Get realism

COURTESY PHOTO Bill Barnes, Dancing Swan, 30x30 oil Forty-five works in classical and contemporary realism styles by artists from around the world are on display this month as The Weatherburn Gallery at Bayfront Place hosts the fourth annual Juried Exhibition of the International Guild of Realism. The show is the largest of its kind to be held in the United States during 2009, according to Larry Charles, an IGOR charter member and coordinator of the Weatherburn event. It is the first IGOR juried exhibition to be held in Florida.

"For many of the artists from overseas, this is the first exposure of their work in the United States and an important step in their careers," Mr. Charles says.

Organizers received more than 200 entries from 14 countries, including Belarus, China, Finland, India, Romania and Thailand in addition to the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The exhibition features realism styles spanning trompe l'oeil, photorealism, surrealism and hyper-realism created in a range of media, including charcoal, pencil, watercolor, acrylic and egg tempera as well as oils.

COURTESY PHOTO Ning Lee, Peony & Mexican Vase, 18x24 oil The entries were evaluated by a panel of professionals and reduced to a short list of 45 finalists. The winners in 10 categories will be announced during the opening reception for the exhibition Tuesday evening, Feb. 17. All the works will then be available for purchase and will remain on display until March 2.

Gallery owner Roger Weatherburn, recently elected president of the newly formed Naples Fine Art Dealers Association, is delighted to have the IGOR show. "The work of IGOR members is truly exceptional," Mr. Weatherburn said, adding, "Part of NFADA's mission is to bring major events of this caliber to Naples."

The Weatherburn Gallery is at 452 Bayfront Place. For more information, call 263-8008 or visit www.weatherburn.com.