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Suffolk Center’s new art exhibition, ‘Walk on the Wild Side,’ is an exotic and endangered wildlife art exhibition for adults and children to experience, with many paintings, carvings, and creations to explore.

The exhibition showcases 47 Artists and features naturalist photographer Bonnie Horne and painter Bobbi Gunn. The Juror, Betsy DiJulio, had the task of reviewing two galleries full of wildlife artwork. Here’s what the DiJulio said about the winning works of art:

1st Place: Artist Rick Seguso from Norfolk — Title: Northern Royal Albatrosses’ — Medium: Oil Painting

• ‘The sheer scale of this painting shows intense commitment, as does the attention to textures, especially the wide swath of grasses. It appealed to me not only because of its deep meaning related to the exhibition theme, as expressed in the artist’s statement, but also because of the unusual tension between the push and pull of abstract and realistic elements, like flatness and the illusion of depth or pattern vs. illusionist shading.’

2nd Place: Artist: Ruffin Alphin from Suffolk — Title: African Male Lion — Medium: Soft Pastels

• ‘This beautiful drawing of a lion is notable for its exquisite mark-making and pastel technique. Not only are the marks skillfully and sensitively layered and refined, but the color palette is so appealingly neutralized and nuanced.’ 

3rd Place: Artist: Barbara Kobylinska from Virginia Beach — Title: Snowy Owl — Medium: Mixed Media

• ‘This piece is worthy of recognition for its playful, innovative, and unexpected use of materials, as well as its craftsmanship. But equally noteworthy is its color palette. Many, if not most, artworks that are in the vein of folk or outsider art are brightly and boldly colored. This one is impressive for its soft and subtle organic color palette with just enough vibrancy in the terracotta circles around the eyes to create contrast and a focal point.’

The ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ exhibit is on view through May 18, 2024, at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10 AM – 4 PM. Admission is FREE & open to the public. Suffolk Center is located at: 110 W. Finney Ave., in Historic Downtown Suffolk, VA 23434. For more information please call 757.923.0003 or visit www.SuffolkCenter.org .