Arrangements in Black & White – SCAL National Art Exhibit

"Say Goodbye", by Emerson Murray. Acrylic.

“Say Goodbye”, by Emerson Murray. Acrylic.

Creativity and color often seem to go together, but using only black and white in any media can lead to works of art that are sometimes equally if not more vibrant and effective. The Santa Cruz Art League is currently presenting a national exhibit that demonstrates the power and range of black and white artwork.

SCAL's Arrangements in Black & White Exhibit.

SCAL’s Arrangements in Black & White Exhibit.

SCAL’s Arrangements in Black and White exhibit features all art mediums, including photography, paintings, drawings, sculpture, fiber, and more from artists near and far.  The exhibit is juried, with $1,000 awards being granted to winning artists. The guest juror is Margaret Rinkovsky, a painter, printmaker, and lecturer in art based in Santa Cruz.

"Quwaver" by Rachel Dwan, ink on paper; "Pontalba Lagniappe" by Brian Huber, acrylic; "La Negra 3" by Brenda Welsh, acrylic with collage on paper.

“Quwaver” by Rachel Dwan, ink on paper; “Pontalba Lagniappe” by Brian Huber, acrylic; “La Negra 3” by Brenda Welsh, acrylic with collage on paper.

Rinkovsky provided this inspiration for artists submitting work: “Black and White are opposite ends of the Light/Dark Value Scale but each of these extremes is rich in subtle temperature and hue shifts—the cool blue-black of Chinese calligraphy or the warm, ivory white of marble. I hope to offer an exhibition of a more nuanced balance between black and white, an open-ended conversation of the use of light and dark in all media of art.” Entries were allowed to use 5 to 10% of accent color, as seen in several of the pieces on display.

"Berman Studio" by James Allen. Charcoal on Paper. First Place.

“Berman Studio” by James Allen. Charcoal on Paper. First Place.

"When Warriors Become Poets", by Glenn Carter. Mixed Media. Second Place.

“When Warriors Become Poets”, by Glenn Carter. Mixed Media. Second Place.

Rinkovsky selected work based on these measures to present widespread artistic interpretations of black and white in all media, and with the installation in mind. In her juror statement, she reflects how the exhibition demonstrates unique tactility and value range, contrasting negative/positive shapes, lines and textures throughout each composition, and patterns with movement “akin to a wall-sized musical score”. Rinkovsky also acknowledges the interesting use of poetic text and metaphorical language that stands out in various pieces.

"Nodes and Boundaries", by Delia Schalanksy Krupp. Graphite on BFK paper. Third Place.

“Nodes and Boundaries”, by Delia Schalanksy Krupp. Graphite on BFK paper. Third Place.

First Place was awarded to James Allen for his charcoal drawing entitled “Berman Studio”. The Second Place went to Glenn Carter for a mixed media piece, “When Warriors Become Poets.” Third Place was given to Delia Schalansky Krupp for her graphite on BFK paper, “Nodes and Boundaries.” Five Honorable Mentions were also awarded for cotton on linen, pen and ink, photography, and mixed media work.

The SCAL offers ongoing classes, events, and exhibits.

The SCAL offers ongoing classes, events, and exhibits.

The Santa Cruz Art League provides a supportive and creative environment where local as well as regional and national artists are invited to display their work and participate in various juried art exhibitions throughout the year. For more information about the SCAL’s upcoming exhibits, events, classes, and performances, visit their website.

Arrangements in Black and White opened on August 13th and will be on display in the SCAL gallery through September 11th, 2016.

The national art exhibit goes from August 13-September 11, 2016

The national art exhibit goes from August 13-September 11, 2016

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