“Power Imbalance” Receives Juror Award at Carnegie Center Competition, 2016

Power Imbalance has received a Juror Award at the 2016 installment of the annual art competition at the Carnegie Center for the Arts in Three Rivers, Michigan.

"Power Imbalance", 2014, Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 20 in., by David Jay Spyker

“Power Imbalance”, 2014, Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 20 in., by David Jay Spyker

Greg Waskowsky, one of three jurors for the exhibition, and now-retired Curator of Special Programs at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, wrote this wonderful paragraph about Power Imbalance:

In choosing a juror’s award from among the 2-D works, I was repeatedly drawn to David Jay Spyker’s Power Imbalance. I was impressed not only with how the artist used his considerable technique to capture the specific feeling of a landscape (such as the way in which the purplish light of the distant storm front is reflected off the dark waves in the foreground), but also how he subtly provides a symbolic dimension to the landscape, as evidenced by the tiny lights along the far shoreline. Taken as a whole, Spyker’s realism shows us that the world we live in is more mysterious and affecting than we might assume.

I really could not have said that better myself. My sincerest thanks go out to Greg.

"Power Imbalance", 2014, Acrylic on Canvas, Detail, by David Jay Spyker

“Power Imbalance”, 2014, Acrylic on Canvas, Detail, by David Jay Spyker

The most distant set of lights is at the nuclear power plant in South Haven, Michigan, where clouds of steam can be seen billowing back up over the shore.

Sudden Flight at Muskegon Museum of Art

Sudden Flight will be included in the Muskegon Museum of Art’s 87th Regional Exhibition, which is open to all Michigan artists.

spyker-painting-acrylics-sudden-flight-2013-700px

The annual competition runs June 4 through August 5, 2015 with the reception June 4 from 5:30 – 8:00 pm.The Museum also has a small, but highly outstanding permanent collection with many superb paintings.

Muskegon Museum of Art
296 W Webster Ave, Muskegon, MI 49440
www.muskegonartmuseum.org

Winter Art Festival Competition at Gallery Uptown in Grand Haven, Michigan

Opening Friday, February 6, 2015, the Winter Art Festival competition at Gallery Uptown in Grand Haven, Michigan includes sixty works by regional artists. I will be displaying The Last Days of Autumn, and The Last Days of Summer in the show, and hope to see you at the reception.

"The Last Days of Autumn", 2014, Acrylic on Hardboard, 27.75 x 46.25 inches, by David Jay Spyker

The Last Days of Autumn, 2014, Acrylic on Hardboard, 27.75 x 46.25 inches, by David Jay Spyker

The Last Days of Summer, 2014, Acrylic on Hardboard, 9 x 12 in., by David Jay Spyker

The Last Days of Summer, 2014, Acrylic on Hardboard, 9 x 12 in., by David Jay Spyker

The reception is on the 6th from 5:30 to 8:00 pm, with awards and comments by the juror presented at 7:00. The exhibition runs through February 28, 2015.
Gallery Uptown, 201 Washington Ave., Grand Haven, MI 49417
(616) 846-5460

2015 Regional Competition at the Carnegie

My painting The Day Before November will be included in the 2015 Regional Juried Arts Competition at the Carnegie Center for the Arts in Three Rivers, Michigan. The opening reception will take place on January 25, 2015, from 2-4pm.

"The Day Before November", 2014, Acrylic on Hardboard, 8 x 10 inches, by David Jay Spyker

“The Day Before November”, 2014, Acrylic on Hardboard, 8 x 10 inches, by David Jay Spyker

Carnegie Center for the Arts, 107 North Main Street, Three Rivers, MI 49093
(269) 273-8882

Great Lakes Juried Show – 5th Annual – 2014

See the painting “Sudden Flight” at the South Haven Center for the Arts from September 12 – October 26, 2014. The annual, five-state art competition takes place in South Haven, Michigan with an opening reception on Friday, September 12, 2014 from 5:00-7:00pm. Awards will be presented at 6pm with the judge’s remarks.

LIVE music. Cash Bar. Awesome Art, FREE – All Welcome!

South Haven Center for the Arts
600 Phoenix St.
South Haven, MI 49090
269-637-1041

 

Sudden Flight Awarded Best of Show

“Sudden Flight” was awarded Best of Show in the annual Regional Fine Arts Competition at the Carnegie Center for the Arts in Three Rivers, Michigan. Also on display are “Regatta” and “Winter Murder”.

