2021 Seventh Annual NorthStar
National Watermedia Juried Exhibition

Exhibition Dates: September 23-November 4, 2021

Juror comments By Chris Harrison

Chris Harrison is an Ohio native who received his BFA from Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, OH. Harrison currently lives and works his studio practice in Minneapolis as a visual artist, illustrator and graphic designer where he creates paintings, drawings, sculpture and collage. He has exhibited his work in solo and group exhibitions in the United States, Senegal, Ecuador, and the United Kingdom. Harrison has been supported with grant funding from the Jerome Foundation, Minnesota State Arts Board, and MRAC Next Step. As 2021 Guest Curator for Artistry Theater and Visual Arts, Harrison recently curated the exhibition “Unfurled.” He is also currently a Museum Arts Educator at Walker Art Center.

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JudithBenhamArt Award
Visions of Provence
Bobbi Stegora Bina, Minneapolis MN

(Image left) Great vision translated through the medium with a nice atmosphere created with paint. You can almost taste the strawberries!

 

Hahnemühle USA Award
Breaking Open
John James, Virginia Beach, VA

(Image right) Strong, expressive mark making and an unconventional color scheme makes for an enchanting work.

 

 

Dillman’s Creative Art Workshops Award
wrapped Bird
Toni Elkins, Columbia SC

(Image left) Exquisite manipulation of watercolor’s varied applications and textures for an intriguing abstract.

 

Grumbacher Award
Agates and Sea Glass
Jan Vaughan, Maple Grove MN

(Image right) Great use of the media and composition to have the viewer look into spaces that one would usually ignore.

 

 

Wet Paint Award II
Organic Apple Tree
Peggy Magee, Woodbury MN

(Image left) The apples burst with vitality through an effective balance of intense and subdued color and texture.

 

 

Wet Paint Award I
Kody
CeCeile Hartleib, Saint Paul MN

Simplified design and great technique allow a boy’s spirit to leap from the paper.

 

 

Artworks Art & Frame Award 
Pas de Deux
Sara Jane Parsons, Austin TX

(Image left) (Courtesy of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painters.) Great technique, design and color for a simple subject. 

 

E. Peter Hopper Award for Excellence
Vigil Store, Chimayo New Mexico
Carol Humpage, Saint Paul MN

(Image right) A humble subject, vibrant brushwork and spot-on color palette combine to embrace the spirit of the western landscape.

 

Artists’ Choice Award
The Officer
Z. Feng, Radford VA

(Image left) The essence of the person is captured wonderfully here, revealing a warm heart behind the badge.

 

 

Third Place
Blue and Yellow #1
Amy Harris, New York City NY

(Image right) This piece emits a vibe of the urban vibrant tones and line etched into the soul of the surface.

 

Second Place
Ziggy
Lucy LeMay, Apple Valley MN

(Image left) Kaleidoscopic colors and energetic use of technique transform a dragon into a dream.

 

 

 

Best of Show
Chasing the Blues
Tara Sweeney, Saint Paul MN

(Image below) This piece uses the media to capture every little girl in all of her girlishness!