left: "Vortext" by Norman Hornung. right: "Prisim" by Sandra Orlando-Vanich.

Prize Pieces

Following last fall’s challenging hat trick of art installations at three separate venues, the Buffalo Society of Artists have opened their juried spring exhibition at Big Orbit Gallery showcasing works in a variety of styles and media contemporary to the present day. “Contemporary” is defined in part as “following modern ideas or fashion in style or design,” which is certainly the measure of connective thread between the 68 artworks chosen for exhibition. Many artists, especially those working with materials such as textiles, metal, stone, or plastic, create individual niches of visual exploration challenging viewer expectations and introducing engaging possibilities in working in these alternative media. In her juror’s statement, Sarah Grzymala, assistant curator at Everson Museum of Art, says she, “relied purely on each artwork as it was presented to me. I did not see a resume, artist’s statement or artist’s name on any submission…by examining each piece…on its own…its merits were allowed to shine.” Among the juried contestants, prizes were awarded to Sandra Orlando-Vanich, First Prize for Prism, an abstract oil of prismatic diffusion; Norman Hornung, Second Prize for Vortex, a photograph of water in swirling colors; and Third Prize for Susan Miller’s watercolor and gouache landscape, Approaching Oneness, a patterned texture in gold and brown.