2017 International Juried & Judged Exhibition

April 3 - 27, 2017

St. Louis Central Library

Juror’s Statement, by John Salminen

I’d like to thank Daven Anderson and the Missouri Watercolor Society for allowing me to play a role in this outstanding exhibition.  The show represents an exemplary cross-section of the best in contemporary water-media painting.

When I juried, I looked for pieces that struck a balance between form (technique) and content (the subject).  Sometimes paintings that displayed an amazing degree of technical skill lacked the ability to capture my imagination.  Conversely, poorly executed paintings sometimes lacked credibility and the emotional impact of the subject was lost.  I looked at the paintings repeatedly before making any decisions.  I wanted to keep an open mind, looking at every painting as an expression of the artists’ interpretations of their world.  It was both fascinating and rewarding for me to share in the visions presented by the participants.  

I came away from this jurying experience with increased respect for the unique and insightful interpretations every entry brings to the world of water-media painting.  Congratulations to all who entered!