AVA Seeks Artists for Starved for Spring Show

Posted Wednesday, February 7, 2018 9:32 am

For the Antigo Times

Antigo Visual Arts (AVA) is looking for area artists to participate in its 2018 Starved for Spring show. The show will hang in the AVA Gallery at the Langlade County Historical Museum, 404 Superior St., Antigo, March 9 - May 3. It will be AVA's third judged show. "The show is open to all area artists 15 and over," AVA Gallery Director Karen Aulik-Now said. "And, like in previous years, both cash and ribbons will be awarded to the first, second and third place finishers, as well as best of show. Honorable mentions may also be awarded at the discretion of the show judge."

Each artist may enter up to five pieces of original art. The work can be: paintings, photography, mixed media, sculpture, textiles, pottery, woodworking, wood carving, or monoprints. The show has no theme so just about any piece of art can be entered. All entries, however, must be original works of art, entirely the work of the entrant.

AVA members in good standing will pay $5 for each piece entered. Artists who are not AVA members pay $10 each for the first two pieces they enter and $5 each for each entry after that. Show Entry Forms are currently available in the Gallery at the Museum. They can also be downloaded here: http://www.antigovisualarts.org/ava-pdf.html. Entry forms must be completed by Monday, February 19.

Completed forms, along with your check for your entry fees, can either be returned to the museum or mailed to: AVA Starved for Spring Show, PO Box 312, Antigo, WI 54409.

Show judge will be David Kapszukiewicz. He holds a BA in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire. Originally from Gilman, Wisconsin, David was a graphic designer all his working life. He attended the Kewaunee Academy of Fine Art from 2007 to 2011 where, as he puts it, he "began the never-ending journey learning to be an oil painter." He currently lives on Clear Lake just north of Tomahawk. He is a teacher at heart and has given numerous workshops in the central Wisconsin area.

He has been accepted into the prestigious Birds in Art exhibition at Wausau’s Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in 2013, 2015 and 2017. His work has also been accepted into the 2015 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition.

“I believe judging a show, especially one where so many different mediums are displayed can be difficult. If it was simply what I personally liked, it would be easy. But it’s not about that. It’s about trying to get into the head of each artist—to figure out what they’re trying to say and how well they’re saying it. And when there are many different kinds of mediums competing, it can become a challenge to compare a painting to fabric art to a photograph—someone’s going to be slighted. I do believe that there are some fundamental requirements to any well-crafted piece:

Is there a feeling, message or story conveyed?

Does the artist have command of their medium?

Is the piece well designed?

Are elements like color, line, shape, texture and edges used appropriately?

Is the piece well presented?

AVA Artists will be hosting a wine and cheese reception Friday, March 9 from 5 to 7 pm in the AVA Gallery at the Historical Museum, 404 Superior St., Antigo. The public is invited. Enjoy a variety of wines donated by BB Jacks while sampling a medley of award winning Sartori cheese. There is no charge.