January 25, 2018
More than 100 women artists from 14 Northeast Ohio municipalities submitted 262 artworks to Ursuline College recently for inclusion in The New Masters: Women Artists of Northeast Ohio, which opened with a reception and awards ceremony on Friday, Feb. 16, in the College’s Florence O’Donnell Wasmer Gallery.
As students of art history know, the "Old Masters" were European painters regarded as the best artists before about 1800. They were, for the most part, men. Ursuline's Wasmer Gallery turned that concept on its head by inviting women artists of Northeast Ohio – The New Masters – to submit artworks for this juried exhibition.
A jury of professional artists and arts administrators chose 43 of the submitted works for inclusion in the exhibition, which celebrates the creativity, skill and vision of women artists. Their diverse pieces are works of painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, ceramics, mosaics, fiber, jewelry, and mixed media including installation.
Jurors are Nikki Woods, director of the Reinberger Gallery at Cleveland Institute of Art; Mary Gray, director of the Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery; and Alenka Banco, executive director of Cleveland Arts Prize.
Jurors chose the following award winners, announced at the opening:
Best in Show Purchase Prize
Secrets
By Priscilla Roggenkamp
1st Prize, Award of Excellence
Jess
By Emmalyn Tringali
2nd Prize, Award of Distinction
balance/s.maria I cosmedin
by Susan Squires
3rd prize, Award of Merit
Arms Akimbo
By Julianne Edberg
Honorable Mention
July
By Lee Heinen
Honorable Mention
City Rastafarian
By Christine Ries
Honorable Mention
Two Face
By Amber Ford
“Women from across Northeast Ohio responded to this exhibition with expressive, diverse, stunning and thought-provoking work,” said Wasmer Gallery Director Anna Arnold. ”I am especially grateful to our distinguished jurors for their efforts. They selected 43 works of art from 262 entries. I am excited about sharing this powerful exhibition with the community."
Cities represented in the show are Alliance, Bentleyville, Broadview Heights, Canton, Chagrin Falls, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, North Ridgeville, Painesville, Parma, Richmond Heights, Shaker Heights, Solon, and South Euclid. Artists represented are:
The New Masters will be on view through March 23. Gallery hours are 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays; 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays; closed Mondays and holidays. Ursuline College is at 2550 Lander Road in Pepper Pike, Ohio.