Greenwich Gallery Exhibit Places a Premium on Creativity

From landscapes to portraits and watercolors to digital art, there was something for every subjective taste this weekend in Greenwich.

The folks at the Greenwich Art Society proved there is charm in diversity Saturday night with a kick-off party for its 94th Annual Juried Exhibition.

The showcase touched upon most every style of art under the sun—from a conceptual watercolor picture of marine life to a collage made of magazine clippings, and much more in between.

Wine and finger sandwiches also served as a sidebar to the artwork as art aficionados and potential buyers browsed the displays. The gallery stretched through rooms and hallways, giving visitors lots of eye candy to work through.

“There’s an interesting selection of the types of work here—there’s no focus on just one specifically,” said Rye resident Emily Saunders.

The collection was also stamped with a noteworthy name, which may have helped bring out the 300 or so guests who stopped in for a glimpse.

Nora Lawrence, assistant curator of the Museum of Modern Art, was responsible for picking out the best and brightest entrees for the show—choosing only 80 out of 230 pieces that were entered.

“[We’re] able to give our members a chance to have their work looked at by a significant curator in the art world,” said Anna Patalano, president of Greenwich Art Society.

Themes, colors and mediums varied widely among the pieces in each hallway.

Take Horses by Donald Landsman as an example: this red- and yellow-painted sculpture used tree twigs, scrap metal and wire to form the likeness of a horse. Judges agreed that it stood out above the rest in creativity, and it was granted the Marie Mathews Beran Award by the organization.

“I like the mixed media pieces," said Tom Saunders, one of the visitors during Saturday's reception. "It’s amazing what people can do with their resources."

For other artists, self-expression revealed itself in other ways.

Asleep in the Grass was almost like reading an old diary entry from the past for Patricia Thrane, whose motivation came from a rocky point in her life. Her painting, which depicts a woman sleeping in nature, is a metaphor for horticulture and marital struggle.

“It represents a time in my life where I was in denial about certain things and loved gardening,” she said of the work. As a reward for her achievements, the Greenwich Art Society presented Thrane with the Stone Studio Award.

By the end of the night, a painted portrayal of a cluster of purple grapes took home the most coveted award, The Barbara Kurtz Memorial Award for 'Best in Show.'