2012 Contemporary Realism Biennial

Contemporary Realism Biennial

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art’s Contemporary Realism Biennial is a national invitational and juried exhibition which highlights the strength and innovation of America’s current trends in realism. America has enjoyed a long, rich history of Realist art from Colonial times to the present. We are proud to expand the discourse on this enduring tradition in presenting the 2012 installment of this dynamic contemporary exhibition.

Although a seemingly narrow focus, the art in this exhibition presents a vast range of ideas, approaches, styles, and subject matter. Some artists are building and expanding upon the legacies of Photorealism, Magic Realism, trompe l’oeil, and urban realism. Others strive to capture light and texture, or delve into the psychology of the situation or sitter. Several create fantastic and macabre narrations or even border on abstraction.

Frank Bernarducci of the Bernarducci.Meisel.Gallery in New York City was given the arduous task of choosing three best of show artworks in this exhibition that features top American realists. His choices are:

1. David Eichenberg, Aimee  2. Martin Arnold, Christina in Stripes  3. David Jamieson, Nested

Honorable mention includes Lanna Pendleton-Hall, After the Rain; Ivan Chermel, The Trainer; andPhilip Jackson, Transitory Reflections: Tangerine and Apples

When asked to describe the selection process, Bernarducci said, “As a dealer, I have definite criteria by which I view a painting. Our gallery receives close to 10,000 artist submissions a year–one every 20 minutes. So we know right away when we have something special. First there must be an emotional response to the work, a certain truth and beauty. The artist must have a unique point of view. It must be painted in a thoroughly modern way, a way that we have never seen before. These criteria are very difficult to achieve. Many of the selections for this Biennial are in that 1% – the cream of the crop: images that make you look a second and a third time, paintings and sculpture by the truly gifted. So to select three is almost unfair. It becomes a totally subjective process. There is no good or bad or best. My final selections are works that make my own pupils dilate. I would suggest seeing this extraordinary show for yourself. Then make your own three selections. See how easy it is.”