When I was asked to jury the show this month, and that the theme was “Layers”, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  In truth, I was amazed at the variety and quality of the works submitted.  It was a very challenging task to jury this show and narrow down the selection to the pieces you see here tonight.   And it was even more of a challenge to select from among the final entries the prize winners and honorable mentions.  The primary criteria I used to pick out the finalists were based on the following  3 categories:  1) artistic interpretation of the theme, 2) the depth of content and 3) technical use of the media.

The first prize entry, Coi Pool by Jeannie Tanks is a unique piece using fused glass.  The design pulls one below the surface layer of the small pool.  It combines color, texture and composition to complete the piece.  Heads Together by Patricia DiBella-Kreger was awarded second prize and is a more literal and textural depiction of “layers” using mixed media.  The portraits and the way they are created ads another layer of meaning to the piece.  Third prize, Into the Blue by Lynn Mehta, is an impressionistic application of layers of paint representing the layers of mountains, hills and trees.

In addition to the prize winners, there were several pieces awarded Honorable Mentions.  Hen by Janet Brome is a fun and whimsical sculpture of wire and mesh - and a literal “layer”.  Arcade Coil by Joshua Demonte shows much technical ability and an architectural layering of 3-D space.  Out of the Blue by Teena Franklin is a large abstract painting using layers of color and paint with subtle use of hues and values.  Staz by Patte Ormsby is an abstract painting using shape, pattern and color to draw one in to explore the layers of surface, patterns, and colors.  Crossing the Rappahannock by Carolyn Beever is a digital photo depicting the familiar bridge in Fredericksburg and uses photographic layering of images and colors.