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2007 Au Naturel: The Nude in the 21st Century
CCC's First Juried International Art Exhibition
Clatsop Community College Art Center Gallery is proud to host "Au Naturel: The Nude in the 21st Century," the first juried
international art exhibition to be held at a community college in Oregon, April 2 through 27, 2007. An artist's reception will be
held on April 3 at 6 p.m. Au Naturel includes a wide range of interpretations of the nude human figure, from representational to
abstract.
After much deliberation, over 70 works of art were selected from over 300 entries. The exhibit will represent artists from 13
states including Hawaii, plus Washington D.C., and international artists from Europe, Asia and North America.
"We had a tremendous response, quite exceeding our expectations," said CCC art instructor Kristin Shauck. "The quality of
artwork submitted was exceptional and the juror was faced with a very difficult task."
Clatsop Community College has a rich tradition of using the nude figure as the focal point of the Art Department. When the
department first started using the nude figure in about 1980, it was one of the first community colleges in Oregon to work
from nude models in its studio classes.
"We really feel that having access to the nude figure is very important to our students, especially in drawing, painting and
sculpture," said CCC Art Department Founder Roy Garrisson, who taught art classes at the college from 1969 until his retirement
in the spring of 2006. "The figure is fundamental to art-we need that information to understand form."
Serving as juror for the exhibition is Royal Nebeker, a painter and printmaker whose work appears in both the US and Europe. He
was recently included in a contemporary survey of European gallery artists at the Louvre in Paris. In 2004, Nebeker was invited
to give the inaugural address for the new fine arts campus at the National School of Fine Arts in Oslo, Norway. In May of 2006,
he was appointed by Governor Ted Kulongoski to serve on the Oregon Arts Commission, and is currently represented by Augen Gallery
of Portland and Lisa Harris Gallery of Seattle, Washington.
"Clatsop Community College continues to have one of the best visual art programs in the Northwest," said Nebeker, now an adjunct
instructor at CCC, who also played an intrinsic role in developing the emphasis on the nude figure at college.
"This is a particularly significant accomplishment when one realizes the relatively remote geographic area served by the facility,"
he continued. "Bringing this quality of artwork to the campus will be educational and greatly enjoyed by the student body and local
community. It is an example of the vision and leadership the art faculty constantly provides for our region."
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Award Winners of Au Naturel: The Nude in the 21st Century an International Juried Exhibition
Currently on exhibit at Clatsop Community College's Art Center Gallery through April 27, is "Au Naturel: The Nude in the 21st
Century." As the first international juried exhibition to be held at a community college in Oregon, this historically significant
collection of paintings, drawings and print work has attracted artists from around the world, with the promise of cash awards as
well as opportunities for later solo exhibitions.
Clatsop Community College's art department has incorporated the human form into its curriculum since the 1970s. Roy Garrison
who founded the art department in 1969 and retired in 2006, states; "the nude figure has been important in art since early
Greek civilization, the Greeks understood that if you can draw, paint or sculpt the human form, you can do anything." For
Garrison, this is "one of the most important exhibitions the college has ever held." He is thankful to see the insurgence
and renewed interest in the human form as a foundation of art.
Audience at the Artists Reception, April 3 2007
Royal Nebeker, former chairman of CCC's art department as well as internationally acclaimed artist, served as juror to the
exhibition. Nebeker selected a collection of over 70 paintings, drawings and prints from more then 300 submitted. Regarding
his selections, Nebeker states, "I looked for vision that is not so much innovative as independent of traditional or academic
expectations. I was interested in content and looked for some form of spiritual impact. In collecting and juxtaposing these
particular images, I sought a sense of shared humanity."
Juror Royal Nebeker addresses the audience at the Artists Reception
The tradition of the human form utilized as a teaching tool at CCC continues with instructor Kristin Shauck. Shauck who
teaches painting, design and drawing courses states "The nude and figure work we do here really forms an important part
of our curriculum. The figure is such a powerful image that we relate to as human beings. Its such a complex form, it teaches
us the observational skills that become a tool for us, as artists, no matter what the subject matter is."
The artists' reception, held April 3 attracted some 200 guests. In attendance were 18 of the participating artists, including
Torill Johnsen who came as far away as Denmark. Kristin Shauck and Royal Nebeker announced the award winners during the reception.
First Place was awarded to Elaine Green of Moscow, Idaho; John Stahl of Tillamook, Oregon and Roland Delcol of Belgium shared
Second Place; Third Place went to Michael Reedy of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Purchase awards were awarded to Kenju Urakubo of Jackson
Heights, New York; Michael Reedy of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Nicholas Knapton of Astoria, Oregon. Juror's Commendations were
awarded to Jeff Cancelosi of Northville, Michigan; Tony Gardner of Seaside, Oregon; Nicholas Knapton of Astoria, Oregon;
Joseph Miller of Buffalo, New York; Victoria Goro-Rapoport of Kearney, North Carolina and Noel Thomas of Astoria, Oregon.
Artists at the opening reception.
In regards to the exhibition, Juror and instructor Royal Nebeker states, "This is a particularly significant accomplishment when
one realizes the relatively remote geographic area served by the facility. Bringing this quality of artwork to the campus will
be educational and greatly enjoyed by the student body and local community. It is an example of the vision and leadership the
art faculty constantly provides for our region."
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The 2007 Award Winners:
Click to see bigger versions.
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