The Silvermine Arts Center is once again taking its visitors on quite a journey.
To participate in this tour of sorts, one need only visit the New Canaan arts destination now through July 26.
An exploration of the artistic wealth of the region ”” formally known as “Art of the Northeast” ”” recently opened for its 65th annual run.
The signature competition/exhibition ”” one that both encourages an appreciation of the talent-rich region and touches on influences and trends ”” has a storied history.
- The “Art of the Northeast” exhibition is a signature of the Silvermine Arts Center. Photo of the show”™s 2014 edition by Jeremy Saladyga, courtesy Silvermine Arts Center
Founded by Silvermine Guild members Miriam Brody and Revington Arthur, the “New England Exhibition” has continued to expand since its debut in the middle of the last century.
Now, some 500 artists from Maine to the Mid-Atlantic ”” both emerging and more established ”” vie each year for the chance to reach a wider audience as they showcase what they do best.
Jeffrey Mueller, the gallery director at Silvermine, said there are a few things the show is not.
“It”™s not a thematic show,” he said.
And it”™s not devoted to one art form, as Mueller noted the show welcomes everything from traditional photography to avant-garde sculpture.
“It”™s the full gamut of possibilities,” he said.
With such diversity, he added, it becomes all about “really engaging with the work.”
Mueller said Silvermine reached out to numerous arts organizations and colleges throughout the region, leading to many recent fine-arts graduates applying. That adds a fresh dynamic to the show, one that becomes the first major exhibition for many of these young artists.
As Mueller noted, “It”™s a way to see a lot of artists on the beginning of their journey.”
Mueller said the show”™s reputation is also rooted in its approach.
“As much as it”™s a strong tradition for artists, it has a strong history for curators.”
Past curators have included art critics, artists, directors of major museums, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the New Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Last year, New York-based critic and writer Andrew Russeth served as curator.
“Each curator has their own voice,” Mueller said. “We allow that to become visible. The curator is a part of the process.”
And that process, he said, is key to what he calls “that triad” ”“ the relationship formed among artist, curator and, eventually, visitor.
Michelle Grabner and Brad Killam, both Illinois-based artists, critics and teachers, curated this year”™s “Art of the Northeast.”
- Photo by Jeremy Saladyga, courtesy Silvermine Arts Center
It marks the first time the Silvermine show has had co-curators (who happen to be husband and wife).
Grabner is a professor in the painting and drawing department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and was one of three curators of last year”™s Whitney Biennial.
Mueller said Grabner”™s experience with that international event “will give an interesting sort of counterpoint” to this year”™s Silvermine show.
Killam, a widely exhibited artist, teaches art at the College of DuPage in Illinois. Together, he and Grabner have established artist project spaces The Suburban in Oak Park, Ill., and The Poor Farm in Waupaca County, Wis.
The curators”™ selections are filling all three of the center”™s galleries, showcasing some 60 artists (some of whom have been invited to show multiple works).
As Mueller said, that element further distinguishes “Art of the Northeast.”
“A lot of times when you see these open-call shows, it”™s sort of a one-off. We give curators the freedom to select groupings of work.”
With the hundreds of artists who traditionally apply for “Art of the Northeast,” Mueller said the goal remains to select artists who are showing a “mastery of their craft or telling an interesting story.”
Among those chosen as finalists this year are Fairfield County artists Pam Ackley of New Canaan, Jocelyn Braxton Armstrong of Westport, Frances B. Ashforth of Ridgefield, Robert Carley of Darien, Betsy Davidson of Bethel, Katharine Draper of Norwalk, Leslie Giuliani of Weston, Henry Glavin of Darien, John Hafey of Fairfield, Dan Makara of Redding, Lawrence McGarvey of Westport, Marlene Siff of Westport, Sofie Swann of Stamford, Lisa Thoren of Darien and Joan Zagrobelny of Newtown.
A version of this story was first published in WAG magazine, the Business Journal”™s sister publication.
