Modesto, Turlock galleries share showcase

Consider this show the area art world’s “two great things that go great together” moment.

The Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock and Central California Art Association at the Mistlin Gallery in Modesto are joining forces again for their annual showcase of regional visual arts. Their joint Central California Arts Showcase begins April 1 and will run through May 8 at both galleries. This is the second year the region’s two largest art organizations have combined their juried spring shows in an effort to broaden and diversify the area’s arts audience.

“The whole point of doing the show as a joint effort is to expand the audience,” said Carnegie Director Lisa McDermott. “So the Mistlin audience recognizes Carnegie as a venue and the Carnegie audience recognizes Mistlin. It’s not that far to go and puts a shared spotlight on two really terrific galleries. And the audience is also richer for the experience that way.”

This year, the exhibit will show about 130 pieces, slightly down from last year’s inaugural event. But the diversity of media continues to expand with, for the first time, furniture pieces being included in the display. Other works range from traditional paintings to color photography, neon work, sculptures, metals and digital creations.

Show co-curator Marianne Ward, chairwoman of the Mistlin Gallery exhibition committee, said artists and audiences alike have responded to the combined shows.

“In the past, we’d been competing with our shows, and now we don’t have that competition,” she said. “We had a lot more entries (than individually) and the quality of (the combined) show was much superior, and we had a lot more visitors. Most people were really happy to have the opportunity to go to either place.”

As they were last year, works will be split between the two venues, with prizes for best of show; awards of excellence, distinction, and merit; and honorable mention across the exhibit. In addition, each gallery will have its own People’s Choice Award and Mayor’s Award. The showcase awards its prizes based on overall quality instead of by medium categories.

“This way, good-quality art will rise to the top, regardless of category,” McDermott said. “That’s why we picked judges who have a variety of backgrounds and experiences. They’re able to bring expertise in many areas, not just painting or ceramics. We want people to see the quality of each piece individually.”

This year’s jurors are Palo Alto Art Center Director Karen Kienzle; painter and Signature Member of the Society of Western Artists Dennis Lewis; and Napa-based RASgalleries owner Ronda Schaer.

McDermott said combining the shows has expanded the audience at both venues and given the artists an opportunity to show off all the talent in the region. The exhibit has pushed the boundaries of the area to include entries from as far as Redding and Bakersfield, the Bay Area and Sierra Nevada foothill communities. Still, the majority of the work is from the surrounding Central Valley.

“I think that definition sort of gives everyone the chance to see a wider array of creativity without seeing only artists who live in a 30-mile radius,” McDermott said. “They’re all really good, but this allows us to bring in this great diversity. Still, the quality of Turlock, Modesto, Stanislaus, Merced (artists) is right up there. It’s a real validation of what’s going on here, as well.”

A special free preview of the Central California Arts Showcase will be up in the lobby of the Gallo Center for the Arts during this week’s performances of “Sister Act.” A public reception for the artists and awards presentation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. April 2 at both galleries. Modesto awards will be announced at 6 p.m. and Turlock awards at 7:30 p.m. Both receptions are free and open to the public.

This story was originally published March 25, 2015 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Modesto, Turlock galleries share showcase."