39th Annual Juried Exhibition

Cuyahoga Valley Art Center presents its highly anticipated 39th Annual Juried Exhibition, taking place from July 30 to September 5, 2024. This prestigious juried entry exhibition showcases the remarkable talents of local artists across various mediums. With awards in seven distinct categories and over $1,000 in prizes, this exhibition is a celebration of creativity and artistic excellence.

The exhibition features artwork in the following categories: Watercolor Media, Water Based Media, Oil Based Media, Dry Media, Mixed Media, 3-Dimensional Media, and Photographic Media. Visitors have the unique opportunity to participate in a People’s Choice selection process to determine a People’s Choice winner for each category. Voting is free, encouraged, and will conclude at the artist reception on August 23, 2024.

“We are excited to display the wealth of talent our visual arts community has to share with us,” stated Danielle Dieterich, the Executive Director of the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center. “It is wonderful to celebrate so many artists and their exceptional contributions to the arts.”

The celebration and recognition of these talented individuals will take place at the Artist Reception on August 23rd from 5:30 PM to 7 PM. The reception will be free of charge and open to all patrons. Attendees will have the opportunity to mingle with the artists, indulge in delightful refreshments and hors d’oeuvres, and even purchase remarkable pieces of art.

The 39th Annual Juried Exhibition at the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center is an extraordinary exhibit that highlights the immense talent and creativity of the visual arts community. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to witness captivating artworks and to engage with the artists themselves.

Marketing Image Credit: Robert Crombie, Autumn Vineyard, Oil Based Media

Juror: John Jude Palencar

Artist and Illustrator, John Jude Palencar is a rarity among modern artists, mixing meticulous technique reminiscent of the old masters with a soaring, darkly surreal imagination. There are touches of Bosch and Da Vinci in his visual allegories of netherworld landscapes and doomed characters.
For more than forty five years he has created book covers and received honors for his contributions to the field of illustration including Gold and Silver Medals from the Society of Illustrators – (NYC), Gold & Silver Book Awards from Spectrum as well as their “Grand Master Award”, and six Chesley Awards from the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists (ASFA) including their Lifetime Achievement Award presented
in Yokohama, Japan.

His paintings have appeared on hundreds of book covers in over thirty countries for such renowned authors as H. P. Lovecraft, Ursula LeGuin, Marion Zimmer Bradley, P.D. James, Charles deLint, Octavia Butler, David Brin, R. L. Stine, George R.R. Martin, J.R.R. Tolkein and Stephen King to name a few. His cover paintings for the “Inheritance Cycle”, by Christopher Paolini, have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List. (Paolini named Eragon’s birthplace “Palancar Valley”, after John.)

He has also created illustrations for Time Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, National Geographic Magazine and Nat. Geo. Television. Lucas Arts, Paramount Pictures, Vivendi Universal and many others. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

People’s Choice Awards:

PHOTOGRAPHIC MEDIA: PEOPLE’S CHOICE Marina Neyman Solon, OH Foggy Sunrise Photographic Media $275
WATER-BASED MEDIA: PEOPLE’S CHOICE Joel Rogers Hudson, OH Reflection Water Based Media $2,500
WATERCOLOR MEDIA: PEOPLE’S CHOICE Bill Dowey Stow, OH Mist Awakening Watercolor Media $90
3-DIMENSIONAL MEDIA: PEOPLE’S CHOICE Tom Baldwin Akron, OH Corn Shellers 3-Dimensional Media NFS
DRY MEDIA: PEOPLE’S CHOICE Ricky Williams Medina, OH The Story Teller Dry Media NFS
MIXED MEDIA: PEOPLE’S CHOICE Donna Kensel Bargar Strongsville, OH Time is Running Out Mixed Media NFS
OIL-BASED MEDIA: PEOPLE’S CHOICE Todd Bergert North Canton, OH Lady with the Red Hat Oil Based Media $2,000

Juror Awards:

