Trenton Museum NJ.com Text
Fine Arts: 163 works selected for The Ellarslie Open 39
· Updated: Aug. 24, 2022, 7:31 a.m.|
· Published: Aug. 24, 2022, 7:30 a.m.
By
· Janet Purcell | For The Times of Trenton
As Ellarslie Open 39 coordinators Debbie Gorezychi and Sarah Unger point out in the exhibition catalog, legendary landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Cadwalader Park 200 years ago, was known for his love of open spaces accessible to all.
The Ellarslie Open, now in its 39th year, was founded on the same principle. Each year artists, from well established professionals to emerging artists, some putting their toe in the water of a juried exhibition for the first time, submit their works to a carefully selected juror with the hope of being chosen. Since 1982 when the Open was established, Trenton City Museum has displayed the work of more than 800 local and regional artists.
This year’s juror, Walter Wickiser, of New York City’s Wickiser Gallery, selected 163 works from the 527 submitted and says he was “truly honored to be asked to jury this year’s Ellarslie Open” which he sees as “one of the most important events that a museum can undertake.”
Awards were conferred in 17 categories. The Doug Palmer Award for Best In Show-Overall was given to Flemington’s Carole Doerr Allen for her oil painting “Dark Horse; Approaching Storm” in which she successfully created a sense of expectancy.
The horse stands still, aware the lowering sky, heavy and dark, is threatening the peace of the verdant pasture he has been enjoying. You feel any moment something is going to happen, but Doerr Allen leaves it up to the viewer to imagine what that will be.
So many of the works selected by Wickiser tease the museum visitor to participate in what the artist set out to convey and to tell “the rest of the story.” You see that in David Meadow’s “Desperation,” an acrylic painting in which a young woman sits at night in a halo of light on a bus-stop bench. She leans forward, head bent, face hidden by the fall of her long hair. And his painting “What Came Before” of a young man in a pose of dejection standing in a background of shadows warmed by an orange glow and a mantle of brilliant yellow resting on his shoulders. And you definitely wonder what the girl in Robert Cuff’s “Sonata” is thinking as she sits on a city street, arms resting on her cello, bow held upright.
But there’s no question about Kathleen Beausoleil’s message in her “Summer Haze” that was given the Mel Leipzig Award for Best In Show-Painting. It’s clearly a hot summer day with dozens of people sunning themselves on the beach and others relaxing in the shade of their colorful umbrellas.
As always at Ellarslie, the presentation of the works on exhibit is, in itself, an art form. On display in the Green Room Gallery there’s J. Marion Simmons’ “Still Waiting” Runner Up Award Winning Sculpture of a reptile waiting atop a crackled ceramic egg. This is displayed next to Diane Greenberg’s Best In Show-Drawing “Waiting In The Wings” portraying two little girls wearing dubious expressions along with their performance finery.
And positioned to offer a gracious welcome in the window alcove upstairs is Janis Purcell’s (no relative of this writer) “Garden Delight 1″ which was chosen for the prestigious President’s Award as well as a Runner Up in the Fiber Art category. Built of common components such as wood, fabric, ceramics, notions and fabric paint, this sculpture, standing tall, emits a regal persona. The combination of Purcell’s vivid imagination, creative energy and precise workmanship combine to make this piece worthy of the honors it was given.
There are so many works in this exhibit that are also award worthy. Sheryl Bassman’s “What can I get you?” is a stunning accomplishment. Drawn against a background of a vivid black and yellow diamond pattern, a smiling waitress greets a customer. A large drawing, it was done entirely with a ball point pen—the clock and signs on the wall, the dishes on a shelf, the waitress’s checkered shirt, even her black apron leaving the diner’s motto lettering white.
There’s Lisa Kennedy’s “Gray Coast” painting where a textured area of a multitude of tiny shells and stones washed ashore first appear to be collaged. Tom Kelly’s slice-of-life “House of Cards” painting is displayed nearby, as are Sherri Andrews’ small and delicate painting “Brunette In Flow” which is artfully matted, framed and presented. Sandy Thapsen’s “Drangeas & Delphiniums” painted on the reverse of a six-pane recycled window is a delight, as is Carol Magner’s stoneware on wood base sculpture, ‘Downward Dog” capturing the spotted canine in the yoga position.
Marc Schimsky’s “Secrets in Vienna” solarplate etching was given the Rago Award for Best in Show-Printmaking, but his mixed media “A Break in the Service (aka Mincha)” and his “I Matter Too (What’s Next?)” acrylic painting, all done in his signature style of mysterious, faceless figures are all award worthy. As are Alia Bensliman’s handmade watercolors/mixed media “Pride and Envy” and Ry An’s colored pencil on paper, “Cat-astrophe 2.”
Speaking, as did juror Walter Wickiser, of the importance of the annual Open exhibition, Joan Perkes, president, Trenton Museum Society, said, “On my part there is no Museum event that makes me more proud and I am deeply indebted to the Board of Trustees and our volunteers for their unflagging support and loyalty to the work of the Museum and to the City of Trenton. Next years will be the 40h anniversary of the Ellarslie Open and the 50th anniversary of the Trenton Museum Society. As we look to the future, we see more magic. Stay tuned.”
IF YOU GO:
· WHAT: Ellarslie Open 39
· WHERE: Ellarslie, Trenton City Museum, Cadwalader Park, 299 Parkside Avenue
· WHEN: Through Oct. 2. Hours, Noon to 4 p.m., Friday & Saturday; 1 to 4 p.m., Sundays.