Masterstrokes

MASTERSTROKES: When our jury singled out JEAN PLOUGH for BEST ACRYLIC STROKES, it was about these four paintings in UNDER $100. For our audiences, it has been the continuation of a love affair with the artist’s work. It all began nearly three years ago when, at the request of long-time OFF THE WALL artist and lifelong friend Jeff Thomas, she submitted paintings to our online pandemic auction SAVE DIRTY FRANK’S, which benefited our staff. The rest is history, with the most important chapter being Jean’s turn in MARY LIZ MEMORIAL MASTERS EXHIBITION 17 during spring 2022. That tour de force was an unprecedented solo outing in the most significant slot on our calendar, which included a rotation of new work in the middle of the show — something we hadn’t done since Mary Liz herself ran our gallery. It was necessary because MLMME17 had nearly sold out in its first month, and admirers of these pieces should know...yes, Jean has sold out yet again!

“Figure”
10 x 10
acrylic on canvas
95.

“SPORT UTILITY”
10 x 14
acrylic on canvas
95.

“Out, Damn Spot”
9 x 12
acrylic on board
95.

“Crabs”
10 x 10
acrylic on board
95.

Peace on Earth, Good Will to You

No angels or seraphim are we; all the same, best tidings of the holiday to all of you...as we count down to the end of 2023 AND the final days of UNDER $100! It’s hard to believe we’re in our last week, which promises several posts to run down award winners and new artists, introduced to our community through our most popular juried show. PHIL SUMPTER, who visited recently from his home in Puerto Rico after taking our community by storm with his solo show last fall, ONCE AND FUTURE FRONTIERS, is neither new nor, in this case, an award-winner. However, Phil is among the most veteran and most beloved OFF THE WALL artists — not to mention the only one in here with multiple prints. They are signed giclée of this timely holiday dove. Two are still available for purchase at this writing. So come in tonight, when we open at 8:00, and buy yourself a Christmas present!

PHIL SUMPTER
“Peace Dove”
14 x 11 framed
10 x 8 print
signed giclée of
watercolor and ink original
95.
signed, framed prints available

It's a Sin

We’ll continue our ROLL OF HONOR rundown for UNDER $100 with the mixed-media assemblage our jury aptly named “Best Sin under $100.” As we noted at our Opening Reception, not only is WAYNE W. URFFER the longest tenured OFF THE WALL artist in this show, he is the only one of our 48 participants who can say that he was “discovered” by our founding director Mary Liz. That would have been back in 1997, when he joined the faculty of the now-defunct Art Institute of Philadelphia (in fact, all the Art Institutes are now closed) as a professor in sociology, ethics and comparative religions. Yes, our way-back machine is in high gear because today happens to be our Gallery’s 45TH BIRTHDAY. (Our first-ever show “Her Name Is Not Anonymous Anymore” opened on Friday, December 8, 1978!) Many thanks to the tremendously talented Mr. Urffer — who incidentally is a two-time Mary Liz Fellow — for taking us down memory lane, as well as down the winding path of yet another ethical/religious debate. Who gets to decide what constitutes a sin? What does that mean for the alleged perpetrator or for the religion/group passing judgment? As always, TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES!

WAYNE W. URFFER
“Sin”
19.5 x 21.5
mixed-media assemblage
95.