Opening Night: National Juried Exhibition (POSTPONED)

*Update 3/20/2020: We made the difficult decision to cancel the opening reception of our National Juried Exhibition​ on March 27. We are closed to the public until further notice and have decided to reschedule the Juried Exhibition until after the danger of COVID-19 passes & social distancing regulations are no longer in effect. This is a changing situation, stay tuned for updates. Your health and safety is our highest priority at this time.
 
The invention of paper contributed greatly to the rise of literacy and art around the world. For the past 2000 years, paper has evolved in a multitude of directions. It continues to inspire and impact almost every aspect of our lives. The artwork in this exhibition celebrates paper’s versatility as a medium and represents a selection of innovative and visually striking approaches by contemporary artists.
​The jurors had an incredibly difficult time selecting the works due to such high quality of submissions. This year, we received 500 submissions from 278 talented artists living in 25 states. The exhibition features 63 works by 54 artists in handmade paper, bookbinding, painting, printmaking, and sculpture.
​We would like to extend our gratitude to all of the artists who participated. This exhibition was extremely competitive and it wouldn’t be possible without your submissions and boundless creativity!
​We tip our hats to this year’s jurors for their attention to detail and commitment to the art and ideas of living artists.
 
Juoror’s Statement:
​Though the Morgan Conservatory’s 8th Annual Juried Exhibition call placed few restrictions on submissions, strong themes emerged from the more than 500 works offered for consideration. Many dealt with timely political topics such as immigration and gun violence or important social issues including the role of language in forming personal identity and the challenges of facing unrealistic beauty standards. Paper has a long history as a medium used to quickly and efficiently spread ideas through words and images printed onto posters and inside of pamphlets and books. Our selections evince that paper remains a potent tool for disseminating information and calls to action. Another common quality shared among this year’s submissions was keen attention to materials and process. We selected pieces that demonstrate the artists’ deep understanding of the material properties of their chosen medium and their skill in using multiple techniques to convey resonant ideas.
Jurors:
Theresa Bembnister
Curator of Exhibitions at the Akron Art Museum

Aimee Lee
Artist