The Newport Annual Members' Juried Exhibition

A lively capacity crowd was on hand at the Newport Art Museum last Friday evening to see a preview of the Newport Annual Members' Juried Exhibition, a show juror Nick Capasso, Senior Curator at the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, described as "one of the strongest that I have juried" in New England. Capasso picked Newport artist Marian O'Connell's accordion book, Walls, Gates and Fences, for the "Best in Show Award," a prize sponsored this year by Dr. Arthur and Catherine Bert. O'Connell also picked up the "Newport Art Museum Award," which earns the artist a solo exhibition at the Museum some time in the future. The Newport Annual is now open to the public and runs through May 25, 2009.

Capasso called O'Connell's work, "A tour de force blend of mediums," and said, "The artist has combined several -photography, printmaking and watercolor- very successfully. Each composition is exquisite and sequenced beautifully."

The Newport Annual is the largest, most comprehensive exhibition of regional contemporary art in the state. Two hundred and ninety-seven artists entered the juried show this year. Capasso selected 108 for exhibition and awarded prizes in seven categories. Newport Art Museum Curator, Nancy Whipple Grinnell, selected Walls, Gates and Fences for the Newport Art Museum Award.

Prize-winning artists will speak about their work during an informal gallery talk on Thursday, March 12 beginning at 5:30pm. This free event is part of Newport Gallery Night.