwartz with a pair of pastels, and James Travers with an award-winning sculpture.

Unfamiliar names appear on the roster –– and the awards list –– thanks to the spring show being open to any local artists who are willing to put their work in for jury consideration.

The show as a whole is a nice mix of styles, media, and sizes by artists both established and new to the field. Admission is free all week, and the show can be visited during regular library hours.

Spring Juried Art Show Awards

*Larry Newquist Award For Excellence/Best in Show ($300): Janice Baragwanath for “Sea Grapes,” a watercolor.

*The Lois Zimmermann Memorial Award ($250): Ed Kruelski, Jr, for “Sustain,” a pastel.

*The Bee Publishing Company Award ($150): Marianne Faeth for “Girl with Lace Dress,” a pastel.

*The Newtown Savings Bank Award ($150): Carolyn Battaglia for “In the Reeds,” a watercolor.

*The Taunton Press Award ($150): Patricia Winer for “Red Orchid,” an acrylic.

*The Savings Bank of Danbury Award ($100): Sandra Scott for “Diva,” a mixed media work.

*The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown Award ($100 each): Rainie Crawford for “Mud Figure in A Bell Jar,” a pastel; Nancy Rainsford Pistone for “Cloud Birth,” a pastel; and James Travers for “Red Sea Shark,” a sculpture.

*The FrameWorks Award ($100 gift certificate): Ruth Newquist for “Toys For Tykes,” an oil.

*The Barn Gallery Award ($50 gift certificate): Plonia Nixon for “Asia Enigma 1,” a mixed media work.

*The Dick Blick Award ($50 gift certificates): Marilyn Caissy Colman for “Double Happiness,” a pastel; Lorraine Agri for “Leaves,” a print; Bridget A. Herbst for “Market Day,” a pastel; and Cynthia Pratt for “Kuvimbika,” a sculpture.