Demetris "BAMR" Washington | Marie Cameron Studio

What a great way to start the day – Coffee with the Curator at the Triton Museum of Art!

Today Preston Metcalf spoke on how to improve your chances of getting into competitions and exhibitions and one tip really surprised me. The Triton offers the chance of a solo show in their annual Salon – a statewide competition and exhibition of 2D work. I had thought that since this was the prize you might increase your chances of winning by demonstrating with your entries that you could produce a cohesive solo show. I guess that’s putting the cart before the horse – you need to get in the show first before there’s any judging, so providing a deeper variety of work may open that door to getting in. It’s the opposite of an exhibition proposal where you do want to demonstrate that continuity. Hmmm!

Deadline for the next Salon is sometime in February, 2016!

I was happy to see artists Yao-pi Hsu and Stephanie Lam there today – both solo show winners from last year! Hsu’s photography exhibit, Life. Water is still up and Lam’s show is scheduled for 2016.

I was also happy to hang out with artist Fleur Spolidor, here we are in front of Robert Schlegel’s, Horse Standing and Equine, part of Menagerie 2: Selections from the Permanent Collection.

I just want to make a note that I was sporting my fabulous hand-painted BAMR bag by artist Demetris Washington, whose work I was first introduced to by the Triton’s 50 and Looking Forward exhibition earlier this year. I love the Triton!

To celebrate turning 50 the Triton Museum of Art organized a forward looking exhibition of emerging and mid-career artists that will play an important role in the art scene into the future. I was able to meet with a number of the artists at the opening reception last Friday and while this post is by no means comprehensive, I hope it will give readers a taste for more of the exciting work in 50 and Looking Forward which runs until July 12, 2015. Click on the names of the artists for links to their websites.

Mind of Gold is a dynamic, bold and colorful painting by Demetris “BAMR” Washington, his tag standing for Becoming A Man Righteously. I wish I’d asked him to tell me about his imagery it’s really intriguing!

Shannon Amindon and her lovely, layered, mixed media encaustic silhouettes.

Stirred by the Wind by Shannon Amindon.

Spore(kle) (detail) installation by Julia Hughes – acrylic on mylar, paper, wax, glue, thread.

Jaya King, her mixed media gouache, The Chicken that Saved the Day and her honey / hand model reenacting the scene.

The Beautiful Teacher by Jojo Perea painted on recycled cardboard, there was a magnifying glass on hand to catch the fine details.

Pantea Karimi turns to early Persian texts and scientific illustrations for longue durée clues to today’s environment. She meticulously recreates styles of alphabets to employ in her work, these marks at times resembling birds or waves or bookends. Subtle, smart and intriguing!

Water, Earth, Air, Wood by Pantea Karimi.

Exceptional portraitist, Cuong Nguyen and his beautifully bearded model.

Unlocking Through Fear by Miguel Machuca.

Vanessa Callanta and her personality filled portraits.

Viviana Paredes works with glass and natural materials in her sculptures that explore a cultural tradition of the natural and the sacred in an changing world.