September 7 - October 25, 2019
Juried by Alma Ruiz
Our 47th Annual National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper features 91 artworks chosen by our juror from among more than 1000 entries submitted. Inside you will find artworks of very large scale and of smaller, more intimate scale. Whether 2D and 3D, you will see paper used in ways that highlight the wide range of artistic responses to this challenging medium.
Some artists will be familiar from past years but we also welcome new faces from across the country. Take some time to read the artists’ statements included in the catalog; you will find many descriptions of the varieties of paper used and how artists interact with and manipulate paper in unique ways. There is something here for everyone to enjoy and we thank you for joining us.
Debra Thompson, Chair of 47
Shannon Currie Holmes, Exhibitions Supervisor
This year's Brand 47 Annual National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper marks a significant milestone for Brand Library & Art Center. What started as an exhibition of works in a variety of media has developed into a much-anticipated event with national outreach that acknowledges the significant role that the paper medium plays in artistic practice today.
Jurying Brand 47 was more challenging than I had expected. Nine hundred and seventy-six artists submitted 1069 artworks in an open call that resulted in my selection of the 89 artworks which comprise the exhibition. The selection was based on the creative use of paper in today's artistic practice. The works submitted did not have to be made of paper entirely, but paper had to play a distinct role in their production.
There is not enough space here to single out any specific works or artists. However, it is essential to note that the participating artists — 55 women and 45 men— all displayed considerable imagination treating paper as a substantially malleable material that can smoothly transition from two- to three-dimensional form with remarkable outcomes. The artists' varied and ingenious handling of this medium is in full display in the exhibition, to the surprise and joy of casual visitors and art professionals alike.
Jurying a national open call allows a curator to encounter the work of artists who live in far-flung places and work in locales less accessible than Southern California. The Annual National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper facilitates access to these artists and offers artists, curators, critics, and collectors in Southern California an exciting opportunity to learn about artists living across the U.S. This was the primary reason for my interest in acting as juror for Brand47.
- Alma Ruiz, Juror
Exhibition Tour
Opening Reception
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