Joan of Art 2022

The 2022 Joan of Art juried exhibition is on display September 3-28 at Ariodante Gallery in the New Orleans Arts District. 

The Contest

Our third annual juried Joan of Art exhibition in partnership with Ariodante Gallery and part of our ongoing commitment to continue to build our “army of artists”, one of the longtime favorite monikers of the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc. 

Judges Top Choices:

  • First Place (tie): ““Let Porte-Drapeau Plus Elevee” (translation: The Highest Standard Bearer) ” by Max Bernardi of New Orleans, Louisiana
  • First Place (tie): “Saint on Fire” by Margaret Watson of Metairie, Louisiana
  • Second Place: “Compiegne” by Alex Labry of Austin, Texas.
  • Third Place: “For You, Lord” by  Marina Reed of Gretna, Louisiana

Judges’ Selections:

  • “The Gift” by Sergio Alvarez of New Orleans, Louisiana
  • “The Championess’s Prayer” by Phillip Britt of Waggaman, Louisiana
  • “Untitled” by Marcella Carlin of Lacombe, Louisiana
  • “Lines” by Drew Matherne Meyer of San Diego, California
  • “Tribute to Joan of Arc” by Karen Miller of New Orleans, Louisiana
  • “Saint of Strength” by Kay Richoux of Lafayette, Louisiana  
  • “21st Century Joan” by Dona Simons of New Orleans, Louisiana
  • “Against the Darkness” by Carole Smith Turner of Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Top Artist Profiles

2022 Joan of Art Contest Judges’ Choices:

Max Bernardi’s acrylic and oil painting “Let Porte-Drapeau Plus Elevee” (translation: The Highest Standard Bearer) tied for First Place. Max Bernardi has worked as a freelance artist since the early 1990’s by painting murals, scenery for plays and exhibits, and Mardi Gras floats.  She began pursuing easel painting in earnest in recent years. She has been commissioned for many community and local business mural projects as well as private family portraits. Her work has been shown at The Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans Museum of Art, and Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

Margaret Watson’s digital art, “Picasso Joan” tied for First Place. Watson is a 15-year-old self-taught artist and rising junior at Mount Carmel Academy. She has been creating art for the past two years and selling some of her commissioned work on Etsy.

Second Place was awarded to photographer Alex Labry for “Compiegne”, a closeup photo of a Joan of Arc statue. Alex Labry was born and raised in New Orleans but is a longtime resident of Austin, TX. He holds a BA and an MFA in photography and is past president of the Texas Photographic Society.  In 2015 his book Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc was published, featuring his photographs of Joan of Arc statues from throughout France and the world. His photographs are included in the permanent collection of The Archdiocese of New Orleans, The Historic New Orleans Collection, and Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris.

Third place was given to Marina G. Reed for her watercolor “For You Lord”. Marina G. Reed is originally from Caracas, Venezuela, and has lived in the New Orleans area since 1965. She holds a BS degree from the University of New Orleans in Mechanical Engineering. She is now pursuing her dream to become an artist and is a member of the New Orleans Art Association, Westbank Art Guild, and Louisiana Watercolor Society. She has been commissioned by the Roosevelt Hotel, Friends of the Cabildo, 1850 House, Beauregard-Keyes House, and many private residences. Her originals, prints and cards sell throughout the city.

About the Joan of Art Juried Art Exhibition

The Joan of Arc Project, the organization that creates and produces the annual Joan of Arc Parade and Salon de Jeanne d’Arc, is again partnering with Ariodante Contemporary Art & Craft Gallery on Julia Street to celebrate and showcase local artists’ work depicting Joan of Arc. This is the third year of the annual contest.

Four local judges selected the contest winners, and a selection of additional artworks submitted were invited to become part of the Joan of Art Show, curated by Ariodante owner Laurie Reed.  All the selected artworks will be displayed together in the main gallery of Ariodante Contemporary Art & Craft Gallery at 535 Julia Street, New Orleans, from September 3-28, 2022.  An opening night party will be held from 5:00-8:00 p.m. on September 3 with special awards presented to artists selected as the Judges’ Choices. Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc leadership and local French community leaders will be present with other Francophiles, Joan of Arc fans, and krewe members. All are welcome to attend the gallery opening, and to view and purchase Joan of Art artwork throughout the month of September.

“This contest gives us an opportunity to meet new artists and to collaborate with a unique arts organization, The Joan of Arc Project. It is a win/win for all of us to build an annual show around this theme. The show continues to grow each year, and some of the artists who participate in this show end up selling other pieces at Ariodante year-round,” said Reed.

Contest judges included local artists Susan Gisleson, Jacques Soulas, Frances Swigart Steg, and longtime Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc member and New Orleans Museum of Art docent Jillian Richman.  Judges reviewed the submitted work, presented to them anonymously, and ranked them, resulting in a tie for First Place this year between accomplished mural artist Max Bernardi and emerging artist Margaret Watson.

Previous Joan of Art Selections