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Link to the online catalog: JOY Catalog on ISSUU

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JURORS’ STATEMENTS

Karen M. Gutfreund

Curator, Karen M. Gutfreund Art



A favorite painter of mine, Gerhard Richter, once wrote, “Art is the highest form of hope.” The power of art doesn’t just show us beauty—it also inspires contemplation and creates conversation, reigniting our imagination, and reminds us that there is still a future worth believing in. 



Joy is a fundamental aspect of the human experience, and joyful art reflects this part of our spirit. It reminds us of our capacity for happiness, hope, and celebration. By expressing joy through art, we preserve and promote the importance of these feelings in both personal and societal contexts. By reflecting shared experiences of joy, it creates a sense of connection and belonging, reminding us of the common joys that unite humanity.



I was so pleased to be asked to co-jury this exhibition. I asked that  the theme focus on beauty and positivity—especially since this show will be concurrent with the 2024 elections. JOY is the antithesis of current world events (wars, environment and politics) and acts as a counterbalance to all the negative media. In a world where inflammatory news and overwhelming, bleak content are most often the focus, joyful art serves as an antidote. Studying all the work and working on this exhibition has been a balm for my soul and a source of positive energy, offering an escape and renewed sense of optimism.



I was delighted by the quality of work that was submitted for this exhibition. The works evoke feelings of happiness, delight, positivity, lightheartedness, and blissful nostalgia. I believe the show will elate the viewers—sparking feelings of serenity, silliness, harmony, laughter and wonder. These works tap into universal themes of love, play, beauty, and connection—with the aim to make people feel good. We need this now more than ever.

Joyful art doesn’t always have to be complex or even representational—sometimes it’s the simplicity of an artwork that makes it joyful, through color, movement, texture and form, whether in serene landscapes, playful figures, art-objects or abstraction.



I believe art can shift our focus towards gratitude by highlighting life’s simple pleasures. It invites us to pause and reflect on the good things in life, promoting mindfulness and an awareness of beauty in the everyday that we might otherwise overlook. Art creates a sense of shared emotional connection through visual expression. Joyful art is important because it provides emotional healing, encourages creativity, and serves as a celebration of the beauty and positivity in life. It adds balance to the human experience, reminding us that joy is an essential part of well-being—and has the power to bring it to the forefront of our lives as a reflection of the human spirit. 



I am grateful to the artists for sharing their work with us and for partnering with Priscilla Otani and Arc Gallery & Studios for this wonderful opportunity to bring our curatorial vision to life in JOY.



Priscilla Otani

Principal, Arc Gallery & Studios



What a pleasure to view so many manifestations of joy! When it comes to defining this word, the phrase “a feeling of great delight and happiness” was most often repeated and I used it as my guiding principle. In viewing each work, I asked the question, how does this work embody joy to the artist and viewer? How is the joyful emotion expressed?  When I was uncertain about a work, I searched for clues in the title and statement specific to the piece. My picks include people interacting delightfully with water, whether a joyful plunge into a pool, floating en masse in inner tubes or jumping into a lake; people engaged in joyful motion such as riding bicycles at night, dancing, roller-skating, or playing games in a city street; relaxing moments such as a woman getting a suntan in the backyard, a woman sitting in a rocking chair, or posing coquettishly on a chair; abstract works vibrating with motion and bright colors; moments of childhood depicted by balloons, oreos and ice cream cones; magical moments at twilight; expressions of love in all its manifestations; and symbols, such as hands clapping or a clutch of red balloons floating free against a grey Bosphorus in Turkey. I am reminded that even in these dark times, there are still many many moments of joy that fill our hearts with happiness and hope for the future.   


GALLERY ARTISTS

Salma Arastu, Tara Austin, Jennifer Banzaca, Lorraine Bonner, Payton Brown, Jade Butay, Marie Cameron, Jaime Coffey, Olivia Cohen, Molly Corbett, Sherri Cornett, Sena Clara Creston, Jonathan Crow, Janey Fritsche, Jonathan Gaber, Indigene Theresa Gaskin, Carla Goldberg, Rinat Goren, Laura Gurton, Sarah Guthrie, Harper Hay, Denise Howard, Ian James, Shannon Knowlton, Ann Kogen, Mijin Kwon, Beth Lakamp, Krisztina Lazar, Suki Liebow, Marion Maenner, Chandrika Marla, Kristine Mays, Sheila Metcalf Tobin, Maidy Morhous, Laura Morrison, Stephen Namara, Nancy Natow-Cassidy, Katrina Niswander, Lucky Rapp, Ashley Ravidas, Jenny Reinhardt, Deborah K. Rich, Paula Saslow, Danielle Satinover, Debra Shapiro, Lakshmi Sunder, Renée Switkes, Linda Tapscott, Kathleen Truax, Rachel Ungerer, Victoria Veedell, Kay Weber, Raf Willems, Chris Wubbena, and Umit Yalcinalp 



ONLINE ARTISTS

Wendy Ackrell, Dan Alcaxzar, Jose Agustin Andreu, Delbar Azari, Brandin Barón, Pablo Tapay Bautista, Anne Bedrick, Katy Bishop, Harry Boone, Vibrata Chromodoris, Emilie Dashe, Licita Fernandez, Harriet Garfinkle, Kristen Guest, Marc Ellen Hamel, Scott Idleman, James Jaxxa, Koon Hwee Kan, Sophia Lee, Michelle Mariano, DAN McGarrah, Mary-Jo Okawa, Tona Pearce-Myers, Sawyer Rose, Karla Rossi, Sally Kristina Smith, Tracy Swedlow, and Linda True