ALTHOUGH the CCA International galleries in Hill Street are temporarily closed, preparations are continuing for the Jersey Summer exhibition.
The dates for the Jersey Summer Exhibition are Friday 19 June to Wednesday 29 July. Gallery director Sasha Gibb was adamant that the show would go on – whatever the coronavirus situation.
She said: ‘As the next few months continue to unfold, we shall be monitoring the situation and taking health and safety advice with regard to public gatherings at the gallery. We shall deal with this as it happens. If it is deemed a risk to hold a private view at the gallery, we shall be seeking to work with a local film maker to shoot the hang and upload it to our website and social media alongside an online catalogue.
‘I shall certainly be celebrating in June no matter what! I am glad of such a happy event for us all to work towards. Our whole working model is upside down at the moment, however, working with artists, we’re used to having to change direction so will find a solution. I love the Jersey Summer Exhibition and, in such challenging times, am lifted by this year’s entries which are better than ever.
‘It’s at times like this we need community and art.’
The support for this event has once again been ‘fabulous’, she said. A total of 89 artists had applied this year – an increase of nearly ten per cent from last year across painting, print, photography, film, sculpture and ceramics. The artists include Emma Faull, Anna Le Moine Gray, Rachel Scott and Sharon Hall as well as work by Graham Tovey and Carol Ann Sutherland.
She continued: ‘CCA are fortunate to have such strong connections in the international art world and to bring this experience and expertise to the island. This year’s selection panel are artists Dan Baldwin and Paul Huxley RA, Gillian Duke, Managing Director of Worton Hall Studios and CCA and me. We are a diverse panel and I know everybody will put together a dynamic and thoughtful exhibition.
‘Unfortunately, the judges cannot be asked to fly Jersey in May to judge the final selection stage, but the judging will go ahead remotely. All judges have agreed to be “jpg judges”.’
There will now be just one stage of judging, which will take place at the end of April. She hopes that by the time comes for hanging in June, the world will be in a happier place.
The exhibition is modelled on the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition in London.
The final exhibition selection will now be announced in mid-May.
As well as making the final selection for the show, the panel will also judge the Summer Prize. The winner of the Summer Prize will be offered a solo show in one of the CCAI galleries for up to six pieces of work. The prize will be awarded to the artist that the judges agree exhibited the most accomplished piece of work. Last year’s winner was Lindsay Rutter.
The RURAL Jersey Landscape Award will be taking place for the second year. Any traditional Jersey landscape that has been selected for the Jersey Summer Exhibition will automatically be entered into the award. The panel of judges are Sasha Gibb, Alasdair Crosby of RURAL Magazine and website the two award sponsors, BCR Law (Managing partner David Benest) and the National Trust for Jersey (marketing and events manager Donna Le Marrec).
The award has been generously sponsored by BCR Law, with a £500 first prize and a weekend at the National Trust’s Le Câtel Fort, Grève de Lecq, as second prize.
For more information on the exhibition visit www.ccagalleriesinternational.com, or e-mail director Sasha Gibb at sasha.gibb@ccagalleriesinternational.com