PDF: 2024 39th Juried Ex AWARDS

WATERCOLOR MEDIA: HONORABLE MENTION Jack Hickson Barberton, OH Wild Roses Watercolor Media $325	“Flower paintings often overpopulate these types of exhibitions. In this case I could not resist the clean and crisp whiteness of the flowers as they worked their way across the paper. A thoughtful wash over the upper left flower to dissuade the eye from getting trapped in the corner of the composition was noted.” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
WATERCOLOR MEDIA: HONORABLE MENTION Yu Liu Hudson, OH Whispers in the Fog at Budapest Watercolor Media $350	“Here we have a moody scene that Brom Stoker or Dracula would appreciate. The brooding nature and atmospheric perspective enhances the witch-like steeples of the architecture. Ooooh scary!” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
WATERCOLOR MEDIA: BEST OF CATEGORY Bill Dowey Stow, OH Mist Awakening Watercolor Media $90	“This small watercolor has a quiet power. Another simple and unassuming approach that evokes a feeling of solitude & peace that I think we have all experienced.” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
WATER BASED MEDIA: HONORABLE MENTION Robert J. Putka Stow, OH Perovskia, Hydrangea, and Penstemon Water Based Medi $1,200	“The brush energy in this painting is akin to the subject. The movement of brushstrokes is infused with growth and fertility. It’s a pleasure to get lost in this garden.” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
WATER BASED MEDIA: HONORABLE MENTION Jim Jones Akron, OH 44 Water Based Media $1,116	“It appears that this sheep has met the Phantom of the Opera or at least attended the Winter Carnival in Venice, Italy. The subtle transition of light and modulated shadows create a quiet drama. Those eyes!” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
WATER BASED MEDIA: BEST OF CATEGORY Jim Jones Akron, OH Patience Water Based Media $2,100	“The rendering in this figurative work is superlative. The pointillism and egg tempera-like techniques bring together another accomplished and consistent approach to painting. Color is another factor that treats the viewer to an unexpected discovery. While the concept is hidden, we can only assume that those gloved hands with lighted fingers have some hidden meaning – mystery is a good thing here.” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
OIL BASED MEDIA: HONORABLE MENTION Todd Bergert North Canton, OH Lady with the Red Hat Oil Based Media $2,000	“The clean and refined edges in this painting are reminiscent of the Flemish School of painting. The surface quality is smooth and quiet. Simplicity is the powerful element used in this painting. As they say… less is more.” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
OIL BASED MEDIA: BEST OF CATEGORY Tom Jackson Stow, OH Around the Corner Oil Based Media NFS	“This work is from an accomplished artist. His influences can be traced to Edward Hopper and the photo-realist Robert Cottingham. The technique is refined and the “Best in Category” painting has a poignant concept. The bleached awning is protecting the “God Bless Our Troops” sign. Something that our armed services have done for us over the decades. The artist’s observation of this scene is also made clear by the new brick and mortar surrounding the newly set window.” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
DRY MEDIA: HONORABLE MENTION Kayla Billings Akron, OH Banished from Eden Dry Media $250	“The embracing figures console each other from the horrors of the world. Using symbolic icons of demons, wasps and other nasties, this simple line drawing supports the concept, naiveté and innocence of the cloistered figures.” – Juror, John Jude PalencaR
DRY MEDIA: HONORABLE MENTION Kayla Billings Akron, OH Continuous Contour – Ramen Dry Media $150	“As I mentioned in my opening comments regarding the “Anomaly” criteria … these drawings come under that heading. Who would think a wandering clumsy line drawing of someone eating noodles would get my attention – it did. The humor and technique fit together like peas and carrots or should I say noodles and ________?” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
DRY MEDIA: BEST OF CATEGORY Ricky Williams Medina, OH The Story Teller Dry Media NFS	“The design in this drawing creates a tension toward the left side. A resolute profile of man wearing a hat that reflects and enforces this determination. Pulling detail where it is necessary and backing off to a soft blur in the background.” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
MIXED MEDIA: HONORABLE MENTION Hollis Richardson Strongsville, OH Riveting News Mixed Media $800	“Aside from being proficient in this stylistic approach… humor & symmetry are the elements this artist uses. The distortion is both unsettling and whimsical. Do you fear clowns?” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
MIXED MEDIA: HONORABLE MENTION Wendy Friedman Akron, OH Ren Mixed Media $495	“The art-cult of large eyed children live on in this painting. Since the nineties and perhaps earlier, Low Brow and Urban Surrealist artists have conjured up a number of evocative and playful images. The fanciful subject and grounded technique used in this painting makes one smile.” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
MIXED MEDIA: BEST OF CATEGORY Jeff Fauser Kent, OH Out of Kilter 6 Mixed Media $450	“This diminutive piece has a lot of presence for its size. The colors are spot-on and the design has a Francis Bacon vibe. The consistency of the artist’s signature style is apparent. Would love to see these created on a larger scale.” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
3–DIMENSIONAL MEDIA: HONORABLE MENTION Leo Miller Ravenna, OH Moving Forward/Deep Sea Sand Shark 3-Dimensional Media $200	“Invention and humor play an important role in this fanciful metal sculpture. Found objects and common materials are fused and painted with care to create this engaging dragon.” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
3–DIMENSIONAL MEDIA: HONORABLE MENTION Robert Goldthwaite Kent, OH Walnut Bowl 3-Dimensional Media $300	“Turning a wood bowl can be challenging, but doing it with a defect of that size is an accomplishment. Here again the “anomaly” is present – a bowl that you can’t use but only gaze upon. Functionality superseded by beauty.” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
3–DIMENSIONAL MEDIA: BEST OF CATEGORY Tom Baldwin Akron, OH Corn Shellers 3-Dimensional Media NFS	“Trompe l’oeil painting is a technique in which the artist tries to fool the viewers eye into thinking that the objects in the still life are actual three dimensional objects. The artist here has done that with wood. Everything you see is hand carved using only wood. Absolutely wonderful – and I love crows.” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
PHOTOGRAPHIC MEDIA: HONORABLE MENTION Marina Neyman Solon, OH Santa Justa Lift, Lisbon Photographic Media $200	“This evocative architectural photograph and it’s razor-sharp resolution is simply captivating. A limited color palette is used to good effect. Once you decipher the viewpoint and engage in the ornamentation of this viewing tower you see the small figure with binoculars looking out at some unknown landscape.” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
PHOTOGRAPHIC MEDIA: HONORABLE MENTION Chad Barr Solon, OH Israel Bird Migration Photographic Media $290	“Atmosphere and wildlife pair well in this depiction of these majestic birds. Too numerous to count, it makes one appreciative of the biodiversity of our beautiful planet. Choosing to print this photograph in black & white supports the mood and peacefulness without the distraction of color.” – Juror, John Jude Palencar
PHOTOGRAPHIC MEDIA: BEST OF CATEGORY Kelly Matthews Wauseon, OH Passing the Time Photographic Media $204	“While this photograph brings a smile to our faces, there is a duality here…. a melancholy aspect of distant childhood memories and things that have gone away. The metal snowman staring into the distance, embracing the warm sunlight, not melting, he stands forgotten among the rusted remains of an abandoned amusement park. A powerful image.” – Juror, John Jude Palencar

Accepted Submissions:

PDF: 39th Annual Juried Exhibition ACCEPTED SUBMISSIONS