Juror Liz Henzey and Gallery Manager Nishita Jain with artists and guests during the Summer Invitational awards ceremony at the Bernice Kish Gallery.
The inaugural Summer Invitational at the Bernice Kish Gallery brings together a vibrant and varied collection of artwork inspired by summer. Through watercolor, oil, acrylic, encaustic, collage, fiber, mixed media, drawing, photography, monoprint, and other media, participating artists offer personal interpretations of the season and the memories, atmosphere, and emotions it can hold.
This year’s exhibition was juried by Liz Henzey, Director of the Columbia Art Center, who selected the recipients of the First, Second, and Third Place awards. In the reflections below, she shares what she looks for when evaluating artwork, how she approaches the jurying process, and why the three award-winning works rose to the top.
Looking Closely: The Jurying Process
For Liz, jurying an exhibition begins with careful observation.
“Serving as a juror for a gallery show is both an honor and a significant responsibility,” she said.
Her rubric considers adherence to the theme, originality and creativity, technical skill, presentation, and emotional impact. She walks through the exhibition several times, first taking in the show as a whole and then studying individual works from different distances and angles.
As she narrows her selections, she returns to the works that continue to hold her attention.
“In the end, my final evaluations come down to the artworks that best reflect the theme, convey emotion, and demonstrate artistic integrity.”
Liz noted that the high caliber of the work and its strong connection to the theme made the selection process especially challenging.
First Place: Rana Geralis, Red Canoe
Rana Geralis, Red Canoe
Rana Geralis received First Place for Red Canoe, an expressive oil painting created with a palette knife.
“Rana’s oil painting Red Canoe kept drawing me back,” Liz said.
She was struck by the painting’s bold strokes, rich red and pink tones, and the angled canoe resting among scattered pieces of wood and natural debris in the water.
“The scene immediately awakened my senses. I could smell the water, feel the day’s heat, and hear the gentle slap of water mingled with crickets, cicadas, and other sounds of nature.”
The work also prompted questions about the unseen story behind the image: who left the canoe there, and when might they return?
For Liz, the painting’s warmth, nostalgia, technical skill, and creative use of the palette knife elevated it to First Place.
The First Place award includes a complimentary exhibition at the Bernice Kish Gallery in 2028, along with comprehensive marketing support.
Second Place: Sherry Jankiewicz, Screen Porch Sunset
Sherry Jankiewicz, Screen Porch Sunset
Sherry Jankiewicz received Second Place for Screen Porch Sunset, a relief monoprint.
Liz was first drawn to the work’s bold color and symmetrical, grid-like composition. “On closer inspection, the view through the screen porch revealed greater depth.”
“The more I studied it, the more I loved the view through the screen porch to the sunset in the background,” she said.
The image transported her to a warm summer evening, looking outward as the setting sun glowed through the screen.
“The work beautifully captures the essence of summertime, along with the hope and optimism often evoked by sunsets.”
Liz also praised the technical skill, originality, and layered visual depth of the relief monoprint.
The Second Place award includes a $75 prize sponsored by the Wilde Lake Community Association.
Third Place: Stacy Lund Levy, Weightless
Stacy Lund Levy, Weightless
Stacy Lund Levy received Third Place for Weightless, a watercolor depicting a girl standing in a pool, submerged up to her eyes.
Liz was drawn to the painting’s dreamlike quality and the sense of stillness created by the figure’s immersion in water.
“It evokes the quiet stillness of being immersed in water: weightless, alone, and removed from the cares of daily life,” she said.
The painting reminded her of the calm she has always associated with swimming: the feeling of being briefly suspended in time and separated from the outside world.
Liz also noted Stacy’s handling of skin tones, facial features, brushwork, and color, along with the way the figure’s hair fans upward through the water.
“The luminous translucency of the water reflections is hypnotic.”
With only the subject’s eyes visible above the surface, the painting leaves space for mystery and interpretation.
“The viewer is left wondering what she sees, what she is guarding, and what thoughts lie beneath.”
The Third Place award includes a $50 prize sponsored by Liz Henzey.
Visit the Exhibition
The 2026 Summer Invitational remains on view at the Bernice Kish Gallery through August 10, 2026.
The gallery is open to visitors from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on business days. Because Slayton House is also used for public and private events, visitors coming as a group are asked to call ahead.
Visitors are invited to spend time with the full exhibition and experience the many ways participating artists have interpreted the colors, moods, memories, and atmosphere of summer.