Marshall Adams, executive director of the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery, welcomed guests to the opening reception of the 45th annual Best of the Best juried exhibition, which is on display through Nov. 13, and noted that the event marked the opening of its 66th season.

“Reaching 66 seasons, and entering our seventh decade, has only been possible because of you, the artists and art lovers who support an institution like this,” said Adams.

He recognized the past and present board members, sponsors, staff and volunteers whose generous contributions of time and effort have helped sustain and strengthen the Fort Pierce museum.

This year, he said, the museum received 172 entries for the Best of the Best exhibition, of which 63 works were accepted. The selections were made by an independent panel of jurors who had expertise in the disciplines represented in the show.

This year’s judges were Unum Babar, artist and assistant professor at Daytona State College; Sean Clinton, a Vero Beach artist, designer, ceramicist and educator; and Margaret Hodge, an artist and president of the Florida Artists Group.

Adams explained that the Florida Artists Group, founded in 1949, is the state’s oldest professional artist organization. He noted that A.E. Backus was a member in the 1950s, so they were especially pleased to welcome the organization’s current president as a juror.

“So they spent all day on Sunday going through 172 of the entries to determine what they thought, in their professional and considered views, were the best,” said Adams.

After thoughtful discussion, he said the jurors reached a consensus on the 63 works selected.

Adams explained that the exhibition includes four media categories: Oil and Acrylic, Watercolor, Three-Dimensional Sculpture, and Varied Techniques, a category that encompasses work that does not fit within the other three.

The jurors then selected the First-, Second- and Third-place winners for each category.

“And then at the end of the day, they got to choose what they thought was the Best of Show, the singular work that really spoke to them,” said Adams.

“It’s called “Florida Fluorescent” and it’s by Chuck Clarke,” said Adams, referencing the vibrant acrylic painting, whose design and colors are somewhat evocative of works by “Beanie” Backus and the Highwaymen.

“I’m glad you’re here in person to see his work because we took a picture of it for social media and the fluorescent colors do not translate on film. So you are here in person seeing it in its full glory,” said Adams.

On the other side of the color spectrum, Adams chose “American Cowboy: Okeechobee” by Barbara Z. Lyons for his Director’s Choice Award. A young cowboy is the focus of the predominantly monochromatic painting, where shades of black, gray and white are only interrupted by the red and white corner of an American flag above the little boy’s broad-brimmed cowboy hat.

Vero artists are well represented in the show, with several winning awards.

In the Oil/Acrylic category, Mary O’Neal received First Place for “Overgrown Secrets” and Second Place for “I’m Famous.”

In the Varied Techniques category, Yvonne Steere received First Place for “Lift,” Jenna Ringuette received Second Place for “Portrait at Saint Paul and Peter” and Gergory Ingerson received Third Place for “Burnt House.”

In the Three-Dimensional category, Patricia Humphrey received Second Place for “Dali Special” and Emily Chaney received Third Place for “House Pet.”

Vero artists Jim Cohoe, Kate Donovan, Geraldine Hull and Katherine Larson also have works that were accepted into the show.

Adams noted that viewers were invited to express their own opinion by voting for the People’s Choice Award, which would be announced at the conclusion of the show.

“Thank you for your attention and for helping us launch the museum’s 66th season. We are here because of your support, and we look forward to continuing the season with you,” said Adams.

For more information, please visit BackusMuseum.org.

Winners

Best of Show: “Fluorescent Florida” by Chuck Clarke

Director’s Choice: “American Cowboy: Okeechobee” by Barbara Z. Lyons

First Place Oil/Acrylic: “Overgrown Secrets” by Mary O’Neal

First Place Three-Dimensional: “Sublimation” by Jeanne Thompson

First Place Varied Techniques: “Lift” by Yvonne Steere

First Place Watercolor: “Tuba Tunes” by Barbara Bishop

Photos by Joshua Kodis