2023 judges

WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT OUR 59TH CGAF JURY PANEL

David Bjurstrom

David Bjurstrom makes his home in Oregon, where he has lived most of his life but for a just-completed 14-year period in Austin, Texas.

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Inspiration from travel David's drawings are heavily inspired by the places he travels each year for art shows. He covers some 25,000 miles crisscrossing the United States annually, as well as traveling to many international destinations. He has a particular love for Africa travel, where he recently had a very rewarding opportunity to teach drawing to a group of young people in a remote school in Zimbabwe with the Arts For Animals program.

Sharing his expertiseDavid has also shared his expertise in the art world in various ways. He has been a guest speaker at the University of Texas at Austin, discussing marketing oneself with graduate students in the Theatre & Dance department of the College of Fine Arts. Additionally, he has taken part in professional discussion panels with artists and art show directors, been a mentor to emerging artists new to the business, and given artist booth photography presentations at ZAPPlication and arts festival conferences around the United States.

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Miriam Carter

Miriam Carter has worked for over 30 years as a self-employed artist and enjoys a national reputation and market for her

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groundbreaking work with fiber. As a fourth-generation feltmaker, she has been committed to the growth and refinement of the craft of feltmaking and its place in the world of wearable art. In 2017, Miriam stepped into the role of Executive Director of the League of NH Craftsmen. Her work has included upgrading and strengthening the League to ensure the continued sustainability of this venerable organization. She has worked on behalf of the members of the 90-year-old organization to expand opportunities to show and sell their work. In her tenure, she has sought opportunities to inform the general public about the value and tradition of handmade craft.

Her greatest reward in this new position comes from daily advocating on behalf of her fellow craftsmen and supporting the field of craft.

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Carla M. Fox

Carla has been a jeweler & show artist for 30 years, participating in some of the top shows around the country and winning awards with her pieces

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in hollow-formed sterling plus dyed and hand-carved wood. She was director of a Portland, Oregon art guild’s show, helped produce an all-metals show, and was the long-time director of the Art in the High Desert Art Show, in Bend, Oregon. She’s been a juror for national shows as well as running the jury for Art in the High Desert. Each year Carla sent out jury feedback to artists who requested it. For many artists, this feedback package increased their acceptance rates in shows. She teaches metals workshops both in-person & online. Carla knows the world of show artists from both sides of the booth.

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Matthew Hatala

Matthew resides in Madison County, Georgia with his wife Beatriz Lilly who is a photographer and glass artist. "Watching my wife

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"Watching my wife succeed at her art inspired me to turn my love of woodworking in a different direction, woodturning as art," Matthew says. From his first crude turning in 1991, this hobby turned into a passion. Matthew has a keen sense of how to best bring out the most stunning natural patterns in the wood. The use of burls, natural rims, and hollow form turnings make a nice contrast to the more elegant lidded containers with horizontal handles and his more classical forms. "My work has a broad range so as to appeal to all people. I believe everyone should have a beautiful piece of wood to hold, to touch, and to appreciate. If you take the time to look, you will see the beauty in each piece of wood."

Matthew turns one-of-a-kind pieces. The woods come from around the world, some so rare and expensive they are sold by the pound. Others, just as exciting, can be found in your own backyard.

Matthew's work resides in 9 museums around the country, including the New York Museum of Art and Design and The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. His awards are too numerous to mention. He has won several at CGAF including Best in Show in 2007.

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Cindy Lerick

Cindy Lerick is the President of The Art of Events, which offers consulting services to a diverse array of events and festivals all over the world.

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Cindy has served as the Executive Director of ArtFest Fort Meyers (Florida), the Sausalito Art Festival (California), the Saint Louis (MO) Art

Fair's Executive Director/President from 2009-2017, and the Saint Louis Art Fair's Interim Executive Director in 2019. Previously, she held the position of Executive Director of the Uptown Association (MN) as well as the Uptown Art Fair (1996-2007). Additionally, from 2002 to 2004, she was a co-producer of the Main Street Fort Worth (TX) Arts Festival. Lerick was instrumental in designing the Saint Louis Art Fair Mock Jury program, the Saint Louis Emerging Artists as Entrepreneur program and the Student Art Aficionado program. In August 2022, Lerick received a Master of Art in Creative Events Management, through Falmouth University, located in the United Kingdom. Additionally, Lerick is an active member of the following organizations:

● International Festival & Events Association as a Board member 2005 to present, 2015 Board Chair, 2013 Foundation Board Chair and the Certified Festival & Event Executive Program Manager (CFEE) - inspiring hundreds of festival staff members worldwide.
● ZAPPlication consultant of the online application/jury platform.
● NRPA/IFEA Event Management School
● Convention Speaker.

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