October 3, 2024—On September 27, the Miller Art Museum unveiled its 49th Juried Annual—a survey and celebration of contemporary work by Wisconsin visual artists—with a public reception. Eight regional visual artists were recognized with awards for exemplary work. Awards presented included the Gerhard CF Miller Award of Excellence, a $500 cash award, the Bonnie Hartmann Award for Outstanding Creativity, a $100 cash award, and Juror’s Choice (3) and Special Merit (3) awards, $250 and $200 cash awards.
Jurors Hector Acuna, plein air artist and educator from Grafton, Laura Bickford, curator at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, and Rebecca Carlton, an accomplished artist and co-owner of Juddville Contemporary Studio Gallery in Fish Creek, carefully evaluated submissions. While the nature of the process is ultimately subjective, general principles guiding the selection process are technical proficiency and artistic voice.
“Jurying for open calls, like this one facilitated by the Miller Art Museum, are exhilarating reminders of the exciting breadth and depth of the artistic expression taking place across our state,” says Laura Bickford. “The final choices were the result of a long, engaged, and engaging conversation between me, Hector, and Rebecca.”
This year’s award winners are:
49th Juried Annual award winners present at the opening reception on Friday, September 27 pictured from left to right are: Kate Battle, Christine B. Miller, and Marissa Renée. Not pictured: Kristine Hinrichs, Katie Hogan, Mike Judy, Claire Tellstrom, and David Williams.Kate Battle (Fox Point), awarded a Special Merit Award for her work titled My Dream Chair (acrylic).
Kristine Hinrichs (Milwaukee), awarded a Juror’s Choice Award for her work titled Women Walking (photography on silk).
Katie Hogan (Madison), awarded a Special Merit Award for her work titled Vice Grip (oil).
Mike Judy (Sturgeon Bay), awarded a Juror’s Choice Award for his work titled The Blue Sailboat (pastel).
Christine B. Miller (Whitewater), awarded the Bonnie Hartmann Award for Outstanding Creativity for her work titled Mermaid Mags Hosts St. Ag’s Loaves & Fishes Social (mixed media).
Marissa Renée (Sturgeon Bay), awarded the Gerhard CF Miller Award of Excellence for her work titled Homeward (oil).
Claire Tellstrom (Madison), awarded a Juror’s Choice Award for her work titled Victoria Secret Strawberry Shimmer; How to Apply Your Sister’s Lipgloss (oil and acrylic).
David Williams (Madison), awarded a Special Merit Award for his work titled Medium Well (watercolor).
The 49th Juried Annual showcases 69 works spanning both levels of the museum; work can be viewed throughout in the two main galleries on the lower level as well as on the second floor Ruth Morton Miller Mezzanine.
Exhibiting artists in this year’s exhibition are: Gail Ann Anderson (Sturgeon Bay), Steven Anderson (Appleton), Alexis Arnold (Green Bay), Jennifer Bastian (Madison), Kate Battle (Fox Point), Pat Bishop (Shawano), Caryn A Blum (Sturgeon Bay), Beki Borman (Milwaukee), Janine Buechner (Sturgeon Bay), Carol Byron (Fish Creek), Michael Chiaverina (Sturgeon Bay), Mari Chism (Sheboygan), Cody Cottrell (Green Bay), Nastia Craig (Madison), Daniel Cross (Egg Harbor), Randall Dettmann (Algoma), William Dickinson (Green Bay), Rosalie Dittmann (Sturgeon Bay), Carrie Dorski (Algoma), Iris Fieber (Mequon), Lisa Gegare (Green Bay), Lynn Gilchrist (Sturgeon Bay), Gail Gilson Pierce (Eagle River), Ellie Grimm (Madison), Colleen Gunderson (Stevens Point), Ann Haberl (Madison), Jeanne Heuer (New Franken), Jason Hill (Madison), Kristine Hinrichs (Milwaukee), Emma Hitzman (Appleton), Susan Hoffmann (Baileys Harbor), Katie Hogan (Madison), Virginia Janssen (Green Bay), Mike Judy (Sturgeon Bay), Joseph Kaftan (Sturgeon Bay), Keary Kautzer (Sheboygan), Rachel Kmecheck (Oshkosh), Stephanie Lord (Sturgeon Bay), George J. Miller (Whitewater), Christine B. Miller (Whitewater), Janet Nelson (Cambridge), Michael Nitsch (Egg Harbor), Tim Nyberg (Sturgeon Bay), Britain O'Connor (Sturgeon Bay), Kandy Otto (Sturgeon Bay), David Peacock (Rhinelander), Shelley Peckham (Madison), Deanna Persson (Hayward), Denise Presnell (Sheboygan), Lily Regalia (Lake Geneva), Marissa Renee (Sturgeon Bay), Susan Reynolds-Smith (Ephraim), Katie Ries (Green Bay), Dianne Saron (Egg Harbor), Nick Schroeder (Milwaukee), Mary Ellen Sisulak (Ellison Bay), Steven Stanger (Baileys Harbor), Mark Stewart (Greenfield), Claire Tellstrom (Madison), Lauren Thistle (Sturgeon Bay), Hermke Timm (Sturgeon Bay), Heather Trost (De Pere), Kathryn Wedge (Neenah), Mark Weller (Waunakee), Alexandria Wilber (Appleton), David Williams (Madison), Rainer Wolter (Milwaukee), Sheree Wood (Fox Point), and Dean Wydeven (Grand Chute).
The continued success of the exhibit signals the Miller Art Museum’s commitment to connecting visual artists and community and supporting and celebrating artistic achievement. The exhibition is scheduled to run through Saturday, November 9, 2024.
