2024 Annual Juried Exhibition: It’s For the Birds
Opening Reception: Saturday, March 23, 6-9pm
On View March 23-April 14
Selected Artists: Sanjukta Acharya, Maria Ananieva, Kristin Ashley, Maddy Asma, Matt Bellefeuille, Marcia Biasiello, Cynthia Boudreau, Sinead Carus, Paulette Colo, Rudy DeRam, Jane Ellefson, Jeanne Garrett, Allison Hausladen, Robert Hilger, Missy Isely Poltrock, Chuck Keller, Julia Kemerer, Kathy Kerner, Marie Luc, Terry Luc, Mike McGuire, Sarah McNabb, Christine Miller, Kristen Neveu, Julie Nykiel, Laura O’Connor, Tara Riley, Jaynanne Ridder, Amy Robillard, Aruna Sarode, Sandra Saxton, Carol May Scott, Linda Scholly, Phil Schorn, Mary Seyfarth, Barbara Skiba-Poniatowski, Kat Strack, Louise Villegas, Mary Voegeli, Marilyn Weisberg, Gail Willert, Kelly Witte, Jeff Wozniak, Debra Zare
“It’s For the Birds” as a fine art exhibition aims to visually explore many ideas, including:
The immense beauty and diversity of birds as a species, including related subjects such as nests, eggs, feathers, flight, wings, etc.
Bird symbolism – birds symbolize freedom, hope, new beginnings, perspective, communication, music, travel, and connections to the spiritual realm
Various phrases & idioms related to birds, such as: bird’s eye view, a little bird told me, fly the coop, birds of a feather flock together…
What can we “do” for birds? e.g., ecological efforts, climate change activism, habitat reclamation, migration study, etc.
All of the art below is available for purchase.
Send inquiries to kendra@thebluemoongallery.com or text 224-388-7948.
Congratulations to these artists receiving special recognition in this competition:
Juror's Choice | BEST IN SHOW: Peregrine Falcon by Carol Scott
Juror's Choice | 2nd PLACE: Lovebirds by Jeanne Garrett
Juror's Choice | 3rd PLACE: Grace at Dawn by Jaynanne Ridder
Juror's Choice | HONORABLE MENTION: CAIRN: All Our Hopes by Jane Ellefson (sold)
Juror's Choice | HONORABLE MENTION: Boatride About to Swim by Kathy Kerner
Juror's Choice | HONORABLE MENTION: Eagle Spirit by Kristin Ashley
Juror's Choice | HONORABLE MENTION: Nocturnal by Linda Scholly
Juror's Choice | HONORABLE MENTION: The Dove by Terry Luc (sold)
Blue Moon Gallery AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: Homecoming by Julia Kemerer (sold)
Blue Jay by Aruna Sarode 12 x 12 Oil $450
Goregeous in Green by Sanjukta Acharya 14 x 11 Watercolor -- SOLD
Colorful Parrot by Marilyn Weisberg 10.5 x 13.5 Oil on Canvas Panel $325
A Thrill of Color by Sandra Saxton 30 x 24 Mixed Media -- SOLD
Potato by Marie Luc 6 x 6 Acrylic -- SOLD
Common Sparrow by Mary Voegeli 14 x 16 Color Pencil $450
House Finch by Debra Zare 6 x 6 Acrylic on Wood -- SOLD
On the Edge by Matt Bellefeuille 12 x 12 Oil on Canvas -- SOLD
The Cedar Waxwing & the Crabapple by Allison Hausladen 6 x 4 $120
Blackbird Fly by Christine Miller 21 x 17 Archival Digital Pigment Print $300
Look At Me by Phil Schorn 13 x 11 Water Soluble Graphite -- SOLD
Rambling Footslog by Barbara Skiba-Poniatowski 18 x 22 Acrylic $1,100
Oriole Feeding Time by Chuck Keller 22 x 18 Ink on Paper -- SOLD
Peregrine Falcon by Carol May Scott 24 x 18 Acrylic $1,300 (Awarded BEST IN SHOW)
Grace at Dawn by Jaynanne Ridder 20 x 20 Acrylic $400 (Awarded 3rd PLACE)
Living Fossil by Paulette Colo 24 x 30 Oil on Canvas $500
Nocturnal by Linda Scholly 24 x 24 Oil on Canvas -- SOLD (Awarded HONORABLE MENTION)
My Nest by Kat Strack 21 x 17 x 5.5 Mixed Media $150
