Regional Artists:
An Open, Juried Show 2008

Every year the Barn Gallery invites all area artists and artist members of the Ogunquit Art Association to enter work for Regional Artists: An Open, Juried Show. Art critic Philip Isaacson, curator and print collector Bruce Brown, Portland Museum of Art curator Susan Danly, University of New England's Gallery of Art Director Anne Zill, and museum director Andrea Strassner are only a few of the distinguished jurors who have selected work for this show in the past.

Stephen Halpert, Curator of the University of New England Gallery of Art, juried Regional Artists: an Open, Juried Show for 2008. He noted, “It’s a pleasure to jury a show like that. The difficulty is to narrow it down to a third of the entries. It’s wonderful to see so much good work from serious, dedicated artists.” He thought that the overall standard of excellence was impressive and that the entries were beautifully organized and easy to work through. He saw lots of good work in a wide variety of medium and subject, especially in photography. He recognized a “really serious dedication to making art in the area.“

This is Barn Gallery’s Twelfth Annual Open Juried Show. Earlier exhibitions had themes such as ‘Red’ or ‘Night.’ Now, however, artists are simply invited to enter their best paintings, graphics, photographs or sculpture. All work is juried whether created by artist members of the Ogunquit Art Association or by non-member artists. Each exhibition is different since, as Halpert says, “The juror’s choice is subjective and personal.”

Different artists enter the show each year. This exhibition offers all area artists an opportunity to compare their work with the best in the region, to have it juried by a prominent member of the art world and to exhibit in the beautiful Barn Gallery.

104 Artists entered 150 pieces of art. The juror selected 77 works by 50 artists. 16 artist members of the Ogunquit Art Association are showing 24 pieces. 34 regional artists are showing 53 pieces.

Our thanks to Stephen Halpert for choosing this wonderful show. Thanks also to the staff and volunteers who organized receiving, record keeping and hanging for this exhibition.