People’s Choice Award at BAYarts Juried Exhibition

Congratulations to Denise Ziganti, whose mixed media piece, “Piece Of My Art (Cheap Thrills),” has been awarded this year’s People’s Choice Award at the Juried Exhibition (bottom of picture).

Read Ziganti’s artist statement below for a look into her inspiration and creative process. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to see the show and cast a vote. The Juried Exhibition will remain on display through April 5.

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve been drawn to seek out abandoned objects in second hand stores, fascinated with their history and latent qualities that may lead to future success in an unrealized form. The fashion industry is the planet’s third largest polluter & I enjoy rescuing clothing that may otherwise end up in a landfill space.

Joplin’s hair is from a maxi dress found at the Goodwill, her bracelets are from various upholstery sample books, the pretty blue and white flowers used for her skin is a sheet I no longer wanted and was just the perfect color.

My ambition is to memorialize the musical heroes of the “27 Club” in fiber and thread. As members of the morbid club, these artists lost their lives tragically at age 27, but leave behind lasting legacies of musical influence that are relevant to this day. The demons Janis dealt with included drugs and alcohol and on Sunday evening, October 4, 1970, Joplin was found dead on the floor of her room at the Landmark Motor Hotel of a heroin overdose. A subtle incorporation of Janis’s demise is represented by a hypodermic needle as a bracelet on her wrist.”