Whiteside wins Juror's Choice Award at "Stroke of Genius" show

The Maryland Federation of Art's fourth annual Strokes of Genius juried painting exhibition at the Circle Gallery features 53 artists, including Shaun C. Whiteside (CNU '07/RU '11), from 22 different states. The exhibition's opening reception was on Oct. 31, at which Whiteside was awarded one of three Juror's Choice Awards for his painting “Soul Ache II.”

Shaun C. Whiteside works with ink and acrylic paint in a style most influenced by Abstract Expressionism, with an emphasis on the metaphysical and emotional realm rather than on optical reality. Using several layers of thin glazes, partially washed away, he creates oppressively dense atmospheric environments, with biomorphic, liquid shapes within them.

Whiteside graduated with a B.A. from Christopher Newport University's art department in 2007, and received an M.F.A. from Radford University in 2011, where he studied under Dr. Halide Salam. He is currently an adjunct instructor at Radford University.

Whiteside's work has been awarded 'Best in Show' at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art's "New Waves 2013" exhibition at the Jacksonville Center for the Arts' “2013 Juried Show,” and at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center's "2010 Biennial Exhibition." He was also a recipient of a 2011-2012 VMFA Fellowship grant.

Whiteside has exhibited from California to New York, as well as in Japan, and his works are in several private collections. Mr. Whiteside's works and upcoming exhibits can be seen on his Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/shaun.whiteside

MFA (Maryland Federation of Art) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) art organization established in 1963, and their Circle Gallery is consistently voted Best Gallery in Annapolis. MFA invited all artists residing in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico to enter its all-painting competition. 149 artists representing 22 states, and District of Columbia submitted 493 artworks, and 75 artworks by 53 artists were accepted. The exhibit was juried by Kim Lordier, a Signature member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters, the Pastel Society of America, a Distinguished Pastelist in the Pastel Society of the West Coast, and artist Member of the California Art Club.

The MFA Circle Gallery is located at 18 State Circle, Annapolis, Maryland, 21401, and is open daily from 11 a.m–5 p.m. They can be contacted at 1-800-735-2258. The selected works are on exhibit at MFA’s Circle Gallery from Oct. 31 to Nov. 22, 2014, and on their website at www.mdfedart.org.