With a goal to further the cause of contemporary artists—supporting artists with substantial monetary prizes—the Allied Artists of America returns for another edition of the Juried Exhibition.This year’s show will feature 100 artworks by artists from across the country, hosted by the Butler Institute of American Art and awarding $45,000 in cash prizes.
David Jamieson, Writer’s Block, graphite, 24 x 18"
“Allied is unique from many other art organizations,” says AAA President Gabriela Gonzalez Dellosso. “We pride ourselves on presenting a variety of styles, [ranging] from realist to abstract styles. We allow traditional media, like oil, acrylic, watercolor, graphics and sculpture. We also allow mixed media, which includes non-traditional mediums like collage.” The only mediums that are not included in the showcase are photography and digital art.
Dellosso adds that there was an extremely high caliber of submissions this year and “we were faced with awarding top prizes in a very tight race,” she says. “We were looking for originality and excellence in execution and concept. The top prize winner, Alexandra Tyng, stood out with her oil painting World Within Worlds—beautifully executed and very original in concept.”
Gina Pretti Torkos, Higher Ground, mixed media, 24 x 24"
“To be recognized among such a diverse group is very meaningful to me,” Tyng comments, “because I never thought of my work as belonging to any narrow stylistic or thematic group. I’m looking forward to seeing artist friends and meeting artists who have various approaches.”
About her award-winning show piece, Worlds Within Worlds,Tyng shares that it evolved gradually over a period of several years. “It’s an exploration of nature’s tendency to generate similar forms at different scales, never repeating itself exactly,” she says. “For instance, a tree looks similar, but not identical, to a head of broccoli and a sprig of moss. On my hikes in the Maine woods, I noticed certain types of mosses that resembled tiny evergreen trees, and I imagined being small enough to explore that miniature forest where insects and slugs were fearsome monsters. Looking down from the window of an airplane, I saw vast forests that looked from my vantage point like a carpeting of moss. The scale could potentially be infinitely small—or infinitely large.”
Alexandra Tyng, Worlds Within Worlds, oil, 48 x 48"
Another top prize winner, Gina Pretti Torkos, presents her charming giraffe collage and mixed media work Higher Ground. Torkos is known for her realistic collages, and prefers to depict wildlife, landscapes, seascapes and architectural pieces. “As a rule, I rely on my own reference photos for my collages,” says Torkos.
For Higher Ground, she explains, “I was on safari in Namibia when I saw the giraffe who would become my subject in [this piece]. In the wild, these majestic creatures roam free, and this particular giraffe was walking with her calf when she stopped and looked directly at me, which I took as an invitation to not only shoot some photos but to use my creative license to collage her likeness on canvas. Every time I looked at that photo, I relived that moment, and when I decided to do a small series of collages from my safari experience, I knew I had to include her.”
William Low, Sammis Street Sycamores, oil, 40 x 32"
These impressive works—and so much more—will be available online beginning September 1, and on display at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio, from September 8 through November 10. An opening reception and award ceremony will be held on October 26, from 1 to 3 p.m. Visit www.alliedartistsofamerica.org for additional details. —
Allied Artists of America’s 111th Juried Exhibition
September 8-November 10, 2024
Butler Institute of American Art
524 Wick Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44502
(330) 743-1107, www.butlerart.com, www.alliedartistsofamerica.org
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