Composing the Future II

NCWCA EXHIBITIONS CHAIR & JURORS’ STATEMENT The concept for NCWCA’s Membership exhibition, Composing the Future I, germinated in the summer of 2020 when our nation and the world were gripped in pandemic fear, social upheaval, and political polarization, and haunted by pervasive uncertainty about the future. However, after the 2020 presidential election, I chose a path of personal and collective agency. The theme gelled as one of visionary potency and NCWCA members were invited to take a visionary approach to persistent crises and societal shifts. Composing the Future I premiered in May, 2021 with 64 artworks. When NCWCA was offered an exhibition just months later at the DiNapoli Gallery, I seized the opportunity to continue the momentum. A smaller physical space meant we couldn’t include all works from the previous show. While this was a disappointment, it also provided the opportunity to refine the theme and include new works through a juried curation process.

Karen Gutfreund, independent curator and artist, and Carolina Quintanilla, SOMArts Gallery Director and Curator, served as jurors for two-dimensional works. They selected a collection of works from the original exhibition and included multiple works from a few artists to enhance the narrative. Karen and Carolina found “all of the works compelling and strong” which made their jurying experience both “exciting and challenging.” In selecting works, they considered a range of criteria: How the work responded to the theme, the artist’s concept and unique creativity, aesthetic qualities, media, execution and skill.

I personally curated sculpture and three-dimensional artworks in this exhibition. The DiNapoli Gallery’s unique open environment allowed us to expand and strengthen the presentation of sculptural works. Thus, a majority of the three-dimensional work in this exhibition is new to the collection.

One of the most rewarding, and often challenging, tasks asked of an arts professional is to jury or curate a show.

To make the necessary decisions, the jurors and I initiated “conversations” with each artwork asking, “How successfully and uniquely do you address our theme? What is your message to, or from, the future and a world in flux? Are you pushing boundaries, taking risks or doing something unique? Do you engage and invite further exploration or activation?” Craftsmanship, technical skill, and presentation were also considered as I personally sought to create a balance of materials, media, and process. As always, I am amazed by the talent and messaging of NCWCA Chapter artists.

Composing the Future II reacts potently to the past two years by confronting history, provoking change, challenging predictions, and calling out priorities for the near and far future. Karen Gutfreund, Carolina Quintanilla, and I are honored to present the visionary artwork of Composing the Future II. Elizabeth Addison, NCWCA Exhibitions Chair Karen Gutfreund, Independent Curator and Artist Carolina Quintanilla, Gallery Director SOMArts Cultural Center, Arts Administrator and Curator 5