Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition opens

I n March 1914, six months after opening its doors, the Memorial Art Gallery hosted its first juried competition. Under the auspices of the Rochester Art Club, the show had been a fixture of the local art scene for three decades. At MAG, however, it grew in size and scope, and in 1938 the show was expanded to include 19 counties of western New York and it adopted the name it bears today.

Elizabeth Lyons (Penfield), Ritual Vessels. Blown glass, cast bronze, electroforming and found objects.

The 57th Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition opens at MAG on Sunday, May 16, and remains on view through Sunday, August 8. The biennial exhibition is a showcase for emerging artists that now represent 27 counties--including four counties added just this year--in western and central New York.

This year's jurors were Anthony Bannon, director, George Eastman House; Andrea Norris, director, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas; and Judith Shea, New York City artist. They chose 85 works by 79 artists from slides submitted by 400 artists. While the largest number of works are paintings, the exhibition also includes photographs, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, works on paper, and other media.

Just before the show opens, the jurors will review the work themselves and select winners of nine cash prizes totaling more than $4,000. As in past years, visitors to the exhibition are invited to cast ballots during the show's first two weeks for the Harris Popular Vote Award.

There will be a number of programs and events accompanying the exhibit in the coming weeks, including the exhibition party on Saturday, May 15. See the Currents calendar for details on this event and others.