The 69th Rochester Finger Lakes Exhibition is Rochester's longest running juried art exhibit and this year we have the juror Timothy Peterson; he is now the new contemporary curator at The Memorial Art Gallery. I remember this showcase as being a real boost for me when my painting was accepted back when I was still a graduate student at Cornell University back in the early 1970s!
Welcome to the 69th Finger Lakes Exhibition
at The Memorial Art Gallery
Rochester, New York
The Docent Gallery is an open space with room for a wide variety of artwork and when you go and visit the MAG you will find the creative products of ninety artists in this present edition. Lucky artists who have their work accepted for the show also have a chance to win awards for their efforts. When we walked in we spent some time looking at all the pieces from artists in this section of the state.
Needless to say, I know many of the artists who are included in the show ( the piece I entered was NOT accepted! ) but this was a good time to catch up and see what people are doing... My initial impression is that there is a lot more figurative art in this year's show. I wonder whether this represents a trend - either locally or nationally?
"Dwayne" by Joseph Radoccia
This exhibition will close in early October so there is still time to get a good look! There are a few standout pieces that one finds in this show. Considering the political climate we find ourselves in, my attention rests upon Bob Conge's sculpture of the shark and flag. This should be the cover piece for a New Yorker Magazine. There are other artworks in this exhibit that also tell a story, but Conge nails it!
Shark Shreds the flag, sculpture by Bob Conge
Along these lines the painting by Ron Ferrara "The People Abandon Liberty" also tackles this subject.
Painting by Ron Ferrara
Story telling is something important for this chapter in the life of our museum, but it is not the only thing to latch onto. What about the giant sculptural work by Lee Hoag that is at your left when you walk into the show? Or the Angler fish?
Sculpture by Lee Hoag
Maybe there is an award for a quiet work that tells the story of fires in the Amazon that is suggested by the painting of the Aracari by Haley Dayis. "The Guardian of the Amazon" on the wall label says that this painting was made from hand-forged mineral pigments. I would say that this is one of the finest paintings in this exhibition, and since I am a bird watcher, this tells an important story about conservation that we should all be concerned with!
"Guardian of the Amazon" by Haley Dayis
Talking about nature, I was very happy to see a painting by Jennifer Apetz which has a solid look to it for a vast landscape in striking colors that grab your eye.
Painting by Jennifer Apetz
Another painting that has a thrill attached is the one called: "Leviathan", and it features a man plunging into deep water! This looks like an interpretation of a photo based image and I think that the artist - Sarah Manrique does a fine job communicating this moment.
Painting by Sarah Manrique
There are many other works which will grab your attention and I think that the big portrait which I highlight at the beginning of this blog post is one I will remember. The general feeling I get from this show is one of a more conservative set of selections - so as not to turn off visitors to the gallery. Maybe we are in the mood for entrenchment and the story of this moment is to meditate on our situation!
Art by James Porto
at
The Memorial Art Gallery
