‘Au Naturel’ opens at college art gallery
ASTORIA — The ninth annu-
al international juried exhibit
“Au Naturel: The Nude in the
21st Century” is on display now
through March 5 at Clatsop
Community College’s Art Cen-
ter Gallery, located at 1799 Lex-
ington Ave. Gallery hours are
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday and from 11 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Saturday.
An artists’ reception will be
held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29.
Awards to be announced include
cash prizes, purchase awards, a
solo show award and workshop
awards. Bridgewater Bistro and
Dairy Maid will provide hors
d’oeuvres for the event. This
reception is free and open to the
public.
A no-host Post-Reception
Party at Astoria Coffeehouse &
Bistro, located at 243 11th St.,
will immediately follow the re-
ception.
This year, artists from 28
states, the District of Columbia,
and Canada, Turkey, New Zea-
land, and South Africa submitted
over 500 images for consider-
ation. The 2015 exhibit will rep-
resent 41 artists from 14 states in
addition to an international artist
from South Africa. Note that the
artist from South Africa will be
represented in the online gallery
only at www.aunaturelart.com
This year’s juror, Barbara
Shaiman, an independent cura-
tor and art consultant based in
Seattle, will be present to give a
gallery talk during the reception.
Shaiman was the artistic and
managing director of the Seattle
Art Museum’s SAM Gallery for
24 years.
“It was a great pleasure to
serve as the juror for 2015 ‘Au
Naturel’ competition and to see
perceive art as a visual melody,
which can be as simple as a song,
or as complex as a symphony,”
he states. “Somewhere in the mu-
sic — in the image — is an ex-
pression of the human condition,
be it narrowly focused or grand-
ly sweeping. Along those lines, I
VHHWKHUROHRIWKH¿JXUHLQP\DUW
much as the role a dancer plays
in a ballet: profoundly moving in
and of itself, yet a cohesive part
of a larger story.”
Seattle artist Chris Sheridan
looks to the past for inspiration in
“early myths, traditional folklore,
the histories, and the classics.” At
the very heart of his work is sto-
rytelling, which he describes as
“the foundation upon which my
paintings are built.”
Portland artist Patrick Kernan
creates all his work from life and
FRXQWVSDLQWLQJWKHKXPDQ¿JXUH
among one of his greatest pas-
Submitted photo
sions. Rather than focusing on
“Apparition Number Four” by Reed Clarke of Portland.
accuracy, he believes his work
is successful if the artwork “be-
such a variety of compelling and time to exhibit in “Au Naturel.” comes a journal of my observa-
high-quality work interpreting Clarke points out that while his tions, emotions and reactions to
Submitted photo
the theme of the nude,” Shaiman two oil paintings “Apparition WKHPRGHODWWKHVSHFL¿FVKDUHG
“Beyond the Boundary of the Hedge: Margarita and His Errand,” an oil painting by Chris
VDLG ³,W ZDV GLI¿FXOW WR QDUURZ Number Four” and “Woman moment in time.”
down such a large group to the 56 Standing With Man” may be
The rigorous discipline of Sheridan of Seattle.
pieces I eventually chose in order considered to be portraits, the GUDZLQJDQGSDLQWLQJIURP¿JXUH
to create a coherent exhibit.”
design elements of line, tone, models has also been a passion
Each year, a different juror is color, shape and form are equal- of artist Patrick Deshaye of Hill-
invited to select the work for the ly as important as the subject sboro. Deshaye maintains that
show, and each juror brings his matter. “It took me a long time to this practice embodies every-
or her own perspective. “I look become aware of how painting thing worthwhile about art-mak-
for artwork that has strong visu- SHRSOH¿JXUHVVHWVXSWKHQHHGWR ing, which includes “centuries
al appeal and is rooted in ideas I solve certain types of problems of tradition, an endless array of
¿QGFRPSHOOLQJVWLPXODWLQJDQG encountered in the act of paint- media and techniques, a subject
challenging,” explains Shaiman. LQJ´KHDGPLWV³,KRSHWR¿QG of overwhelming expressive po-
“I also look for work that in some solutions to these problems tential ... what’s not to love?”
some way pushes boundaries, that I can feel are authentically
On the other hand, Nicole
UHÀHFWVDXQLTXHYLVLRQRUSXVK- mine.”
Jeffords of Austin, Texas, works
es the medium in different areas.
James McComas of Superi- from a photographic reference,
The work should be technically or, Colorado, who has exhibited since for her, “a live sitter’s ener-
SUR¿FLHQWH[SHULPHQWDODQGSDV- in “Au Naturel” several times, gy would be too much.” She de-
sionate about its subject matter.” explores design concepts in his scribes her process as a slow and
Portland artist Reed Clarke, paintings from the standpoint of silent dialogue that progresses
also a part-time resident in Gear- the fascinating relationship be- “until bit by bit a picture emerg-
KDUWKDVEHHQLQYLWHGIRUWKH¿IWK tween visual art and music. “I es, almost as if a channel opens
and the person steps forward,
allowing me to see some part of
them that is real and true. In that
tendees can get loose to the way, hopefully, the painting be-
beats of DJ imcodefour.
comes revelation.”
Costumes and drag attire
are highly encouraged. The
party is 21 and over only.
Arts and Movement Cen- There is a $5 cover and a bar
6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29
ter co-owner Marco Davis’ available. The movement cen-
CCC Art Center Gallery
birthday with Daylight Cums ter is located at 342 10th St.
and the cast of “Dragalu-
For more information,
1799 Lexington Ave., Astoria
tion!” Surprise performances visit
www.astoriaartsand-
Submitted photo
www.aunaturelart.com
are sure to please, and at- movement.com
“Diana” by James McComas of Superior, Colorado.
Astoria hosts drag dance party
Get down with DJ, cast of ‘Dragalution!’
ASTORIA — The Astoria
Arts and Movement Center
will host a Drag it Out Dance
Party at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan.
30.
Come celebrate Astoria
8 | January 29, 2015 | coastweekend.com
Artist Reception