In Their Own Words: Artists Remark on their Winning Art at Guild Hall

Guild Hall's annual Artists Members Exhibition is a popular one with artists. The non-juried show is open to everyone who is a member of the museum, guarantees a spot in the exhibition and is judged by an art world professional. A big draw is the chance for a solo show there, if selected as Top Winner.

Historically, the show draws heavily from The Hamptons and is a mix of established, emerging and beginning artists that are all tied together by a Guild Hall membership. At a glance, the show provides a pulse on the art being made on the East End and a bit further afield. Installed by Guild Hall Museum Director and Chief Curator Christina M. Strassfield, the presentation is always a beautiful one.

This year's show was judged by Connie H. Choi, Associate Curator, Permanent Collection at The Studio Museum in Harlem. Hamptons Art Hub reached out to the art winners to discover something more about the art that received awards.

Best Photograph - Gerry Giliberti

"A friend of mine wanted some photos of her dancing outside. Just after twilight I utilized deck lighting and shot during the full moon. Since the light was very low I used a fast film B/W film (Kodak Tri-X) and slow shutter speeds that resulted in a ghost like image. I've been in this Guild Hall Member Show since they started to allow photography. I think this was in the mid-90's but I'm not sure."

"Moon Dance" by Gerry Giliberti. Photograph. Courtesy of the artist.

Best Representational Work - Kathy Ullman

"This was the first time I submitted art to the show and was very happy to have received an award. The pose is unusual and was a serendipitous moment in time. I have always been most interested in portrait painting. The challenge of every portrait is to capture the unique likeness and personality of the subject and to create a beautiful painting. My medium of choice is pastel, which, I believe, best suits my style."

"Theodore" by Kathy Ullman. Pastel. Courtesy of the artist.

Best Abstract - Anne Raymond

"Painting in series allows me to develop my concept fully. Creating a powerful palette is key and the palette connects the series. The action of drawing and the physicality of movement capture nature in motion in January V."

"January V" by Anne Raymond. Oil on canvas, 24 x 18 inches. Courtesy of the artist.

Best New Artist - Lianne Alcon

"This is the first time I've ever submitted to Guild Hall, so it was a very nice surprise. I am very drawn to the female figure which represent such femininity, delicateness and sexiness while still portraying very strong and dramatic emotions."

"Yearning" by Lianne Alcon. Ink and epoxy on canvas, 18 x 24 inches. Courtesy of the artist.

Best Mixed Media - Goran Petmil

"In 2007, I started creating a new series of tri-dimensional paintings using all kinds of old and new pieces of clothing, dipping the clothes in a bucket of oil sometimes and others in acrylic paint and then building up the surface of the artwork. My work takes on a tridimensional form with different layers, textures and colors. I start adding a first layer to the canvas, then add a second and a third, my work then becomes a feast of light and colors, it always starts out abstract and I finish with a realistic touch... TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING is a piece that does not have all of its canvas covered, it is a representation of a beach with a blue sky. All my pieces look as they were intentionally unfinished to make the pieces look as if they were just created and fresh.

"I've been a participating member of the show since May 2004. I've been a recipient of four "Best" artwork awards. It's always exciting to participate in the show."

"Touch Me In the Morning" by Goran Petmil, 2018. Mixed media. Courtesy of the artist.

Excellence in Pastels - Julie Spain

"I am a clinical psychologist in practice for over 35 years. I have always painted as a way of storytelling what I see as a balance to the storytelling I listen to and help to unravel in my psychology practice. Working with pastels and enjoying the intense colors and soft medium has led to my portraying what I feel about what I am seeing without having to represent the actual image. This piece is named Hands Creek, referencing the mysterious water and that continual ebb and flow of movement and color in front of our home in East Hampton. This is the first time I have entered the Guild Hall Members Show and the first time I have exhibited my work."

"Hands Creek" by Julie Spain. Pastel on paper. Courtesy of the artist.

Best Work on Paper - Arlene Bujese

"Aftermath II" by Arlene Bujese. Intaglio, graphite, pastel. Art work photo by Pat Rogers.

"My medium is etching, but in this instance, the print did not do what I wished, so I made a "ghost print" which is to run the formerly inked and printed plate one more time with a piece of dry paper to absorb whatever ink was left. I got what I wanted, and then used pen, ink, pastel, and pencil to work it into what I was after for the final work. The idea is the futility of inhumanity, which manifests itself in war, oppression, and all those things which keep humankind from rising to a higher level of being. It goes back to an earlier series based on "Where Have All The Flowers Gone." The flower form gives a pale hint of hope as it rises, but it is still tethered to the destruction of humans and the land.

"Years ago I entered this show each year, and then sporadically. In encouraging my dear Marcel [Bally] to enter, I said that I would too."

Best Sculpture - Aurelio Torres

"I created this sculpture with the Guild Hall show in mind. Sailing vessels are my inspiration with this piece, and they are a common theme with my work. I believe this is my third time participating in the show, and I was fortunate to not only receive an honorable mention for my sculpture last year, my second entry, but also to have sold my piece at the show both this and last year. I am very grateful for the response and all that Guild Hall provides for our community."

Sculpture by Aurelio Torres. Courtesy of the artist.

Top Honors - Jeff Muhs

"Callipyge is the latest in a series of ‘Dymanic Free Casting’ concrete sculpture dealing with the female form, objects and sensuality. I have been entering work in the Guild Hall Members Exhibition for 24 years."

"Callipyge" by Jeff Muhs, 2018. Concrete and Cotton, 20 x 20 x 29 inches. Courtesy of the artist.

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BASIC FACTS: The 80th Annual Guild Hall Artists Members Exhibition remains on view through May 19, 2018. Guild Hall is located at 158 Main Street, East Hampton, NY 11937. www.guildhall.org.

Also winning this year is John Stefanik's Fish Cove Night, 2015. The photograph received the the Catherine and Theo Hios Best Landscape Award.

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