Jurors' Statements
Paul So - “The importance of lines as the fundamental quanta in our perception of space is literally and metaphorically explored in Renee van der Stelt’s brilliant works on paper. Sculptural forms are literally created using slits, cuts, and dots on sheets of white paper and by directly sourcing lines and dots on geographic maps. These glowing forms also demand viewers to contemplate our social and ecological relations to the space we live in. The sublime thoughtfulness in Renee’s works stood out among all the applicants and she thoroughly deserved to be the winner for this year‘s Open Exhibition.”
Lia Newman - “There were many high caliber and exciting submissions but I found Renee’s work particularly striking for a number of reasons. Initially, I was attracted to Renee’s materials and techniques — the methodical puncturing and cutting of the paper paired with light. The process resulted in beautiful works — glowing images that appear to map space. As we delved further into her work, I became intrigued with her concept as well, as an exploration of resources particular to a place, in this case New Mexico. Her interest in continuing this project through an exploration of Alexandria, the Target Gallery’s home, made her project even more compelling from a community standpoint.”
Philippa P.B. Hughes - “The ability to draw a line is a basic element of an artist’s cadre of tools. Renee van der Stelt displays a mastery of the two dimensional line by reconceptualizing and executing new ways to draw the line in her three dimensional sculptural forms. I was particularly enamored with the organic movement of her pieces. Though the works are stationary, they convey a sense of motion through light and shadow. I was pleased to select her for this exhibition.”
Juror's Bios
Paul So is the visionary founder for both the Hamiltonian Artists and the Hamiltonian Gallery. He is a painter and a physics professor at George Mason University. The Hamiltonian Artists and the Hamiltonian Gallery were founded to create a new institutional structure in Washington DC to support emerging artists, broaden cultural dialogue within the community and make visual art accessible to a diverse audience.
Lia Newman is the Director of Programs and Exhibitions at Artspace in Raleigh, NC. There she is responsible for organizing more than thirty exhibitions per year as well as maintaining and initiating educational programs for both youth and adults. Newman has served as a juror or panelist for several arts organizations and colleges in the southeast.
Philippa P.B. Hughes is the founder and Chief Creative Contrarian of The Pink Line Project, a catalyst for the culturally curious. Pink Line offers a consolidated and searchable calendar of art and culture in DC, and designs and produces opportunities to experience creative thinking in accessible and dynamic ways. Philippa also serves on the board of the DC Arts and Humanities Commission, the Arlington Arts Center Board, the Flashpoint Advisory committee, and numerous other arts organizations.
The Target Gallery, national
exhibition space of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, is
located on the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria, VA.
