35TH ANNUAL
FABER BIRREN NATIONAL COLOR AWARD SHOW
Stamford Art Association
During my review, I was struck by the immense range of artwork submitted in homage to Faber Birren. I deliberately made selections to honor this diversity, devising a series of categories that include medium, subject matter, and style. I believe the selected works to be exceptional examples of each, and while every participating artist deserves our admiration for their accomplishment and their courage in sharing their vision, three pieces in particular stand out. In nearly every respect, the portrait of “Trent” by Jesi PaceBerkely is at once arresting and enthralling. The tangled mass of black and white, applied in powerful strokes and arabesques, depicts an unruly beard and lionesque mane. From this framing darkness, the facial features emerge, painted in equally expressive strokes yet extremely subtle juxtapositions of color. To appreciate these subtleties, one must approach and inspect the painting at close range. From this vantage point, a spectrum of color reveals itself, and the individual features dissolve into a wild, rollicking sea of paint. It is only upon stepping back, engaging in a rewarding dance with this artwork, that we are re-anchored by the steady piercing of the sitter’s gaze.
Equally penetrating of gaze, is “Persephone” drawn by Carol Burt. I must, from the first, emphasize Burt’s choice of medium. For while the work can be admired for many reasons – the rich, careful gradations of color and light, the evocative sensuality of its textures – the most compelling is the fact that the portrait was made entirely with colored pencils. Acknowledging this, the drawing’s features become all the more astonishing, especially the sitter’s exposed flesh, which is renowned as the pinnacle of representational difficulty.
With the two portraits is another traditional subject: the still life entitled “Lemons” painted by Dawn Dahl. In this quiet piece, Dahl showcases her own innate and refined understanding of color. Each of the objects presented serve as a finely calibrated study in itself, from the vivid yellows of lemon rind to the starched crispness of napkins. Balancing these single-colored objects are the gleaming reflection of the teapot and muted patterns of the bowl and drapery. This masterfully colored table of finery, set against the soft, modeled backdrop, exudes pictorial eloquence and harmony. These three, like all the works on view, are highly individualized explorations of color, as each artist has approached the investigation in a unique way. Together, they collectively suggest that the artistic means for delving into color’s expressiveness and power are limitless. Perhaps after seeing this, visitors to the exhibition may even be inspired to conjure their own. Dr. Anna Swinbourne Independent Art Historian and Curator 2015 Fiber Barren Juron
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Jesi Pace-Berkeley 1st Place Trent, 2014 Paper and paint, 60 x 45 inches
Dawn Dahl 2nd Place Lemons, 2015 Oil on canvas, 28 Âź x 34 Âź inches
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Carol Burt 3rd Place Persephone, 2012 Colored pencil drawing on paper, 16 x 22 inches
Tom Brenner Rim, 2015 Pastel on Paper, 8 x 10½ inches
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Peter Cusack HM Bouquet, 2015 Oil on canvas, 18 x 24 inches
Peter Cusack Sun Down, 2015 Oil on canvas, 7 x 11 inches
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Donna Savastio HM Winter Nocturne, 2012 Oil on panel, 30 x 60 inches
Stuart Vance Red Bridge, 2014 Acrylic on canvas, 36 x 48 inches
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Susan Rosenfeld Shelf 9352, 2014 Oil pastel and prismacolor on paper, 16 x 20 inches
Susan McHale Odyssey, 2014 Acrylic paint on linen canvas, 18 X 24 inches
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Donna Howard Nanas Pinkies, 2015 Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 30 inches
Lynne Arovas Nature, 2015 Mixed Media, 13 X 13Âź inches
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Ceal Swift Jolly Harbour, 2012 Acrylic on canvas, 23 x 29 inches
Judi Betts Family Reunion, 2012 Watercolor on paper, 22 x 30 inches
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Michael Kozlowski Set, 2014 Oil, acrylic, and spray paint on canvas, 36 x 30 inches
Donna Howard Butcher, Baker, Candlestick maker, 2015 Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 20 inches
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Richard Tedeschi Windbreak, 2013 Photograph, 18 x 24 inches
Caren Winnall Reach Up, 2015 Photograph, 16 x 20 inches
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Malu Tan Bloom, 2015 Acrylic on board, 18 x 18 inches
Dale Appleman Undertow 5, 2012 Acrylic on canvas, 44 x 48 inches
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Jeanne Dowd Aflame, 2012 Acrylic on Canvas, 24 x 24 inches
Patrice Barrett Splitting Headache, 2015 Acrylic, frisket, graphite on archive matt board, 20x16 inches
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Jane Lincoln Daring Diarylide, 2015 Acrylic on paper/ hardboard, 10 x 10 inches
Jeanne Ciravolo Head and Hands, 2015 Oil on linen, 18 x 21 inches
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Mark Savoia Yellow Sign, 2014 Archival Digital Print, 13 x 13 inches
Lewis Fink Happy, 2013 Digital print, 18 x 12 inches
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Tina Link Lady in Blue, 2015 Digital Color Photography, 11 x 14 inches
Michelle Lynn Dyrness Still Life, 2015 Digital C-print, 12 x 9 inches
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Jean Marc Bara At the Morgan Library, 2015 Color Photograph printed on Metallic paper, 18 x 24 inches
Jean Marc Bara Blue, Red and Green, 2015 Color Photograph printed on Metallic paper, 18 x 24 inches
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Jeffrey Friedkin Stepping Out For The Evening, 2015 Photography, 20 x 24 inches
James Lemass Known unknowns, 2015 Archival digital print on 100% rag paper, 36 x 36 inches
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Sweta Patel Ecseri market, Budapest, 2013 Photograph, 10 x 18 inches
Sweta Patel Lupin and Bumblebee, 2012 Photograph, 18 x 10 inches
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Paul Berger Solitary Tree in Winter, 2013 Photograph, 20 x 16 inches
Paul Berger Worn and Rusty, 2013 Photograph, 11 x 14 inches
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Scott Fischer Chicken, 2014 Oil on Panel, 12 x 12 inches
Sandy Gennrich Red Hull and Prop, 2015 Photograph on Archival Paper, 16 x 20 inches
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Kirsti Holtan Cocktail Hour, 2014 Digital Print, 16 x 16 inches
Gennadiy Goldenshteyn Red Heat, 2013 Digital Photograph
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Don Axleroad Female at Rest, 2015 Various Textured Papers, 20 x 36 inches
Judith Modrak When I'm Scared, part of the Dendrites series, 2014 Plaster cast, oil and pigment, 12 x 40 x 30 inches
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Phyllis Sinrich Street of Dreams, 2015 Archival pigment photograph, 20 x 24 inches
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Faber Birren National Color Award Show
In 1980, Faber Birren, world renowned color consultant, author of 27 books on color, endowed the Faber Birren Color Award of $1000 for original and creative expression of color. The Faber Birren Color Award Show has grown from a regional exhibit to one of national scope, encouraging artists in all media. This competition is the only artistic event devoted exclusively to the use of color. This year the Stamford Art Association celebrates its 35th year of the Faber Birren National Color Award Show. Juror: Anna M. Swinbourne, PhD., Former Department of Painting and Sculpture curator at MOMA and independent art historian and curator.
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Established in 1971, the Stamford Art Association is a nonprofit organization whose members include painters, sculptors, printmakers, and photographers. Our mission as a neighborhood arts organization is to provide a forum where emerging and professional artists can exhibit their work to the community and compete in juried shows.
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Stamford Art Association 39 Franklin Street Stamford, CT 06901 203-325-1139 www.stamfordartassociation.org
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