Cairn: All Our Hopes by Jane Ellefson 6 x 4 Oil on Canvas Panel $600 (Awarded HONORABLE MENTION)
Homecoming by Julia Kemerer 22 x 22 x 19 Mixed Media -- SOLD (Awarded Gallery Award of Excellence)
Cairn: When Morning Gilds The Skies by Jane Ellefson 6 x 4 Oil on Canvas Panel $600
Sacred Skull by Gail Willert 20 x 7.5 x 20 Assemblage $650
Fabulous Flamingo by Kelly Witte 15 x 12 Watercolor, Linocut & Silkscreen $150
Splish Splash Taking a Bath by Louise Villegas 19 x 16 Oil -- SOLD
Wedded Bliss 1 by Amy Robillard 9 x 7 Acrylic -- SOLD
Wedded Bliss 2 by Amy Robillard 9 x 7 Acrylic -- SOLD
Boat Ride About to Swim by Kathy Kerner 11 x 12 x 9.5 Ceramic $840 (Awarded HONORABLE MENTION)
Duck Butt by Jeff Wozniak 12 x 10 Linocut & Marker $300
Peacock Garden by Sinead Carus 20 x 16 Mixed Media Illustration $450
The Landscape of Years Gone Forward by Kristen Neveu 21 x 17 x 2 Mixed Media (acrylic, vintage coloring book, salvaged ribbon) -- SOLD
Interwoven by Maddy Asma 12 x 12 Collage $200
Winter Seeds by Cynthia Boudreau 32 x 17 Felt & Stitch $1,295
White Breasted Nuthatches by Maria Ananieva 24 x 36 Oil $1,700
Chickadee Moon by Kristin Ashley 13 x 13 Photo Montage on Metal $300
Cardinal Sins by Sarah McNabb 20 x 20 Ink, marker, color pencil, acrylic on illustration board $4,500
Lovebirds by Jeanne Garrett 13 x 18 Photo Composite $300 (Awarded 2nd PLACE)
The Thief by Rudy DeRam 24 x 24 Acrylic $575
Ravi of the Ravines by Mary Seyfarth 19 x 26 x 12 Mixed Media: Paper, Cardboard, Tacks, Twine, Wire, Wood, Glue $4,550
Eagle Spirit by Kristin Ashley 4 x 15 Oil on Found Feather $375 (Awarded HONORABLE MENTION)
Found You at the Aviary by Marcia Biasiello 24 x 20 Acrylic $600
The Pursuit by Mike McGuire 36 x 17 Ink on Bamboo Paper -- SOLD
The Dove by Terry Luc 20 x 16 Acrylic on Canvas -- SOLD (Awarded HONORABLE MENTION)
Hargila by Robert Hilger 24 x 16 Pencil -- SOLD
Rise by Missy Isely Poltrock 11 x 8.5 Pen & Ink $200
Egg Cups by Laura O'Connor 11 x 14 Paper Collage & Embroidery $400
Above It All by Tara Riley 14 x 14 Acrylic & Collage -- SOLD
Friends by Julie Nykiel 13.25 x 16.5 Pastel $525
Scott Jay Marr, Juror, Fine Artist & Retired Scenic Designer, Chicago Lyric Opera
About our Juror | Scott Jay Marr
Scott Jay Marr spent 32 years of his professional career as a Scenic & Costume Designer working for the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He designed both sets and costumes for many productions, most recently the 2022-2023 season opener, Ernani. While at Lyric he sculpted for the acclaimed artist David Hockney. He was Associate Scenic Designer for the production of McTeague with film director Robert Altman. He was also assistant to illustrator Maurice Sendak for Brundibar produced at Chicago Opera Theater. Scott was fortunate to work and collaborate with many others including Zandra Rhodes, Paul Tazwell, Michael Yeargen, and Renee Fleming.
Scott was also formally trained as a scenic artist. In that capacity, he painted scenery for the prestigious Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston SC.
In 2022 Scott was a guest artist at Blue Moon Gallery with his exhibition of highly popular paintings called “The Flight of the Butterflies.” In 2022 he also retired from his opera design career and moved to Palm Springs CA where he now has an art studio in the historical NOIA Building. Scott is currently developing an exciting new mandala series of painted paper sculptures on canvas that are an expression of turning sorrow into joy. Visit him on Instagram: @scott_jay_marr