Artists, It was no easy task deciding which works could be accommodated in the space.
Those selected represent a variety of media, approaches and attitudes. While overwhelmingly painting was the preferred medium among these submissions, the exhibit will include photography, sculpture, mixed media and both representational and abstract painting.
Nature plays a powerful role in much of the art in the exhibition. This is very much in keeping with Johnson and Whitney's passion for the environment and their appreciation of the artistic aspects of landscape. Perhaps what is most "now" is what has always been - the landscape before us.
There were over 720 pieces of art submitted from over 30 states across the country. Of the 720 submissions reviewed, the juror selected 56 works from 56 artists in 18 states.
The idea of “healing nature” reads both ways. It could signify nature’s power to heal us through our immersive experiences in the world but it also reads as a strong admonition, with “healing” as a word of action. Artists are keen observers, participating deeply in the natural world, from the micro-world of the garden to the seafloors and wildernesses that we must strive to reach. The submissions were powerful and ranged from the subtle to the dramatic. First and foremost, I looked for visually strong and moving images. I was drawn particularly to work that came from a direct experience of the natural world. Also, works that expressed a human connection to our place in the natural world stood out. In art, there needn’t be an explicit message or an editorial — no matter how much the world needs all our articulate images to bring us closer to harmony with the environment. The themes of connection and healing and nature’s importance are all represented here, sometimes in intangible ways using visual languages that provoke questions and illuminate how the world works. Congratulations to all the artists for their accomplished work. It was gratifying to bring together such a diverse collection — from photography to printmaking to painting to sculpture. Together we hope to create in this exhibition, a little cosmos, a platform to observe nature keenly, to ask questions about the earth’s systems and to make commitments that these inspirations will continue to make life rich for those that follow us.
A juried open national exhibit of contemporary women artists only.
This exhibition, juried by Kathryn Wat of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC, features 65 pieces selected from more than 980 entries.
Paintings and photography by artist Jessica Makin.