Sudden Flight at Carnegie Center for the Arts, Three Rivers, MI

Sudden Flight at Carnegie Center for the Arts, Three Rivers, MI
Acyrlic on Canvas, 36 x 60 in., 2013

Sudden Flight at Carnegie Center for the Arts, Three Rivers, MI

2014 competition reception attendees at Carnegie Center for the Arts, Three Rivers, MI

The 2014 competition was judged by Greg Waskowsky, painter and Curator of Special Programs at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts; Dave Curl, artist, photographer, and adjunct professor of Art at Kalamazoo College and professor emeritus as WMU; and Steve Curl, a sculptor who uses found objects and junk to create whimsical robots and abstract piece.

Regatta at Carnegie Center for the Arts, Three Rivers, MI

Regatta (on the left) at Carnegie Center for the Arts, Three Rivers, MI
Acyrlic on Canvas, 24 x 36 in., 2013

It’s a very nice show with a lot of great pieces by artists from eighteen counties in Michigan and Indiana – well worth the trip.

The exhibition runs through February 26, 2014.

Carnegie Center for the Arts
107 N Main St.
Three Rivers, MI 49093
269-273-8882

“Winter Murder” Wins Award at Michigan Artists Competition

“Winter Murder” won the top Southwest Michigan Watercolor Society Award for water-based media at the Michigan Artist’s Competition in Battle Creek. The Watercolor Society sponsored three awards at this year’s show.

"Winter Murder", 2012, Acrylics on Canvas, 30 x 42 in., by David Jay Spyker

Also in the show is the piece, “Homeward”. See the exhibition at the Art Center of Battle Creek, 265 E. Emmett Street, Battle Creek, Michigan 49017 through June 29, 2013.

 

Cradle Wins 2nd Place at Box Factory for the Arts

The Box Factory for the Arts is an interesting facility housed in (you guessed it) a former box factory in St. Joseph, Michigan. The old brick and heavy timber building houses a number of artist’s studios, features classes, and shows stage events as well as visual art exhibits. The 10th Michiana Annual Artist Competition opened June 15, and David Jay Spyker’s painting in acrylics titled “Cradle” won the second place award. In addition to Cradle, the artist is showing two other pieces – Amputee and Inlet.

"Amputee", 2011, Acrylics on Canvas, 18 x 24 in., by David Jay Spyker

Cradle also recently won first place at this year’s annual competition at the Carnegie Center for the Arts in Three Rivers, Michigan.

"Cradle", 2011, Acrylics on Canvas, 13 x 49 in., by David Jay Spyker

“Cradle”, 2011, Acrylics on Canvas, 13 x 49 in., by David Jay Spyker

After the close of the exhibit at the Box Factory, Cradle will travel back to the Carnegie Center for the Arts to be included in a two month solo exhibition of David Jay Spyker’s work (opening august 19). Once that show closes, the painting will go to its new home at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts where it has been accepted into their permanent collection as a gift of the artist’s father, David John Spyker, in memory of the artist’s mother, Mary Spyker (1945-2011).

The MAAC closes July 27; if you wish to visit the show, the Box Factory for the Arts is located at 1101 Broad St, St Joseph, MI 49085. http://www.boxfactoryforthearts.org

“Cradle” Awarded First Place at the Carnegie

At this year’s annual competition at the Carnegie Center for the Arts in Three Rivers, Michigan, the painting “Cradle” was awarded the first place prize. This installation of the exhibition was judged by artists Jim Markle and Dennis O’Mara.

Cradle, by David Jay Spyker, 2011, Acrylics on Canvas, 13 x 49 in.

Cradle was executed in 2011 using acrylics on canvas, and is painted with techniques that could be said to lie somewhere between those of oils and tempera with a bit more slant toward the latter.

CCA Competition, Three Rivers, MI - "Cradle" 2

Images of the opening reception:

CCA-2012-Competition-Opening1

CCA-2012-Competition-Opening 2

Also showing at the annual exhibition are the paintings “Inlet” and “Northbound”.

"Inlet", by David Jay Spyker, 2011, Acrylics on Canvas, 14 x 18 in.

"Inlet", by David Jay Spyker, 2011, Acrylics on Canvas, 14 x 18 in.

The show is open through February 22nd, 2012 at the Carnegie Center for the Arts in Three Rivers, Michigan.

Carnegie Center for the Arts Competition 2012

Three of my paintings – “Cradle”, “Northbound”, and “Inlet” – have been included in the CCA’s annual competition this year. The show opens with a reception on January 22 from 2-4 pm, and runs through February 22.

You can visit the Carnegie at 107 North Main St. in Three Rivers, MI 49093

Online at www.trcarnegie.com

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