Some 136 pieces have been selected for entry in the fifth annual CVG Show, a juried competition that opens Jan. 28 in Collective Visions Gallery in Bremerton.

To understand the quality of the work to be judged, consider this:
— Some 841 pieces in all art media were submitted for entry into the show by more than 265 artists.

— Competition was tough. Any one piece of art submitted had only a one in six chance of being juried into the show.

— Consider this: The pieces that didn’t get selected are still good works of art. Alan Newberg, coordinator of the show, knows all too well just how competitive this show is. He’s a muralist and watercolorist whose works have been exhibited in art centers, galleries and museums throughout the United States. He’s won numerous juried professional competitions, including several best of shows. But he’s only made it into the CVG Show three of the last five years.

— This show is truly a state competition, with works by artists from throughout the Evergreen State. (Thirty-eight Kitsap artists were juried into the show.)

— The exhibition juror, Kathleen Moles, is curator of exhibitions at the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner. She chooses the winners in three categories which recieve prize money totalling more than $6,000. The top prize will be the $1,500 “Mayor’s Award” for best of show.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony the evening of Jan. 28. Names of award winners will be posted when the show opens Jan. 29 at 1 p.m.

Collective Visions Gallery is an experienced major events venue; it was the first venue in Kitsap County to host Pearl Django, one of America’s most respected Hot Club-style jazz groups. With the art show and competition, CVG provides a great way to become familiar with Washington state’s experienced and emerging artists.

The gallery will host a series of gallery talks and events designed to enhance the public’s appreciation and understanding of the broad array of art and ideas represented in the exhibition.

A public reception will be held during the traditional “First Friday Art Walk” on Feb. 3, from 5-9 p.m. In a departure from prior years, the viewing public will be invited to cast votes for the $300 “People’s Choice Award” for the duration of the show. The Karin Kajita Jazz Quintet, which has performed at Bumbershoot and the Evergreen State Fair, performs Feb. 17. The People’s Choice Award will be presented in a special ceremony Feb. 24, 7 p.m., and will feature a gallery talk by Tom Jay, a nationally known sculptor and owner of The Lateral Line Bronze Casting Studio.

All events, except the concert, are free and open to the public.

CVG Show sponsors:  Kitsap Credit Union, Wet Apple Publishing Co., Kitsap County Arts Board, The Doctors Clinic, The City of Bremerton,  KPS Health Plans, Artists Edge Art Stores, Kitsap Eye Physicians,  Hudddleston McKenzie & Associates,  Soriano Brothers Investment Co.,  Printing Services Co. and West Sound Arts Council.

Collective Visions Gallery is located at 331 Pacific Ave., in downtown Bremerton, set amidst century-old buildings with cafes and galleries. Unique or prominent spots on this centerpiece of Bremerton’s urban revitalization include Bremerton Commons, The Jazz House, and what is believed to be the only Pyrex museum in the United States.

THE SCHEDULE
Exhibition opens: Jan. 28, 1 p.m.

Exhibition hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays; 1-5 p.m. on Sundays.

People’s Choice voting: Jan. 28 to Feb. 24.

Awards posted: Jan. 29, 1 p.m.

Gallery Walk and Public Reception: Feb. 3, 5-9 p.m.

Guest Artist Panel Discussion: Feb. 9, 7 p.m.

Moderator: Karsten Boysen, sculptor.

Panelists: Amy Burnett, artist and owner, Amy Burnett Gallery; Alan Newberg, artist and founding member of CVG; Greg Robinson, executive director of the Bainbridge Island Art Museum; Marie Weichman, professor of art, Olympic College.

Gallery concert: Feb. 17, 7 p.m., featuring the Karin Kajita Jazz Quintet.

Guest Lecture and People’s Choice Award ceremony: Feb. 24, 7 p.m., featuring Tom Jay, a nationally known sculptor and owner of The Lateral Line Bronze Casting Studio (www. thelateralline.com).

Exhibition closes: Feb. 25, 5 p.m.

THE ARTISTS
Kitsap County artists in the CVG Show.

Bainbridge Island
Gillian Bull
Marilynn Gottlieb
Harry Longstreet
Dinah Satterwhite
Kay Walsh
Richard Wilson

Bremerton
Susan Blackburn
Josh Fisher
Saundra Fleming
Paula Gill
Anna Hoey
John Mattson
Alan Newberg
Dena Scott
Janice Wagner
Brian Watson

Kingston
James Adams
Gerald Dowell
Rosemarie Dowell
Evy Halvorsen Holstein
Randena Walsh

Port Orchard
Karsten Boysen
David Fall
Wanda Garrity
Mary McInnis
Steve Sauer

Poulsbo
AK Anderson
Judy Guttormsen
Leigh Knowles
Karen Mittet
Cayenne Quinn
Paula Suter
Robin Weiss

Seabeck
Davina Parypa

Silverdale
Tom Janus
William Walcott

THE JUROR
Kathleen Moles has been curator of exhibitions at the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner since 2008.

Her job is to conceptualize, research, budget, design and execute up to eight exhibitions, annually, including publications.  Recent projects include “Elusive Elements,” “Wild/Life,”  “Tom Wilson Survey,” and “Fishtown and the Skagit River,” an exhibition with book.

Before joining MoNA, Moles was curator of art at the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham. Her exhibitions there included “American Abstraction: Works from the Washington Art Consortium,” “Site Specific: Northwest Installation Art,” and “John Franklin Koenig: Northwest Master, Home and Away,” exhibition and catalogue.

She was program coordinator for the Art Media Center, School of Art, University of Washington, from 1999–2006.  In addition, she has professional experience in marketing, as an independent art history researcher and as a gallery director.  Moles holds an M.A. in history of art from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, which included curatorial studies at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; and a B.A. in art history from Columbia University.