On Saturday, September 6, I traveled from northern Michigan to Philadelphia to attend the opening reception (and season kick off event) of New Hope Arts’ exhibition titled: “New Hope to New York” where my sculpture, Fish, was exhibited. When I arrived in Philadelphia, I met my youngest son, William, and we traveled together to the show. For that reason alone, I was ahead of the game.

What a great event it was and so well-conceived, installed and hosted by New Hope Arts through the efforts of Carol Cruickshank, Executive Director, and Christine Ramirez, Exhibition Specialist.

The evening was made even more special by the thoughtfulness of the show’s curator and juror, Ellen Bradshaw, President of Pleiades Gallery of Contemporary Art located in Chelsea section of New York City. In her selection of the ten Juror’s Choice awards (of which Fish was one) Ms. Bradshaw took pains to make special notes and write commentaries for each of the works selected on the basis of its “…worthiness for presentation to the New York art scene.”

I was compelled to read each of the other Juror’s Choice commentaries before reading the one she wrote for Fish, my sculpture. It was so refreshing to get a sense of Ms. Bradshaw’s viewpoint, sensitivities and critique. In one instance, I believe, she likened a painting to poetry. How precious is that?

Ms. Bradshaw was most generous in her assessment of Fish and for this I am very, very grateful. Thank you Ellen for the kind words.

And thanks to all for visiting. Best regards, Tom Martin

Click here to view the Juror’s Choice commentary on my work Fish.