November 7 - 23, 2008
Local artists submitted a total of eighty artworks to
the museum for consideration. Images of the artworks were sent to Arkansas to
be juried by Aaron Jones, who formerly served as the Arts Education Director for
the Oklahoma Arts Council and as an art and art education instructor at Oklahoma
Baptist University. Mr. Jones chose about one half of the submitted artworks to
be exhibited at the Museum.
"I know that choosing the artworks was a difficult task
for Mr. Jones," said Merkt. "Unfortunately, we have a limited amount of
exhibition space, so only a select number of works could be chosen for display.
Each of the artworks submitted had artistic merit-I'm glad that I didn't have to
make the decision!"
Juror Aaron Jones commented that the submissions were a
"diverse and interesting collection" and that he believes the works chosen
reflect notable "creative diversity" as well as "talent and compositional
expression."
"Mr. Jones wrote me when he received the entries and
reported that he was ‘pleasantly surprised' by the high quality of the
artworks," Merkt remarked. "That is exactly the reason that the Museum is
hosting this exhibit. We know there are many talented fine artists in this
area-we want the community to realize this also!"
"Variety," according to Merkt, is the primary element
suggested by this exhibition. "This is not a themed exhibit; rather, this
interesting exhibition reflects the variety of people that make up this region,"
she explained. "There are many paintings of diverse subjects in the exhibit,
but also included are weavings, pottery, sculptures, photography, mixed media,
and digital art. There are artworks from artists that are professionals,
novices, and students; some are Shawnee-area born and raised and others have
come from other, even international, backgrounds. "
The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art invites the Shawnee
community to visit the exhibition on the evening of November 7 at 7:00 p.m.
"Please come out and support your local artists--see the amazing art, visit with
the artists, and enjoy the hors d'oeuvres prepared by the MGMoA Volunteer
Society," Merkt requests. "Admission is free for the opening and all are
welcome!"
The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art is located on the campus
of St. Gregory's University, 1900 W. MacArthur St. in Shawnee. The museum is
open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. on
Sundays. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors age 65 or older, $3 for
students and children ages 6 to 17, and free for children age 5 and younger. For
accommodations on the basis of disability or more information, call the museum
at (405) 878-5300 or visit www.mgmoa.org.
Photo Credit 1: Breath of Life by Shawnee artist Linda
Dixon will be on display during the MGMoA Regional. Photo courtesy of the
artist.
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