Says Juror Francine Weiss, Senior Curator of the Newport Art Museum:
"It was an honor to jury the Hera Gallery’s “Turmoil and Transformation” exhibition. Founded in 1974, the Hera Gallery has a history of giving voice to women artists and artists from under-represented groups. It has broadened its mission to show artists of all genders, regional and national, and at different stages of their careers, but the core values of supporting artists, encouraging important conversations, and ensuring that there is diversity in the art world are all still alive and well.
It was a pleasure to see such a diverse array of submissions to this call. The entries varied in medium, subject matter, style, and process. What they all shared in common was an engagement with what’s happening in the world right now, such as the terrible and unfathomable human cost of COVID; the dire need for social justice, equality, and equity; political protest and transition; an abiding interest in nature and concern for climate change; and social distance and bonds. I was fascinated by repeated motifs in the entries: the prevalence of birds, the use of language and words in art, landscapes both real and imagined. Not all works explicitly referenced contemporary issues; some simply captured a mood or feeling. And still other works of art were humorous or hopeful—perhaps this is the “transformation” part of “Transformation and Turmoil” . . . the possibilities for self-awareness and renewal."
I would like to thank all of the artists not only for submitting to “Turmoil and Transformation,” but also for continuing to make art during this challenging time. Thank you for making this work for yourselves and for sharing it with me and others."