January 10, 2009 – Sacramento, Calif. – Showcasing both established and emerging artists in California, the Crocker Art Museum presents the 75th competitive exhibition The Crocker-Kingsley: California’s Biennial from January 10 to February 6, 2009. Due to construction at the Crocker, the exhibition will take place at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, located in Downtown Sacramento at 828 I Street. This exhibit will display 59 contemporary artworks in a wide array of media – painting, photography, sculpture, print and craft.

These works demonstrate the vibrant art scene throughout California. More than 500 artists submitted nearly 1,500 works for this competitive exhibit. The juror, nationally acclaimed artist Michael Bishop, selected 59 works from 54 artists which he felt were the “most fresh and original.” The Crocker-Kingsley presents an excellent opportunity to see various artistic developments in California within a diverse context of artists and mediums.

Among the 54 artists selected to display their works, five artists have received awards for the exceptional quality and excellence of their artworks. Agelio Batle, from San Francisco, was awarded Best of Show for his work of suspended graphite on wood panel, titled Black Growth. Kin Kwok, also from San Francisco, received First Place for his sculptural work of porcelain, pigments and resin, titled Orange Faces. Second Place was awarded to Sacramento artist Gioia Fonda for She Wears Perfume For Luck When She Plays Bingo, a work in acrylic, watercolor, gouache and ink. Geoff Tuttle of Sacramento was awarded Third Place for his mixed-media installation of wood, motor, electric parts, halogen bulbs and plexi, titled Projector. Lastly, San Jose artist Trevor Koch received Honorable Mention for his sculpture of low-fire ceramic, glaze, latex paint, flocking, found objects and hardware, titled Implement.

Visitors to the exhibition between January 10 and February 23 will have the opportunity to vote for the work they believe is deserving of the People’s Choice Award. The winner will be posted on the Crocker’s website on February 2.

On Saturday, January 24, Crocker-Kingsley juror Michael Bishop will talk about his studio and public art from 12-1:30 p.m. He will also discuss the Biennial from the juror’s perspective and what goes into judging an exhibition like the Crocker-Kingsley. This forum will take place in the East Meeting Room of the Sacramento Public Library located in Downtown Sacramento at 828 I Street. Reservations are required for this forum. To register, call (916) 808-1182 or email education@crockerartmuseum.org.

The Crocker Art Museum was founded in 1885 and continues as the leading art institution for the California Capital Region and Central Valley. The Museum offers a diverse spectrum of special exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections of California, European and Asian artworks. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday; 1st and 3rd Thursdays until 9 p.m. Free admission on Sundays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. is made possible through the support of Bank of America. For more information on exhibits and events call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.