The “portal” exhibition juried by Crista Dix, was in the online gallery from October 27 to December 7, 2023.  Crista selected fifty five images from forty two artist. Sophie Pimpinella’s image “Brust” received the Juror’s Award. Walter Plotnick’s image “Limerick” received the Director’s Award.

Juror’s Statement

What lies beyond is often mysterious, exciting and daunting all at the same time. For me the unknown is always approached head first, not wanting to miss a minute of what is ahead. The mystic quality of what lies beyond wherever we are has a cosmic pull and infinite curiosity.

This exhibition, Portals, transported me to envisioning new worlds, far away stars and hidden stories that engaged me endlessly. So many wonderful images to work with, so many roads to travel, doors to walk through and pathways to wander, and narrowing the field down to the final exhibition was difficult. Thank you to everyone who submitted images, making my work so difficult.

Each image in the exhibition is a story, unknown and incomplete. For all the images, nothing is certain, nothing is clearly defined and everything is up for debate. Using light, reflection, softness and catching an unforeseen moment, these images all engage us, make us curious, raise the hairs on the back of our neck. Sophie Pimpinella’s image, Burst, is optimistic, mystical and filled with layered meaning. The prism of light overlaying the dark sky gives us hope all is not lost, that light can come out of the darkness. Matthew Hayner’s image Evan leaps into the unknown, and for those who take risks, we know exactly what that moment of release feels like. In The Search, Sigdal, Norway, Robin Boger gives us a view of the present and the past, and includes the future as we peer through the door to what is on the other side. Russell Banks Door, Water, Clouds launches us into the water and the vast unknown while keeping us locked in behind glass doors. Leah Oates image Transitory Space, Nova Scotia, Canada, McNabs Island #19, is filled with the magic of place, exposure and altered vision. We expect cameras to record accurately and honestly, and with that truth comes multiple exposures, light leaks, and distortion. In a stark contrast of two ways to move forward, Ancestors, by Christina McFaul helps us follow the transition from physical to memorial, and Skip Smith’s Border Fence physically blocks us from moving forward.

Each image in this exhibition takes us on a journey, piques our interest, and has us asking what is happening in the image. Telling visual stories, each of these talented artists are storytellers and visionaries. My favorite images are filled with the unknown, and each one of these images has me returning again and again to tell new stories, find new ways to live within the image, and transit new throughways to the unknown. Thank you for sharing your stories with me, with us.

Crista Dix, November, 2023

The Awards Collective was created to feature the works of artist who have received a Juror’s Award in ASG’s Online exhibitions.  Jo Fields’ image “Teneramente“ received the Juror’s Award in the “botanical” exhibition juried by Wendi Schneider.  Jo’s exhibition “Notes from the Universe” was featured from October 1 to October 31, 2023 and is discussed in our GalleryTalk with Jo. Below is her statement about the exhibition.

“My childhood was filled with lessons about nature delivered aptly by my parents. The natural world became a foundational source of discovery, connection and solace.  When my mother passed away suddenly, followed by the decline and death of my father, walks in nature became a way to process the long-term grief of their loss. The grief was renewed by the massive loss of life during the pandemic and these walks became a refuge to re-connect with nature in an intimate and mindful way. I feel that preordained scenes present themselves as a means to shed light on greater teachings of life, much like my original lessons in nature. These visual ‘Notes from the Universe’ represent how the fragility of life is both connected and ephemeral.”  … Jo Fields, October, 2023

website: https://www.jofieldsphotography.com/ 
instagram: @jgfields

The “imagined” exhibition juried by Susan Burnstine, was in the online gallery from September 15 to October 26, 2023.  Susan selected fifty five images from forty artist. Renee Lynn’s image “The Light Within” received the Juror’s Award. Steve Isaac’s image “Blues in the Garden of Cosmos” received the Director’s Award. Gordon Saperia’s image “Morning Light” received the Visitors’ Award.

Juror’s Statement

Having the ability to conceive of and construct a world that exists solely in one’s creative imaginings calls to mind my favorite quote from the classic tale Peter Pan, “The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.”  The fifty-five images included in the gallery and online exhibitions of Imagined soar into unique worlds that offer boundless possibilities that span between harrowing to pure delight, unknown to strangely familiar and from the beauty of the unseen to revealing the utterly fantastic.

