WHITINSVILLE, Mass. – Picture a wide, green field reaching far to meet the horizon. A sky filled with fluffy violet cotton candy clouds touch a wall of autumn trees in the distance. This textured scene could be mistaken for an oil painting. But it’s actually a photograph depicting a surreal scene of open space and nature.

This vibrant and slightly irregular scene by photographer Bob Evans is titled “Ominous Landscape.” The snapshot was recently submitted and judged as part of this summer’s Blackstone Valley Art Association’s (BVAA) art exhibition, which is located in the Spaulding R. Aldrich Heritage Gallery at Alternatives’ Whitin Mill on 50 Douglas Road in Whitinsville.

“Ominous Landscape” by Bob Evans.

After living in COVID-19 isolation for more than a year, Evans’ photograph expresses a sense of foreboding and imbalance as people emerge from their homes into a post-pandemic world. The photo nods to the exhibition’s name: Re-emerging in the Valley.

“It’s incredible we can now open things up in the art gallery,” said Cristi Collari, the director of community outreach for Open Sky Community Services. “I loved hanging all that great artwork up in the gallery. I think when people walk through, they are sure to be inspired.”

A gallery wall in the art exhibit. Photo by Kevin Saleeba.

The BVAA is a non-profit group that has been promoting local artists from the Blackstone Valley area since 1956. The exhibit is organized by the BVAA in association with ValleyCast, the arts and culture offshoot of Open Sky.

The exhibit will run from July 1 to August 20, with limited access during the ValleyCast Free Summer Concert Series every Thursday night from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. or by appointment only. The artwork was judged by Jo Ellen Reinhardt, who is an accomplished classically trained artist and a professor of fine arts at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.  Reinhardt is a highly decorated artist with a unique gift of capturing the beauty in a portrait, still life, and landscape painting.

Reinhardt looks for three main characteristics of art when she judges the work of other people. They are “composition, craftsmanship, and originality – in that order.”

“A piece of art must grab my attention from a distance,” she said. “This means a work must have a strong composition and a sometimes wide range of values. It must retain its quality when viewed close up, showing the artist has mastered their media.”

The blind judging process was meant to maintain impartiality.

“I try to keep an open mind when looking at artwork,” Reinhardt said. “I prefer a blind judging where all signatures and names are covered, just in case I recognize the artist. It was a blind judging, so I was able to judge freely without worrying about knowing the artists.”

1st Place – Lynne Randolph’s “Nicodemus” pastel painting

Reinhardt awarded Lynn Randolph’s pastel painting titled “Nicodemus” the first-place ribbon. “This work displays a great mastery and knowledge of both the complex subject matter and media,” she said. “The triple portraits are nicely arranged. Each depicts the character and emotions of the subject.”

 

2nd Place – Beverly Tinklenberg’s “Garden Bouquet” oil painting

Second place went to Beverly Tinklenberg’s “Garden Bouquet.” Reinhardt said the work showed “energetic brush strokes to make this an intriguing work. This work exhibits a subtle sense of light and form. The figure feels natural and relaxed.”

 

3rd Place – Bob Evans’ “The Dress Room” photograph

Although Evans did not win for his “Ominous Landscape,” his photograph “The Dress Room” received third-place recognition.

“The haunting atmosphere and subject matter are alluring,” Reinhardt said. “There is a strong balance of light and dark values. The subdued palette adds to the photo’s mysterious mood.”

 

For more information, or to schedule an appointment to view the BVAA Art Exhibit, call (508) 234-6232 or visit the website at Openskycs.org. To learn more about the BVAA, visit bvaa.org.