Introduction

The mission of the Bradley University Galleries is to expand the audience of the visual arts community as well as promote understanding, appreciation and scholarship of contemporary art. In 1950, Ernest Freed, then Director of the School of Art at Bradley University initiated the Bradley Print Show. In those early days, it was among the first nation-wide juried print exhibitions. The Bradley International is traditionally regarded as one of the oldest, reputable print and drawing competitions in the United States. This year the exhibition is officially an international juried competition that provides an opportunity for working artists to show in Peoria’s varied professional gallery spaces. The final installation of all of the works presents a unique opportunity for central Illinois community members to consider the current trends in contemporary art selected by our juror.

In recent years, some changes have been implemented. The exhibition has become biannual rather than annual due to its expansive size. For a period of time an invitational component of galleries, print shops and educational facilities was an element of the exhibition. We are pleased at the elevated level of interest nationally and globally in the exhibition and look forward to further communication with our peers worldwide. The international mailing system has become more complicated for artists to send slides and art works to us. Our goal the last time the exhibition was mounted was to revisit the time line for the 30th exhibition and take into consideration these obstacles that have become such a part of showing art. Over 625 artists from England, Canada, Australia, Scotland, Ireland, India, Chine, Japan, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, Finland, Germany, Austria, the United States, and Finland sent slides of their works, approximately 1,780 to be reviewed. There were 162 works chosen for the exhibition representing 140 artists.

The juror for the 30th Bradley International Print and Drawing exhibition is Judy Collischan, Ph.D. Currently she is an independent art consultant. Dr. Collischan has served as the Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs at the Neuberger Museum of Art, SUNY-Purchase; Director of the Hillwood Art Museum and Public Art Program at Long Island University, C.W. Post campus; and Administrative Director for The Printmaking Workshop, New York, NY. Her book publications include “Welded! Sculpture of the Twentieth Century,” “Lines of Vision: Drawings by Contemporary Women,” “Women Shaping Art: Profiles of Power.” A few of Dr. Collischan’s essays include “Women of the World, Biennale Donna”, Ferrara, Italy; “Sculpture in 20th Century Britain” for the Henry Moore Institute, Leeds, England; and “Rainbow, and Prints from Bob Blackburn’s Printmaking Workshop”, USIA. Dr. Collischan has also written articles and reviews for Artnews, NYArts, Sculpture, Glass, and Arts magazines. Dr. Collischan is also a member of the International Association of Art Critics - American Section and the American Association of Museums. We are very pleased to have her agree to lend her name to our exhibition as she attracted so many new artists from all over the world.

This year’s exhibition emphasizes many distinctive artistic views and a commitment to visual expression. The Bradley International Print and Drawing exhibition falls in the category of juried shows, and in that role it serves the important function for new ideas to be brought to the front and to be considered by our peers, curators and the community. One of the principal things about coordinating this exhibition is observing the interaction of the students as they consider the tremendous amount of work submitted and the significance of it in the art world. There is an acknowledgement of the varied approaches to creating work, and with that begins the understanding that they are a part of a comprehensive population of artists. Artists are visual leaders in all of our neighborhoods, and as such are willing to share their ideas. I see many new leaders in our Bradley University students, and I wait with excitement for them to make an impact on our world though their own work and service in the cultural community.

In the preparation of the slides for Dr. Collischan, the high level of engaging ideas struck my staff and me as we took notes on many of the artists who submitted their work for review. At the conclusion of the jurying process we sent the slides back with letters stating our appreciation and admiration of their efforts both artistically and professionally with the optimism of seeing their work at other opportunities offered by the Bradley University Galleries.

 

Pamela Ayres
Director of Galleries, Exhibitions and Collections for Bradley University Department of Art
Bradley University
February 2005