STANDING OUT: The Merit Artists 2015
Deborah Fullerton, Curator of the Art Museum of South Texas selected two artists from Corpus Christi and three from Rockport for group exhibit at the Rockport Center for the Arts. STANDING OUT opens to the public Saturday, August 8th at 4:30 pm in the Main Gallery.
History: The first Rockport Center for the Arts "Merit Show" occurred in July of 1985. The artists chosen were Evelyn Atkinson (Poster Artist 1998), Gertrude Bryant, Kathy Sayre, Cookie Tillman, and Fred Wright. At that time, all were chosen by popular vote. Under Anita Diebel's tenure (1998-2002) as Art Director at the Art Center, a new tradition was started. Each year, a distinguished guest juror would be invited to choose five artists of merit, leaving one remaining for what is known as the "Peoples' Choice".
The 30-year Tradition Continues: Six outstanding Rockport Center for the Arts members will display works in the Main Gallery. Five were chosen by juror Deborah Fullerton, Curator at the Art Museum of South Texas in Corpus Christi. Fullerton's selection was made in December of last year during the Currents exhibit. One "Peoples' Choice" was made by the public. The Art Center invites all to see the "Merit" of the selected artists. The show opens with a reception August 8th from 5-7 pm. Admission is free of charge.
About the Merit Artists 2015:
Jorge Alegria (Corpus Christi) - Powerful and ethereal, Jorge's work takes his audience somewhere else - far, far away. Shifting contrasts and tonal variations define his work, challenging our perception of two-dimensional space.
Beth Alexander (Rockport) - An artist all of her life, Beth is a former elementary art teacher and graphic designer. She has found her bliss painting in oils, employing a loose, representational style.
Kimberly Delgado (Corpus Christi) - Kim's current works are inspired by the Texas Gulf Coast. Her vibrant color combinations and thick applications of paint offer a unique perspective of textures found in nature.
Mary Frazier (Rockport) - Capturing moments in time, Mary's current work explores observational figure drawing and the reinterpretation of personal images, memories, and experiences.
Carol Koutnik (Rockport) - Koutnik has been selected as Merit Artist four-times and owns another distinction - 2005 Art Festival Poster Artist. Her recent works explore plant life - edible plants in particular - and their mysteries.
*Betty Shamel (Rockport) - A career artist and educator with 30 years of experience in the classroom, Betty's work has been widely exhibited. She also holds the honor of being the 2011 Rockport Center for the Arts poster artist, as well as this years Peoples' Choice selection.
