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Interior photo of Lowell Arts featuring artwork hanging on white walls.

LowellArts Gallery

March 25 to May 6, 2023

About the Juror

 

Juror - Amy Fell

Amy Fell is a Contemporary Realist Oil Painter who works out of her studio in Plymouth, Michigan. Her work features every day objects using large scale format, intense color and intricate detail to create captivating paintings that draw the viewer in.

 

Fell studied oil painting extensively at the Bloomfield Art Center, along with participating in numerous workshops with internationally recognized artists including Alyssa Monks, David Gray and Yigal Ozeri. Her studies prepared her to teach oil painting herself at the Grosse Pointe Art Center, The Northville Art House as well as taking on private students.

 

Fell has participated in groups shows, presented several solo shows, and been juried into countless juried shows in which she has won numerous awards for her work. Along with receiving commissions regularly, Fell’s work is carried in galleries in Northville and Douglas, Michigan.

2023 Artist List

 

A to C

Richard Aardsma
Melody Allen
John Andersen
Cindy Awrey
Russell Barneveld
Kathleen Bechtel
Danielle Benson-Fennell
Annemarie Biernacki
Jane E. Blacquiere
Doug Bostian
Paul Bradshaw
Kristine Brown
Michael Bryant
Laura Burke
Ted Carlson
Evie Carrier
Dianne Carroll Burdick
Stephanie Cionca
Jay Constantine
Sue LaWall Cortese
Karen Culver

 

D to G
Diane Deremo
Darrell DeRuiter
Mary Doezema
Bruce Doll
Jenny Dood
Henry Droski
Mark Dunning
Mercedes Ebbers

Nora Faber Overvoorde
Debbie Fehrenbach
Randi Ford
Kathy M. Forzley
Elizabeth Fredrickson
Laura Gajewski
Linda Gillespie
Hana Girdvainis-Sawyer
Bob Glass
Daniela Goen
Jennifer Gould
John Gregg
Anna Greidanus
Alynn Guerra
Justin Guild

 

H to L
Tatsuki Hakoyama
Sandra Hansen
Rosemary Hayes
Andrea Henderson
Deborah Hoover
Lori Hough
Carole Hunnes-Nielsen

David Jackson
Amy Johnson
Melissa Jones-Fish
Kathleen Kalinowski
David Kerley
Steve Kimple
Kim Kleinhardt
Colleen Klesmith
John Kopec
David Kuecherer
Mary Lamson-Burke
Nate Lareau
John Leben
Robert Lee
M. Joy Lemon
Janet Lewis

 

M to R
Robin Maxon
Taylor Mazer
Jon McDonald
Jacklyn McIntee
Karen VanDam Michmerhuizen
John Mishler
Kathy Mohl

Thomas J Newhouse
Timothy Norris
Randall Nyhof
Colleen O'Rourke
Todd E Oleson
Terese Olson
Patricia Opel
Catherine Pampalone
Angela Pastor
Stone Peng
Mary Jane Pories

Alyssa Rainwater
Kathryn Ratliff
Joyce A Recker
Alfield Reeves
Erin Reinholtz
Mary Reusch
Anne Rivers
Ed Rutowski

 

R to Z
Linda Scarborough
Barbara Schilling
Jordan Smith
Sean Sterzer
Shelley Stevens
Joanne Swann
Rachael Tamez
Deborah Trent
Lou Vallance
Abigail Venlet
Stephanee Wallace
Julie Westmaas
Jeff Wilcox
Jackson Wrede
Tom Zaroff
Alec Zemper
Diane Zoellmer

Pick-up of Accepted Work:

May 9, 10, 11, 12, 10am-6pm

West Michigan Art Competition 2023

The 37th Annual LowellArts West Michigan Art Competition highlights outstanding artwork by Lower West Michigan artists who reside in a 25-county region. Artwork in any visual art media was submitted by artists 18 yrs. and older. Five equal cash awards totaling $3,000 were presented. Artists submitted one piece for consideration by the juror.

Gallery Hours March 25 to May 6: Tuesday through Friday 10:00am-6:00pm​ & Saturday 12:00-5:00pm

Award Winners

Tatsuki HakoyamaWhere Do We Go from Here?, oil on canvas

David Jackson, O's, photography on canvas

Kim Kleinhardt, Pawn or Queen?, mixed media on canvas

Lou Vallance, Tumbling Waters, acrylic with mixed media on canvas

Jackson Wrede, Gillian, oil on linen

Honorable Mentions

Jay Constantine, The Whitmer Kidnap Plot, alkyd oil on panel


Justin Guild, Third, oil


Rosemary Hayes, Kimono lll, raku ceramics


Joyce A Recker, Haiku 2, mixed media - hardwoods, copper, roses, rocks


Rachael Tamez, Required Breakthrough, acrylic on canvas


Diane Zoellmer, Seed Diamonds, digital photography

 

Juror’s Statement – Amy Fell

I’d like to thank Lowell Arts for giving me the opportunity to serve as the juror for this year’s West Michigan Art Competition. Lowell Arts’ gallery is a beautiful space for showcasing art and I was honored to be involved. Although my work is representational and very realistic, I have a deep appreciation for all styles of art, as long as it moves me and is well done. 

After receiving the entries electronically, I decided to initially view everything in a relaxed, non-judgmental way. I wanted to enjoy the art as you do when viewing a great art show, albeit online! After I went through the entire body of work, I closed up my computer for the day. But over the following days I looked at everything through a juror’s lens and made my decisions.

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of seeing the accepted work in person. To see the work up close made all the difference. You can see something on a computer screen and appreciate many of the qualities of the piece. But to see it in the flesh, and be able to see the details such as brush strokes, or to be able to walk around a sculpture brings an even higher appreciation for the artists’ work. 

I was looking for several elements present in the art. First, originality. This can be tough; creating something in a way that hasn’t been seen before isn’t easy. But I did see a number of works that were very unique and fresh. I was also looking for a strong narrative, a feeling or mood in a piece. I wanted to feel something, to have a visceral response when I viewed a piece, whether it was excitement, sadness or even uneasiness. Finally, I was looking for work that showed strong and interesting technique. It was key that the artist used their materials and methods in a skillful way.
 
So many of the pieces are captivating and interesting, but several particularly stand out to me. Jackson Wrede’s oil painting Gillian is strong on narrative, skill and technique. The young woman lying in a somewhat seductive pose on her bed juxtaposed with the stuffed animal behind her is so interesting and mysterious. David Jackson’s photograph O’s shows great originality, skill and cheeky attitude. Lou Valiance’s abstract acrylic-with-mixed media piece, Tumbling Waters, is beautifully painted with a lovely feeling of movement. Tatsuki Hakoyama’s, oil painting Where Do We Go From Here? contains a strong narrative and mood along with skillful technique. Finally, Kim Kleinhardt’s mixed media piece Pawn or Queen? is an engaging piece in which materials are used effectively and interestingly to raise important questions about the future for young women.

I hope everyone enjoys the show as much as I did jurying it. Thank you again to Lowell Arts for giving me this opportunity to serve as juror.

 

Interior photo of Lowell Arts with wood floor, and artwork hanging on white walls.
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