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Art exhibition stays strong by keeping up with trends
Butler museum’s annual Midyear show
By REBECCA SLOAN
YOUNGSTOWN
The Butler’s 74th National Midyear Show opens Sunday and will offer art to please every palate. Flamboyant abstracts, moody charcoals and slick digital images blend together to form a wonderfully diverse art lover’s smorgasbord.
Butler Director Louis Zona is pleased with the eclectic mix.
“This year’s show is a good indication of what is being done in terms of styles and new technologies,” he said. “It’s a nice survey on what two-dimensional American art is all about.”
The exhibit also makes a nice statement about an enduring local tradition.
“Seventy-four years is a long haul for a juried exhibition,” Zona said. “A lot of juried shows have fallen by the wayside because they haven’t changed with the changing nature of art. By permitting photos, prints and digital images in addition to paintings and drawings, we have helped keep this juried show going strong.”
During a juried show, a judge of artistic prestige peruses entries and makes selections.
This year’s judge is noted New York artist Ronnie Landfield, a modernist painter who launched his career in 1965.
“Although [Landfield’s] personal work is very abstract, he has done a beautiful job in going out of the bounds of his particular vision and choosing a wide variety of styles,” Zona said, adding, “We were very pleased to have him as this year’s judge. He has shown his work all over the country and has a terrific reputation.”
Two-hundred-ninety artists from all over the United States submitted 773 works, and Landfield selected 106 works by 106 artists.
Zona said entrants must be over 18, and their work must be two-dimensional.
“We accept entries from all 50 states as well as from U.S. territories,” Zona explained. “This is a great opportunity for new and emerging artists.”
Although this year’s show features works from as far as Florida and Arizona, Ohio has a very strong presence.
“There are 54 works by Ohio artists, and several of those artists are local,” Zona said.
Local artists include: Sean M. Butler of Canfield; Thomas McNickle of Volant; James O’Malley of Struthers; Clare Murray Adams of Southington; Michael Ahren of Youngstown; Charlene Galose of Boardman; Carolyn Dixon Hrusovsky of Cortland; Ron Mistovich of Boardman; Christopher Leeper of Canfield; Jean Shreffler of New Castle; James Pernotto of Youngstown; Mark Scheuring of Salem; Jason Van Hoose of Youngstown; and Don Wright of Canfield.
“Some of these local artists have been featured in the Midyear in the past,” Zona said.
Among those are Pernotto, Van Hoose and Butler, a noted Cardinal Mooney art teacher.
Thirteen artists have received awards for their entries. Winners will be announced Sunday during a Butler reception that lasts from 1 to 3 p.m.
Zona encourages the public to come and enjoy the art and meet the artists.
“This is a popular event in our community and a long-running tradition,” he said.
The Midyear runs through Aug. 22. For more information, contact the Butler at 330-743-1711.