JUDGE'S STATEMENT

 

Thanks once again to the GFAA for the opportunity to award the jury prizes for one of your exhibitions. The GFAA fills an important role in the vitality and diversity of Gainesville’s visual arts community. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, I had to select the awards virtually, solely through reproductions of the work. I find it is important to experience the “object” quality of a work of art, seeing it

“in person” rather than reducing the artwork to being merely a picture. I find the physical presence, size, scale, texture and dimensionality a critical aspect of experiencing and evaluating a work of art. However, given the constraints place upon us by the situation we are all living with, I did my best to fairly evaluate the work submitted to this exhibition.

 

Congratulations to all award winners! As always, as it seems to be the case when I review GFAA shows, considering the variety of approaches, media, styles and talents, I could have certainly presented even more awards.

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Richard Heipp

Professor, School of Art & Art History - University of Florida