Rockville Art League Juried Members' Spring Show 2023

The Rockville Art League hosts two large juried member shows a year in a variety of mediums and styles. This spring we are honored to have Glen Echo resident artist and educator J. Jordan Bruns as our judge.

The Rockville Art League was founded in 1957 by a collective of artists in Rockville, Maryland, and the surrounding area to promote the development of the fine arts within its membership and the community. We are a group of over 150 artists. For more information, please visit RockvilleArtLeague.org.

This beautiful show of a variety of artworks on exhibit at the Glenview Mansion Art Gallery opened Sunday, May 21 and is on display through Friday, June 23. Glenview Mansion is located at the Rockville Civic Center Park, 603 Edmonston Dr.
The gallery is open to the public weekdays, Monday – Friday, 9:00am-4:30pm with plenty of parking. The art gallery is wheelchair accessible. Please note SPECIAL CLOSURES of the gallery: Monday, June 19 and Wednesday, June 21.

Remarks of Juror J.Jordan Bruns:

I have juried, hung, curated, facilitated, and organized more exhibitions in my 20 years of curating and artmaking than I can count, and probably a few more than I should have! It is always an honor, but it never gets easier. Before I get into the infinite praise that I have for the artists in this show and those who were not selected as well (because selection was hard!), I want to take a quick moment to recognize the monumental effort it takes to put on a show like this. Lisa and Patrick Sieg are the power couple of organizing and hanging art exhibitions. RAL is incredibly lucky to have them. They did an incredible job of making the judging process easier, even if the selection process continues to be difficult.

I'm sure you have all heard over the years, "this show reflects this judge's opinion." It remains true, even if it gives you a bad feeling in your stomach. That's how I feel bad. Like eating too much eggplant. It’s true, my opinion of the choices in the show reflects what I believe makes good art. Others may share my belief, but I KNOW that there are many who do not. Over the years, when I am not jurying, hanging, curating, facilitating, or organizing exhibitions, I am submitting to exhibitions just like all of you. I don't get into everything. In fact, for me, one in ten is a pretty good record. But what I can say is that what is rejected from one exhibition is often prize money in another. So, to everyone who was not selected, there is a judge out there who will not only put you in their show but they might just throw a prize at you too.

To those who were selected, congratulations! I love what you've created! I spent a lot of time looking at all the work both in person and online, and here is what I am looking for.
#1. Art must NOT be boring. ANYTHING but boring. I want to add that "skill" or "craft" often makes things boring. Technique can only get you so far. I firmly believe that the best violinist who cannot invent beyond what Bach set to paper 300 years ago is less of an "artist" than what the impromptu banjo player creates on a whim after drinking beer with his friend on Wednesdays and feels the urge to jam. I get heat for that belief often, but mostly from musicians.
#2. To completely contradict #1- you must have the skills and craft to complete your idea/concept. Knowledge of the craft are tools in a toolbox. You know the saying, "when all you have is a hammer, every problem is a nail?" Well, not every brilliant idea is executed in watercolor, oil, or acrylic. Sometimes you must acquire new skills, the right skills, to facilitate your amazing idea.
#3. Make ME feel something! See #1. Yes, that is tough and unfair. You probably didn't know I was the judge when you made that painting, drawing, sculpture, or photograph. The best thing you can do in this situation is make art for yourself. If it is personal, odds are that someone else out there resonates with the work.

Know that I tried my best to give every piece of artwork submitted a fair appraisal. I took ample time at every step in the jurying process, looking at all the submissions forward the first day and backwards the next. I chose my placeholders online and confirmed/changed my decisions in person before the show was hung. None of my decisions were easy because RAL members make incredible art.
-Jordan Bruns
Director, Art Clinic at Glen Echo Park