There were only a few overt, gender-specific entries to this year's Connecticut Women Artist's Open Juried Show. Among them an award winning psychological self-portrait on the topic of body politics entitled "Measuring Up" by artist Sherrie Parenteau. The subject matter for the other 200-something submissions ranged from still life with toys to abstract pigment immersion photographs with an emphasis on traditional painting. Overall technical skills were high but gripping content was lacking. Perhaps this is an indication that the playing field has leveled for women in the arts giving us more time to escape feminist politics and focus on personal narratives. The first, second, and thirds place awards were selected for excellence in imagination, content, technique, and complexity. Art that received honorable mention exhibited a heightened sensibility for materials, color, spatial relationships, or other formal elements. I was honored to serve as a juror for this long standing women's organization.

Donna Bruton, Juror