It was a crowded house last night at the Portage and District Arts Centre as it hosted the 36th annual Central Region Juried Art Exhibit. Three artists/ jurors attended the exhibit and critiqued every single piece on display.

(L-R) Jurors Karen Adamson, Jennie O'Keefe, Alex El"I, along with the other two jurors, came together for over two days and judged 96 pieces," says artist and juror Jennie O'Keefe. "It was an arduous but very rewarding experience."

O'Keefe says she looks for technique, emotion and personal experience in the art. She notes she wants to see the artist inside their work.

Karen Adamson was also juror last year and says, "I like the art that is personal and pieces that are close to the heart. And you can tell that from the piece. I also look for technique, of course."

Alex El adds, "I'm trying to help people to understand what they are doing. I noticed that some people tend toward a specific style or technique. I'm not sure if they know much about that style. With all of my experience and formal education, I can share my knowledge with people. And I hope I can help them to develop their skills and understand more of what they're doing even without knowing it was already explored and done before. They can learn from collective knowledge gathered by other artists. That's my goal."

It's O'Keefe's first time acting as a juror in this capacity. She explains she was previously a juror in more of a grant decision aspect of art than in a juried exhibition.  She notes it's great to see so much of the art in person, and looking at it, evaluating, and experiencing it in its true form in front of her.

Newton artist Ilene Yanchuk, whose piece (bottom right) was chosen for tourAdamson notes she can see how the art is improving every year, having judged the tour for the last five years. She says she also recognizes artists from previous years now. However, she notes, the jurors speak to everyone at their level and encourage them all.

El has been judging since 2012 and also does recognize names and artists, and notes they change their interests in some instances. For example, El explains, somebody who did photography one year is now doing encaustic painting. He notes it's interesting to see how folks develop and change directions to explore other mediums.

Carol Vlooswyk beside painting (top) Canadians Go For Gold - People's Choice Award winnerCarol Vlooswyk won the People's Choice Award and her piece was also selected for both the Central Region tour and the 2018 Manitoba Rural & Northern Juried Art Show in Winnipeg, giving it three awards.

"The piece that won was entitled Canadians Go For Gold. It depicts Canada geese landing in a wheat field," says Vlooswyk. In reference to her feelings about winning the People's Choice, she says, "It hasn't settled in yet. It feels wonderful, and it's an honour that people picked my painting."

Vlooswyk adds, "Each year I try to listen to what the judges say and improve on what they told me."

Connie Gretsinger - Portager whose work (lower right) was selected for Central Region TourAnother Portager, whose piece was selected for the tour and the exhibit in Winnipeg, was Connie Gretsinger who says this was her fourth time participating in a juried art show. She says it's exciting for people to see your work, but also to get the comments and the feedback. She adds it takes a bit of courage to do this, since you're not sure what the jurors will say, and you watch people when they go by to see if they will pass by your work or show interest in it.

Canadians Go For Gold - People's Choice Award by Carol Vlooswyk