It was an extremely difficult task to narrow down selections for the gallery and online exhibition to just fifty-five images. And selecting just one image for the Juror’s Prize was near impossible, but after much deliberation the esteemed honor goes to Renee Lynn’s The Light Within; a technical marvel that leaps into the world of magnificent possibility. And A Smith Gallery Directors Amanda Smith and Kevin Tully bestowed the Directors Award to Steve Isaac for his delightful tableaux, Blues In The Garden of Cosmos.

There were so many spectacular submissions I wished I could have included. I commend and thank every artist that took the leap and allowed me to experience his or her unique and wonderful world. Congratulations to the selected artists.

Susan Burnstine, September, 2023

The “landscapes” exhibition juried by Kevin Tully, was in the online gallery from August 4 to September 14 , 2023.  Kevin selected fifty five images from forty seven artist. Carol Eisenberg’s image “Fictive Landscapes 08” received the Juror’s Award. Carlos Alejandro’s image “Fog in the Piedmont” received the Director’s Award. Deborah Loeb Bohren’s image “Naoshima” received the Visitors’ Award.

ASG’s exhibition “story” was in the online gallery from September 2 to October 13, 2022.  We were fortunate enough to have the esteemed writer Franklin Cincinnatus write stories inspired by each of the 27 images selected for the “story” fine art exhibition book.  This video is the first in three zoom events being held for the readings of the stories as well as to celebrate the artist and the images they created.

Artist included in reading 3, in order of their presentations, are Jānis Miglavs, Leanne Trivett S., Elizabeth Bailey, Philip Guerette, Laurie Klein, Dale Niles, Vicki Reed, Jaimie Ladysh and Carol Serur.   Stories were read by either the artist or Franklin Cincinnatus.  Amanda Smith and Kevin Tully, gallery directors, were the moderators. Enjoy!

ASG’s exhibition “story” was in the online gallery from September 2 to October 13, 2022.  We were fortunate enough to have the esteemed writer Franklin Cincinnatus write stories inspired by each of the 27 images selected for the “story” fine art exhibition book.  This video is the first in three zoom events being held for the readings of the stories as well as to celebrate the artist and the images they created.

Artist included in reading 2, in order of their presentations, are Fran Forman, Sally Chapman, Karla Bernstein, Ronald Butler, Daphne Schnitzer, Lawrence Manning and Marcy Tilton.   Stories were read by either the artist or Franklin Cincinnatus.  Amanda Smith and Kevin Tully, gallery directors, were the moderators. Enjoy!

ASG’s exhibition “story” was in the online gallery from September 2 to October 13, 2022.  We were fortunate enough to have the esteemed writer Franklin Cincinnatus write stories inspired by each of the 27 images selected for the “story” fine art exhibition book.  This video is the first in three zoom events being held for the readings of the stories as well as to celebrate the artist and the images they created.

Artist included in reading 1, in order of their presentations, are Jeff Loeser, Andrew Hersey, Catharine Carter, Jim Turner, Carlos Alejandro, Cathy Panebianco, Wayne Thomas and Candace Biggerstaff.   Stories were read by either the artist or Franklin Cincinnatus.  Amanda Smith and Kevin Tully, gallery directors, were the moderators. Enjoy!

The “water” exhibition juried by Elizabeth Avedon, was in the online gallery from June 23 to August 3 , 2023.  Elizabeth selected fifty five images from fifty two artist. Bob Tully’s image “Sacred Water” received the Juror’s Award. Kathy Spence’s image “Bayou #1″ received the Director’s Award. Susan Lirakis’ image “August Rain, Bearcamp Pond” received the Visitors’ Award.

The “common objects” exhibition juried by Doug Beasley, was in the online gallery from May 12 to June 22 , 2023.  Doug selected fifty five images from forty seven artist. Megan Hatch’s image “A Ladder to the Sky” received the Juror’s Award. Ralph Maratta’s image “Still A Girl” received the Director’s Award. Geoffrey Agrons’ image “La Poignite du Banal” received the Visitors’ Award.

The “black/white” exhibition juried by Ann Jastrab, was in the online gallery from March 31 to May 11, 2023. Ann selected fifty five images from forty four artist. Sylvie Redmond’s image “Untitled” received the Juror’s Award. Rachael Short’s image “Her Reflection” received the Director’s Award. Christina McFaul’s image “Unfurling” received the Visitors’ Award.