Meet the Juror

Juror's pick

Click Here to hear how Juror, Ashlynn Browning thought through her picks
Click here

Jessica Bloch-Schulman
Jessica Bloch-Schulman is a ceramic artist living in Greensboro, NC. After completing a BFA at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, she spent more than 20 years working in digital media. She began experimenting with clay in 2021, beginning with functional ceramics and moving to slab-built figurative sculpture. Her work has been shaped by the isolation of a global pandemic, touching on themes of disconnection, memory and loss, but also in a literal sense; the evolution of virtual education during recent years has given her the chance to study with accomplished artists without leaving her home studio, where she works for hours once everyone is done with dinner.

I use the human form to tell stories, combining a language of gesture and expression with surreal elements to create three-dimensional narratives in clay. My pieces are psychological self-portraits, visual diaries and vessels for my experiences and emotions. Clay has been a constant companion in an uncertain time — working with it has anchored me to the present and helped measure the passing days. Shifting small amounts of material with my fingers and seeing a presence suddenly emerge is exhilarating. I want to create a sense of real identity; I know I’m getting somewhere once a face is developed enough that I apologize if I bump into it.

jbsclay.com

@jess_b_s

Lonnie Long
Lonnie Long is a visual artist living and working in Greensboro, NC. He is an enneagram 5, a Leo, INFP, a dog person, non-vegan, year of the pig, and does not have TicTok. If you have any other questions, you can always ask him. He is very approachable.

@lonnielongnc

Sam Wade

I have a profound interest in creating works that convey certain moods and ideas. Painting people allows me to convey these moods in a direct and relatable way.My process involves sketching out the gist of an idea and selecting a subject that best elicits the feeling that I am trying to capture. I often employ, heavy use of digital modulation to manipulate certain attributes or repeat certain figures.

homersamuelwade.com

instagram @hsamwade

People's Choice

Trina Olson

Trina Olson has created a body of artwork that is a culmination of her years of artistic exploration. Her large scale works combine elements of collage, handwritten script carved into impasto layers of metallic paint taken from literature and eastern philosophies, overlaid with images inspired by Medieval woodcuts. In her previous career, Trina owned a professional photography studio in downtown Greensboro that specialized in portrait and wedding photography. She received her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Painting from the University of Greensboro where she was inspired by archival documents, iconography and literature . Olson teaches photography and digital art at RJ Reynolds Fine Arts Magnet High School in Winston Salem. The mother of two grown children, Trina currently resides and paints in Greensboro, NC.

My current body of work, The Gilded Page, incorporates literature, Eastern philosophy, historical motifs, and vintage ephemera. The resulting collage is as much a blend of my own story as the medieval tales, noir, and Southern Gothic narratives which compel me. I have spent years scouring, sourcing, and studying archival documents, iconography, and literature to sustain my near obsession with channeling the past into my work. The concept of interconnectivity is a recurring theme. Although my past work has been influenced by archeological digs and scientific advancements, cave paintings and surrealistic imaginations, The Gilded Page is a mixture of medieval woodcut-inspirations with historical parallels. My work is heavily layered with acrylic paint and pastels, strong graphic elements and large bold text. The energy is distinctly feminine. Metallic paint-infused sirens splayed upon large canvasses with layered background verbiage. From Byzantine bombshells and mermaids to embattled saints, I relate to these women who emerge from darkness and misogyny and crown themselves queens of their own destiny. I am fully immersed in this world.

trinaolsonart.com

Honorable Mentions