The Art Barn School of Art announces its 30th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, running from April 13 through May 23, 2024. The exhibition attracted 416 entries from 171 aspiring and established artists from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Maryland, and California. Selected for the show are 100 pieces ranging from drawing, painting, pastels, printmaking, mixed media, photography, glass, textile and ceramic art.
“Congratulations to those who were selected to be included in this year's exhibition,” said Amy Davis Navardauskas, Art Barn Executive Director. “Their work was among the 24% of selected pieces and among 97 of the 171 artists selected to participate. Due to the large number of submissions coming from a wider area, competition was quite high again this year."
There will be an artists’ reception on April 19, from 5:00 to 8:00pm (CDT) with an awards presentation at 6:30pm. The public is invited to meet and greet the artists and Art Barn staff and board members. Light refreshments will be served and there will be a cash bar.
Art Barn will distribute over $4300 in purchase and merit awards. These awards support working artists in Northwest Indiana and help to build the creative capital in our community and beyond. Proceeds generated from this exhibition, aside from awards, support Art Barn educational programs and exhibitions.
The following donors provided Sponsorship to support the exhibition: Sue & Andy Arnold, Jean Bargeron, and Konrady Plastics.
The following donors provided Merit & Purchase Awards (a commitment to purchase artwork from the exhibition) in support of working artists: Sandy Appleby, Blick Art Materials, Linda Canfield, Chesterton Women's Club, Cosmopolitan Dentistry, Flanagin's Bulk Mail Service, Glenn L. Firme Assoc. - Art Supplies, Julia Holmaas & Dr. James May, Larry & Sandy Holt, Charles & Denise Kirkland, Lemon Tree Mediterranean Grill, Barbara Lucente, Philip's Ace Hardware, SFC Gallery, Ginny Takacs, Third Coast Spice Cafe, United Art & Education, Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, Valparaiso University Brauer Museum of Art, Vanis Salon & Day Spa Valpo, William T. Wilson, and Harold & Fran Woodridge.
Our 2024 Juror, Brian Byrn, will bring an expert curatorial eye and ensure the highest standards and integrity to this year’s artwork selection process. In 1994 he served as the inaugural juror for Art Barn School of Art’s first Juried Art Exhibition. “It feels like a celebration to have Brian Byrn return as juror for the 30th anniversary of this exhibit,” states Amy Davis Navardauskas, director at Art Barn. "His experience and reputation has grown significantly over the last 3 decades - as has our exhibit - so it feels like a full-circle moment to have him back as juror in 2024.”
Since 1981 Brian Byrn has served in a curatorial capacity for the Midwest Museum of American Art (MMAA) foundation, and in 2017 was appointed as Director/Curator. During this time Byrn has mounted over 400 exhibitions of regional and national significance while assisting in the acquisition of a permanent collection which has grown to around 6,400 works. His 43-year tenure has been spent planning and implementation of art appreciation programs, exhibition & collection research and development for the MMAA in Elkhart, IN. Over the past 40 years, Byrn has served as Judge/Juror for over 50 fine art competitions and art fairs across the Midwest.
"In the Hercynian Forest" by 2023 Best in Show artist, Kei J Consantinov
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Art Barn School of Art is dedicated to fostering a love of art in its unique 69-acre environment in Porter County, IN. Art Barn offers a full range of art education classes for children and adults and is a venue for performing arts, meetings and weddings. Art Barn will be hosting its 3rd annual fundraiser on May 31 to celebrate Art Barn’s 50-year history of providing quality art education, and support the continuation and growth of our programming and operations. Another major event is our 8th annual outdoor Art Blitz on September 21 which engages visitors in art-making, demonstrations, music and food.