WOWOWOW!
Just received word that HUNTING ISLAND XVI was awarded first place in the Maryland Federation of Art’s Rising Tides exhibit!
This photograph is part of a series of works of mine which focus on the coastline of Hunting Island, a barrier island in southern South Carolina. Hunting Island suffers from a bad case of longshore drift, where ocean currents sideswipe the beach, stripping away sand in the process. While this is a naturally-occurring phenomenon, the scene at Hunting Island is a reality that many coastal areas will face in the event of sea level rise, as oceans make their way inland and choke out maritime forests.
A huge thanks goes out to Jennifer Polillo, former Director of Education at The Delaware Contemporary, who juried 60 works into the exhibit.
JUROR’S STATEMENT
“Congratulations to all of the artists who participated in the Maryland Federation of Art’s call for the Rising Tides exhibition. It was a pleasure for me to be the juror and to view each and every submission. I applaud all of you for your efforts.
Nature has always been a source of inspiration for artists and the current climate crisis that is affecting our natural world is reflected upon by artists in many different ways. This exhibition is a true representation of the various entries submitted, as it includes photography, painting, digital media, and mixed-media works. Many artists chose to portray the consequential devastation of our rising tides and others simply depicted the delicate beauty that is currently at risk. The pieces that I ultimately chose for this exhibition speak to the compelling beauty and fragility of our natural environment.
Art has the ability to communicate and create awareness around important issues. As humans, we feel an intrinsic need to take responsibility for the things we feel connected to. Art can help us to reconnect with nature and can also reveal the dismal consequences of our actions and inactions.
The images that had a visceral effect on me and demonstrated a particular mastery of craftsmanship and concept earned the top three prizes. Honorable mentions go to those works that I felt also deserved direct acknowledgement. For those artists whose work was not selected, I urge you to continue to create and submit your work, and I leave you with the words of Vincent Van Gogh; “If you work with love and intelligence, you develop a kind of armor against people’s opinions, just because of the sincerity of your love for nature and art. Nature is also severe and, to put it that way, hard, but never deceives and always helps you to move forward.”” - Jennifer Polillo