This month, the art scene is brimming with opportunities for discovery, from a dynamic national juried painting competition to a thoughtful pairing of photographic perspectives.
First up, the Emerald Art Center proudly presents its 19th Annual Emerald Spring Exhibition 2025, a national painting juried competition that runs through May 30th.
Two pieces, in particular, captured my attention. Innana McGraw's "The Wild Men" pulses with the energy of a late-night jazz club. The canvas vibrates with bright yellows that seem to sing like a trumpet solo, contrasted against deep violets that create a smoky, intimate atmosphere.
Then there's Tara Esperanza's intriguing work, "A Family Portrait." What at first glance appears to be a richly colored abstract is, in fact, a portrait of a ghost plant. Esperanza manages to capture a sense of familial connection and individual character within the plant's form and the deep, almost otherworldly hues of its foliage. It makes you reconsider what a "portrait" can truly be.
At the White Lotus Gallery, a fascinating dialogue unfolds between two photographers: Gary Tepfer and Rich Bergeman. Their exhibition, closing on June 7th, focuses on the stark beauty of steppe and desert landscapes. As you move through the gallery, notice how the photographs are intentionally placed to create visual conversations.
For instance, Rich Bergeman's expansive view of a wide curve in the Ana River finds a subtle echo in the golden, rounded form of a hill in Gary Tepfer's "Limestone Hills." At other times, the distant horizon lines in Bergeman's work seamlessly continue into the next frame by Tepfer, creating a sense of continuous journey across these vast terrains.
Whether you're drawn to the vibrant energy of contemporary painting or the quiet contemplation of expansive landscapes, there's something for everyone to discover this month.
