“IN OBSERVANCE OF THE DAY”: This photo by Richard DeFalco was one of 180 works accepted for Ellarslie Open 33, on display at the Trenton City museum from May 7-June 26. A record-breaking 240 artists submitted 472 works for consideration for this year’s event.

The Trenton Museum Society is proud to announce the works accepted for Ellarslie Open 33, on display at the Trenton City Museum from May 7 — June 26, 2016. The Ellarslie Open annual juried exhibit continues a long tradition of supporting area artists and bringing the finest in visual art to patrons and visitors. 

2016 broke all records for submissions and accepted pieces. 240 artists submitted 472 works for consideration by the juror, Ross Mitchell, an increase of 50 pieces from 2015. The reputation of the Ellarslie Open among artists and patrons alike has exceeded the expectations of curators Carol Hill and Carolyn Stetson. “Many of the nearly 60 artists new to the Ellarslie Open told us that acceptance into this show is highly coveted by area artists,” according to Stetson. “It’s very gratifying to realize how much artists around the region appreciate all our hard work,” agreed Hill. The juror selected 180 works for this year’s Ellarslie Open exhibition, another record. Artists from the greater Trenton-Princeton-Bucks County area were most represented, but artists from New York City to Philadelphia and Virginia submitted works.

Established at the Trenton City Museum in 1982 to encourage local artists to submit their work for judging and display, the Ellarslie Open requires that
submissions be created within the previous three years, assuring the presentation of recent works of distinction by currently active artists. Quality and currency are the twin hallmarks of works chosen for the Ellarslie Open, whether by established or emerging artists.

Juror Ross Lance Mitchell is the director of Barnes-de Mazia Education and Outreach Programs for the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. This is his second term of employment with the Barnes Foundation where he previously served as the gallery director. He is the former executive director of the Violette de Mazia foundation whose mission was to teach aesthetics and art appreciation. Mr. Mitchell started his career as a painter and studied at the Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pa. with Violette de Mazia. He has served as executive director of Historic Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia where he repositioned the cemetery as a heritage tourism destination. Mr. Mitchell was also Senior Associate for VIART Corporation, a Manhattan based art-consulting firm. He serves on the board of BuildaBridge, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to use art to heal children and communities in the contexts of crisis and poverty. His past volunteer service included serving as president of the Philadelphia Sketch Club, Commissioner on the Lower Merion (PA) Historical Commission, as well as vice president of the Lower Merion (PA) Historical Society.

In addition to the Gallery Talk on May 22, the curators have planned events of interest to artists and patrons. To see the complete list of events and participating artists, visit www.ellarslie.org. The Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion is open Tuesday — Saturday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Sunday, 1-4 p.m., and is closed Mondays and municipal holidays. The museum is located at Cadwalader Park in Trenton.

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