Honor Awards

On June 16th., I had the pleasure of attending Honor Awards 2018 at Art St. Louis. Curated by Brian D. Smith (artist, Professor of Visual Art, Saint Charles Community College), the exhibition featured artwork by ten regional artists and spanned a diverse range of media from ceramic sculpture to handcast paper. Speaking with artists on an individual basis, I learned a great deal about their process and delved deeper into the motivation behind their work.

Rick Battram had several works on canvas illustrating the New Media Age. Through his use of bold palette knife strokes, Battram communicated various emotions felt by his subjects while interacting with their devices–casual, relaxed, determined, unfulfilled. Focusing on blue light for his light source (of our technological devices), Battram’s works might leave you in your own emotional daze as you consider the subject at hand.

Often utilizing models in her work to convey what she desires, Connie LaFlam’s experimental photographs were evocative and mysterious all at once. A described portrait of the artist, As I picture Myself was very soft and subtle while Led a Colorful Life was bursting with such heat and intensity. In speaking with LaFlam, I learned more about her diverse body of work and I plan to stop by Houska Gallery where she is also represented.