Bainbridge’s got talent.
Just ask the folks at Collective Visions Gallery in Bremerton.
Seventeen island artists fill the roster of the eighth annual CVG annual Washington State juried art competition and show, more so than any other city in the state except for Seattle.
The CVG Show, as it is called, is one of the largest in the state, awarding more than $9,500 in cash and purchase prizes.
Nearly 300 artists from more than 70 cities and towns around the state applied this year, of which 106 were ultimately chosen for the competition. The selected works are on display in the Bremerton gallery (331 Pacific Ave.) now through the end of February.
The unenviable task of selecting which artists were accepted into the show fell upon the exhibition juror, Greg Robinson, executive director and chief curator of the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.
This was Robinson’s first year acting as exhibition juror.
“I thought it was great,” he said of the overall selection process. “The process was very well set up and organized.”
Robinson reviewed over 860 images of submitted artwork to narrow the number down to the 128 pieces now hanging in the show. The 106 artists included in this year’s show hail from 44 towns and cities — from Bonney Lake to Bremerton and from Inchelium to Issaquah.
The entire process was done blindly, meaning that Robinson did not know the names of any of the artists until after selection.
“The CV Gallery has done a really great job doing outreach beyond Bremerton,” Robinson explained. “They really want it to be a state-wide show. I’m aware of their efforts to get the word out very broadly.”
Of the artwork, Robinson said that there are several key factors for a juror to consider when viewing such a wide range of works in so many mediums.
“There are a couple of considerations,” he explained. “The gallery asked me to try and put together a cohesive exhibition. Also, you try to leave your personal taste at the door.”
“You have to remember you’re not shopping,” he added. “You’re just trying to evaluate each piece of art on its own.”
The selected artworks range from sculptures 8-feet tall to handcrafted jewelry, and computer generated fractal imagery to hand-woven fiber art.
The annual show once again filled Collective Visions Gallery’s entire 2400-square-foot space.
Award recipients were announced at the show’s premiere reception last week.
Robinson admits to being more inclined to an intricate aesthetic, saying his personal tastes often run toward more complicated works.
“I enjoy complicated works of art or works that somehow move or intrigue you,” he said. “Works that involve a lot of process. If push came to shove, I might look at it through that lens.”
Seattle’s Carla Grahn was awarded the Mayor’s Award for Best of Show, and the $1,500 prize, for her piece “Clockwork Zen.”
Bainbridge’s own Richard Wilson claimed the first-place award in the photography category, along with the $1,000 prize, for his image “Urban Silence 2014.”
Irene Yesley, another Bainbridge Island artist, won the first-place award in the 2-Dimensional category, along with the $1,000 prize, for her piece “Wind.”
Two Bainbridge Islanders, John Benjes and Nicholas Sherbina, were each awarded Kitsap County Arts Board Purchase Prizes as well.
Voting for the People’s Choice Award, which includes a $300 prize, continues through the end of the exhibition. The award will be presented at the close of the show, 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28.
Visit www.cvgshow.com to see all of this year’s winning works.
Collective Visions Gallery is an association of West Sound Professional Artists working together to expand awareness of and make available for purchase contemporary visual art. They employ a program of exhibits, lectures, concerts and other art-related events to communicate ideas, build community, enrich and educate.
Visit www.collectivevisions.com to learn more.
The best and brightest
What: The 2015 CVG Show exhibition, a state-wide juried art competition featuring works by 17 island artists.
When: Noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, now through Saturday, Feb. 28.
Where: 331 Pacific Ave., Bremerton.
Admission: Free.
