On April 20, the Pocono Arts Council is pleased to announce the spring exhibition “The Earth Speaks VI: A Juried Exhibition on the Environmental Crisis,” launching online April 25. 

The Earth Speaks is an artist’s means of capturing their concern regarding the climate crisis and how it affects our planet, as well as an opportunity to offer possible solutions.

Thirty-six artists submitted 62 pieces to be juried. 44 works were selected to be included in the show from artists residing in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Awards were granted in the following categories to those encapsulating the environmental crisis theme:

-- Juror’s Choice Award: “Anthropocene Vessels,” Stephen J. Washington, East Stroudsburg;

-- Kay & Girard Lichty Climate Crisis Award: “Piping Plover,” Maryann Riker, Phillipsburg, NJ

-- Otto Grever Printmaking Award: “Rush Hour,” Cora McKenzie, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

-- PoconoArts Student Award: “Momento Vitae-Ecological Grief Jewelry,” Cora McKenzie, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

-- 3-D Award: “Invitation to (Dr) (Th)ink,” Joni Oye-Benintende, Stroudsburg, PA

-- 2-D Award: “Natura,” Sarah Jane Stoll, Woodstock, CT

-- Photography Award: “Biloxi, Two Years After Katrina,”  Glenn Koehler Jr., Bethlehem, PA

-- Origins Student Award: “Kill Coffins, Go Green,” Danielle Kunkel, Henryville, PA; Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

The juror for the show was Santa Bannon who is the founder of the Pennsylvania Museum of Art & Design, a new museum coming to Easton, and director of Santa Bannon Fine Art.

She has operated her award winning art gallery for the past seven years and has been an international art dealer, curator, advisor and consultant since 2010 specializing in bringing the world's art to Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania's art to the world.

She regularly attends the premier art fairs worldwide such as Art Basel, Paris Photo, et al. She has mentored over twenty interns from fifteen universities in the tri-state, hailing from five countries.

She has also adjudicated art competitions, hosted major fundraisers, and taught workshops to artists on the business of art. In 2017 Bannon established Due Santi Publishing, a not-for-profit art book publisher.

She has studied art history in Italy, France, Switzerland, and the United States; holds a certification in interior design from Northampton Community College; and a BA in psychology and global studies (South Africa/Namibia) from Rutgers University. 

An online artists’ reception is planned for April 25, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. where awards will be presented and artists recognized. The online exhibition will be hosted virtually on the Pocono Arts Council website. 

If conditions permit, the show will also be hung in the Dunning Gallery at Northampton Community College-Monroe Campus over the summer.

For more information on this and other events, visit the Pocono Arts Council website.

(Photo: Juror’s Choice Award: “Anthropocene Vessels,” Stephen J. Washington, East Stroudsburg.)

Earth Day 50 PA

Visit the Earth Day 50 PA website for more special events, Earth Day 1970 remembrances, environmental reading lists and more.

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[Posted: April 20, 2020]

4/27/2020