Encaustic Juried Show: INSPIRATION
May 15 - June 6th

Opening Reception: Thursday, May 30
4pm - 6pm

Congratulations to:

Alicia Forestall-Boehm, Amanda Jolley, Annette Wijers, Bettina Egli Sennhauser, Christine Aaron, Cindy Lesperance, Deborah Claffey, Deborah Peeples, Denise Richards, Dorothy Cochran, Ginny Krueger, Helen Dannelly, Hilary Hanson, Bruel, Isabelle Gaborit, Karen Bright, Karen Tichy, Kay Hartung, Laura Moriarity, Leslie Giuliani, Linda Ray, Marcy Bergeron-Noa, Nancy Natale, Russ Ozer, Samara Johnson, Sheri Fafunwa Ndibe, Stephanie Roberts-Camello, Susan Lasch Krevitt

“Inspiration” is the theme of this year’s conference exhibition, to be held at Truro Center for the Arts Gallery. The juror, Barbara O’Brien, is well-known to the community of artists who work in encaustic. This year’s keynote speaker, Petah Coyne, has taken inspiration from the myriad possibilities of working with wax to create sculptures of startling originality. Who or what inspires you?

Being a studio artist is often a solitary experience built upon years of education, ambition, and discipline. Returning to this place of creation (ranging from a kitchen table to a large warehouse) and then putting one’s creations out into the world takes a leap of faith. Motivation can come from looking at the work of a living artist, or exploring the lineage of an art historical movement. Insight can emerge from a connection to powerful social and political issues. The Muse can be found walking along the shoreline, across a wide field or through a crowded cityscape. I want to know what inspires you to find your voice, create art, and continue along a challenging path.

Barbara O’Brien, an independent curator and critic based in Milwaukee, is the former Executive Director of Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. She is an elected member of AICA-USA, International Association of Art Critics. O’Brien has a longstanding interest in and commitment to the community of artists who incorporate encaustic into their practice, having twice presented the keynote address (2008 and 2013) at the International Encaustic Conference. Most recently, O’Brien was the juror for the FUSEDChicago national exhibition “Connections” which was presented at ARC Gallery.

 Her twenty years in Boston included positions as editor in chief of Art New England Magazine, Director of the Trustman Art Gallery at Simmons University, and Director of the Gallery and Visiting Artist Program at Montserrat College of Art.