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Noe Todorovich

Yumi Hogan

Jereme Scott

Wendi Kaplan

With more than 900 paintings, drawings, photos, sculptures, poems and other works of art submitted to the Beacon’s Celebration of the Arts, the four jurors had their work cut out for them.

“It’s refreshing to see unique perspectives of how people view and document the world,” said Noe Todorovich, executive director of Exposed DC, who judged the more than 200 entries in the Photography category of the competition.

The judges selected first, second and third place winners, as well as honorable mentions. The names and locations of the artists were not provided to the jurors.

Entries in the Painting and Drawing division were judged by painter Yumi Hogan. Her artwork, created on traditional Hanji paper with Sumi ink and mixed media, has been featured in art shows and museums in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, South Korea and more, including an exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. In addition to her work as an artist, Hogan has juried numerous art exhibitions, including statewide and national competitions for the Maryland Federation of Art.

Hogan is also First Lady of Maryland, married to Gov. Larry Hogan. As First Lady, Hogan has made it a priority to share her love of the arts with Marylanders of all ages through arts education. Since November 2015, she has served as the Honorary Chair of the Council for Arts and Culture at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, working with the University and Baltimore City to promote the arts.

Following Gov. Hogan’s diagnosis with Stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2015, she has taught art classes to patients with cancer and people with disabilities, becoming a strong proponent of art therapy.

Entries in the Sculpture/ Jewelry/Pottery/Mixed Media division were judged by Jereme Scott, who has served as Mixed-Media Resident Artist at the Howard County Arts Council since 2009.

In 2014, Scott opened a small boutique/gallery called Cotton Duck Art & Apparel in Historic Ellicott City, where he showcases his artwork as well as his original graphics on clothing.

His artwork is contemporary, and dramatic, with much of his work focusing on the use of everyday symbols arranged to create dynamic, underlying narratives. By using bits of humor, social commentary, and dramatic lighting, his artworks tend to challenge the viewers’ sensibilities as well as hold their attention.

His artwork has been displayed regionally and nationally, and his clothing designs have been featured at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Scott also teaches several arts courses at Howard Community College.

Photography

Exposed DC, the nonprofit run by photography juror Todorovich, connects photographers of all levels with networking, mentoring and exhibition opportunities throughout the Washington, D.C. area.

Todorovich is also a freelance photographer whose work has been featured in the Washington Post, Washington Life, Northern Virginia Magazine, Huffington Post and Capitol Romance.

“In jurying the contest, I was looking for images with a strong composition, demonstration of skill in the art form, as well as images that capture or evoke emotion,” Todorovich said.

“Photographs that grab and keep your attention go beyond the technical aspects of photography, using the art form to also speak to us emotionally. I was seeking that sort of depth in the photos as well,” she added.

The Poetry division winners were selected by Wendi R. Kaplan, poet laureate of the City of Alexandria, Va., who uses her post to bring poetry to people of all ages. [See “Making sense of the world,” the cover story of the April 2018 Greater Washington Beacon]. She enjoys teaching others to express themselves in writing, knowing that poetry gives people a voice, even when they feel they have none.

Kaplan is also a clinical social worker and certified poetry therapist who has worked in community services. She has her own psychotherapy practice in the area. Kaplan also writes “Poetry Musings,” a quarterly column for the newsletter of the Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work.

She has taught at American University and at George Washington University School of Medicine.

“Poetry provides us perspective and possibility. It allows us to explore all of life from so many windows and doors, and opens us up to depth and breadth of life and living. It gives words so that voice can emerge and be heard,” she said.