The RAL Art Center is honored to announce the judge of the 63rd Labor Day Art Show, Diana L. Blanchard Gross, the Visual Arts Center Manager at the Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center in Hampton. She served as the Curator of the Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News as well as the Curator for the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, Virginia Beach. Blanchard Gross was the former Curator of the Peninsula Fine Arts Center in Newport News, Virginia for six years (1996-2002) where she curated 12-15 exhibitions a year as well as coordinated traveling exhibitions for the Art Center galleries. She has developed and curated exhibitions on James, Andrew, and N.C. Wyeth, Norman Rockwell, Francisco Goya as well as exhibitions on Native American, Asian, and African art. She received her Bachelor of Art degree in History from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, and her Master of Art degree in Art History and Museum Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond.
Blanchard Gross shared her approach to judging in the following judge’s statement, “Judging and jurying artworks is a critical process in the art world, involving the careful evaluation and selection of pieces for awards and exhibits. As a curator, I access the submitted works based on various criteria such as creativity, technical skill, originality, and relevance to the exhibition’s theme, if there is one. Judging requires a balance of objective analysis and subjective interpretation, as I consider both the technical execution and the emotional or conceptual impact of each piece. The goal is to curate a collection that not only represents a high standard of artistic excellence but also resonates with the intended audience, creating a cohesive and thought-provoking exhibition. This process plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and quality of art shows, while also providing artists with valuable feedback and recognition.”
The members of RAL, artists, and members of the public are eagerly anticipating seeing the 137 works of art in the Labor Day Show. Everyone is especially looking forward to Aug. 30 when the award-winning work will be revealed. The public is invited to attend the Fifth Friday reception at the RAL Art Center Aug. 30 from 5 to 7 pm. to see all the Labor Day Art Show, including the winning pieces.