The Whatcom Museum is hosting the second Bellingham National Juried Art Exhibition and Awards, June 11 - September 10, 2017, at the Lightcatcher building. More than 300 artists from around the country submitted artworks for consideration for this exhibition, which centers on drawing practices. Representing more than 25 artists from six states, including Washington, the artists are based in cities such as New York, Portland, and San Francisco, as well as two artists from Bellingham. Juried by Catharina Manchanda, Jon and Mary Shirley Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at Seattle Art Museum, the artwork selected will represent a range of approaches to drawing, from narrative and representational modes to notation, transcription mapping, and deconstruction. Artists in the exhibition work in a variety of media. In recognition of their achievements, three artists will be honored with modest financial awards, in addition, members of the public will bestow a popular choice award. The flood of images disseminated on the internet and social media invite renewed attention to drawing as a comparatively "slow" medium. Traditionally tied to the development of compositions and ideas, drawing remained the stepchild of painting and sculpture into the 1960s. Subsequent interest in artistic processes has elevated drawing to a more influential position. In light of the ever-expanding digital media stream that is in equal parts overwhelming and yet immaterial, contemporary drawing practices take on renewed significance and urgency. "In light of the great technological shift that has profoundly changed our everyday interactions, this is an important moment to consider the conceptual possibilities and aesthetic capacities of drawing practices," said juror Catharina Manchanda. This juried exhibition will award prizes of $2,000, $1,000, and $500 to three of the participating artists during the opening celebration. The popular choice award of $500 offers the community an opportunity to have their voices heard, and will be announced September 6, 2017. About the Juror: Catharina Manchanda joined the Seattle Art Museum in 2011 as the Jon and Mary Shirley Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. A native of Germany, Manchanda received her undergraduate degree from the University of Stuttgart and her PhD from the City University Graduate Center in New York. Recent exhibitions at the Seattle Art Museum include Pop Departures, Miró: the Experience of Seeing, and Big Picture: Art after 1945. She also mounted a series of contemporary projects and site-specific installations by John Luther Adams, Moyra Davey, Harun Farocki, Victoria Haven, Martha Rosler, Guido van der Werve, and others. Previously, Manchanda worked at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum in St. Louis, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Member Preview Reception Saturday, June 10, 5 – 7pm; Free (Members Only) Lightcatcher | 250 Flora Street Join us for the opening of this exhibition, which explores various interpretations on the theme of drawing. Guest curator Catharina Manchanda will attend, and announce the first, second, and third place award winners. Enjoy light appetizers, wine, and live music. Bellingham National 2017 Gallery Tour with Juror Catharina Manchanda Sunday, June 11, 1pm Lightcatcher | 250 Flora Street Join Catharina Manchanda, Bellingham National 2017 exhibition juror, for a gallery tour focusing on the shift in meaning and increased importance of drawing today. Manchanda is the Jon and Mary Shirley Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at Seattle Art Museum. A native of Germany, she received her undergraduate degree from the University of Stuttgart and her Ph.D. from the City University Graduate Center in New York. Recent exhibitions at the Seattle Art Museum include Pop Departures, Miró: the Experience of Seeing, and Big Picture: Art after 1945.
