September 23 - October 24, 2000

Overall Comments by Raymond A. Liddell, Juror
This exhibition contains an extraordinary diversity of styles and sensibilities. It is noteworthy that the show’s examples of non-representational work are on a par with its examples of traditional painting; thus, no school or style seems to predominate among the membership of NAA.

The watercolor work in this show was particularly accomplished, reflecting both the mastery of the medium and a freedom of expression unhampered by tradition. This is evident in the watercolors of Charles Shurcliff, Ruth Minas and Bob Gertz.

The photography in this exhibition was particularly arresting because of the unusual subject matter and compositional techniques of artists such as John Appelgath, Will Wolf, Carol Hershey, Lee Yeomans and Marge Motes.

Overall, this is one of the strongest shows I have ever seen at a regional art association. Raymond A. Liddell, juror

Juror’s Résumé:
Raymond A. Liddell has an A.B. form Harvard College and a M.A. in classical and near eastern archaeology from Bryn Mawr. Mr. Liddell has been Administrative Director at the Museum of Broadcasting in New York, Vice Director of the Brooklyn Museum of Art and Executive Director of the Archaeological Institute of America. He has also been director of a Newbury Street gallery, a management consultant for visual arts organizations and an independent curator for contemporary art exhibitions. He has taught arts management at Boston University, writing at the Massachusetts School of Law and has contributed art criticism, feature stories, reviews and commentaries to the Boston TAB, the Cape Cod Times, Arts Media, Essex County Newspapers, Museums in Boston and National Public Radio. He is currently teaching art history, history of photography and arts administration at Endicott College, Beverly, MA and Boston University. His reviews of Newburyport Art Association exhibitions appeared in the Essex County Newspapers.

Click on thumbnail for larger view.

SAM SARGENT MEMORIAL AWARD FOR BEST OF SHOW
Dennis Bailey
Newton, NH
Pierce House, Kennebunkport
Oil on canvas

This moody, Hopperesque landscape is psychologically charged and filled with subtle nuances of color, shading and light. It conveys a very strong sense of place, the exact opposite of a generic scene. The emotional impact is heightened by the somewhat flattened picture plane, the strong diagonals and the simple, stark volumes.
Raymond A. Liddell, juror


LAURA COOMBS HILLS MEMORIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Janis Sanders
West Peabody, MA
Form, Mt. Truro
oil on canvas

This painting is highly reminiscent of Milton Avery. Its clean palette, broad brush strokes and simplified volumes convey the sweet spareness of the Truro dunes.
Raymond A. Liddell.


NAA AWARD FOR PAINTING
Patricia Rodriques
Amesbury
Dining Room
Oil

This painterly interior suggests the evocative interiors of Van Gogh. The compressed foreground, the high vantage point, the lively play of light across the chairs, the stark, textured paint layers of the curtains, the lamp shades and the arm rests enliven the surface and lend it a somewhat surreal atmosphere.


NAA AWARD FOR WATERBASED MEDIA
Raymond T. Corcoran
Dracut, MA
Tree Corn
Watercolor

This extraordinary watercolor in the style of Andrew Wyeth proves that the most mundane of subjects can add up to a powerfully provocative and haunting composition. It takes some work to read this composition, but the more it is studied, the more it offers the viewer. Like Wyeth, there is a somewhat brooding quality to the work, which may suggest the metaphysical.
Raymond A. Liddell, Juror


NAA AWARD FOR SCULPTURE/3D/CRAFTS
David Davies
Newburyport, MA
Horizontal Lamp
Oak, brass, glass

These [two] extraordinary lighting devices reflect enormous craftsmanship and an exquisite marriage of materials and color. They are at once of a science fiction future and an antique Asian past. Raymond A. Liddell, Juror


NAA AWARD FOR PHOTOGRAPHY
John Applegath
Durham, NH
Geometry #1
Color photograph

This simple collage of geometric forms echoes the light and volume studies of the photographer Paul Strand. Applegath isolates the inherent, yet unusual forms and patterns we overlook on a daily basis. Raymond A. Liddell, Juror


NAA AWARD FOR PASTEL/MIXED MEDIA/DRAWING
Skip Motes
Newburyport, MA
Marsh landscape II
Pastel

Seldom are the qualities of pastel explored as expertly as here in Skip Motes’ moody marsh landscape. The landscape has the feel of a George Inness, but is of considerably more nuance and subtlety than those of the early 20th century master.
Raymond A. Liddell, Juror


NAA HONORABLE MENTION
Yvonne Trabucco
Beverly, MA
Time Out!
Mixed media






NAA HONORABLE MENTION
Judy Metcalfe
Rockport, MA
Pearl Onions
Watercolor







NAA HONORABLE MENTION
Joan Bediz
Essex, MA
Horizon in Ireland
Pastel


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