Perkins Center for the Arts in Moorestown will open its annual fall juried exhibit on Wednesday, Sept. 13, with an artist’s reception and awards ceremony planned for Saturday, Oct. 21.
“The fact that it’s juried makes it extremely special, because it’s not just an open call where everyone can put whatever they want into the show,” said Sharon Kiefer, curator of exhibits at Perkins. “There should be some thought on the part of the artist to submit their best work, and the juror (Henri Meillier) is going to have to choose (40 pieces) from 130 pieces.”
“It’s a time to shine, it’s a time to put your best work into the show, and hopefully get chosen.”
Residents who become members of Perkins are automatically eligible to participate in the center’s four or five open-call held each year (including the fall annual juried exhibition), and Kiefer sees the opportunity as another benefit to being a Perkins member.
“ … We offer an artist’s membership, and one of the perks are the four or five open calls that we have each year,” she explained. “And when you have a membership you are automatically eligible for these shows. We’re really happy to present this fall annual juried show as a perk for yearly membership.”
According to his site, Meillier describes his explorations into art, literature and music as a visual interpretation of language with vivid harmony.
“My paintings have a personal connection with my soul,” says his artist’s statement. Through art and through music combined, they give an explosion of ideas filled with luminosity and colors. My work embraces the act of transforming a flat blank surface and coaxing out the voice that can be heard through the marriage of colors and form.”
“Brushstrokes dance around the canvas to tell a story,” he added. “The careful combination of color from my palette, the messages of contemplation, surrender and understanding. Each work has its own story to tell.”
Meiller, an instructor at Perkins, has previously participated in the fall exhibition.
“We get a different juror each year, and it’s up to the juror on how they choose pieces,” Kiefer noted. “Some will choose a theme, some will give prizes to the body of work that somebody enters …
“It just depends on the juror.”
An artist’s reception and awards ceremony at the exhibit will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. and will include live music, snacks and wine. Keifer describes the exhibit as a show with a wide variety of mediums represented, and she admires the amount of entries and artists that get involved.
“It’s always fun to provide space, and for artists to showcase their work,” she observed.
Upcoming events at Perkins include a veteran’s show (Wednesday, Nov. 1, through Tuesday, Nov. 14); Kumiko wood designs by David Gootnick (Tuesday, Nov. 14, through December); Photography 43 – Point of View (January through February 2024); and Jim Militello’s solo exhibition (March through April 2024), among others.
“I’ve gotten a lot of really good feedback over the past few years when I’ve created a theme for the photography exhibition,” Kiefer said, “so it gives the artists something to focus on with their work.”
For information on Perkins’ fall exhibition and other shows, visit https://perkinsarts.org.
