Paintings, drawings, fiber arts, sculpture and ceramics, created in a variety of styles including realism, the abstract, geometrics, impressionism, fantasy, spirituality — and a dash of the supernatural— comprise the selections in River Arts' annual juried Black & White Exhibition running through Feb. 10. 

The 100 artists in this show make art through a variety of media — a wide variety of media. Pen and ink, watercolor, markers, acrylics, oils, layered gelatin photographic images, mixed media, charcoal, Chinese ink, pencil, etching and aquatint, wool, cotton, and clay among them.

This is a black & white show that is much more than “just” black and white. For example, let's take one of my favorites done by Jon Luoma of Alna called “East Branch – Penobscot River.” From the moment I saw it I heard The Who singing “I can see for miles and miles ... ” as my eyes carried me into the Chinese ink and watercolor of an early spring scene. The cross country skier's light outer apparel, the melting ice in the river, and the pockmarks in the snow on the rocks bordering the river tell me the sun's warmth is increasing. The bare birch trees and the lush pines behind them adds a nice bit of contrast, as do the light and dark areas of the mountain of pines and snow. All in all, Luoma's piece provides a satisfying journey for everyone taking the time to travel within it.

Anna Shaw's “Back to Maine” is an eerie, haunting work taking one on a journey of a different kind (think Rod Serling); the effect produced by layering multi-toned, multiple gelatin silver prints. She began working with the prints before she moved to Maine 17 years ago. A professional photographer, Shaw developed images in her own darkroom; now she uses the computer that she isn't as impressed with.

“The real print from a real photograph is like a well-oiled wood, you can see down in it; computer ones are just painted on the surface. Real prints have a special feeling about them,” said Shaw. “I had three enlargers and could layer up to four images — I got more and more carried away with that.”

Shaw uses photographs of family members, or friends' family members. In “Back to Maine” the images of the child and infant are both of the artist's son. The infant on the ground screams spectre in appearance and affect, particularly combined with the age of the house, the untended yard … nothing like a trip to the “Twilight Zone” at an art show, I always say!

Warren artist Naomi Aho's “Sanctuary XXXI” is a robin's nest constructed under the hood of an old vehicle, perhaps one built in 1931? Drawn in graphite pencil, each blade of grass distinctive as one weaves into the other. Talk about detail — there are even white “age spots” on some areas under the hood car parts. 

Leonard Meiselman, juror of the show, is a native New Yorker who has been Wiscasset-based for many years. His solo exhibitions and inclusion in group shows have been in NYC, London and Florence, among others. Meiselman was responsible for the creation of the 2014 exhibition “The Dilemma of Memory” at the Holocaust and Human Rights Center at the University of Maine at Augusta and his most recent exhibition was “A Protest Artist on Monhegan,” in Brunswick.

Meiselman said all 150-160 of the works were of “such high quality,” but there was only room for 100. What do all of the selected works have in common? What did he look for?

Integrity.

“I was struck by the integrity of the work,” shared Meiselman. “I was even challenged about what I meant by 'integrity.' I began picking up pieces saying look at the passion. The honesty. Piece after piece The artist really comes through.”

Artist Alice de Mauriac has two works in this show that she also had the task of hanging. Hanging a show is truly an art form in itself and de Mauriac had done a lovely job.

Said Shaw of the show's theme, “With black and white people get it down to what is basic and direct. They're just dealing with that authentic thing they are trying to say. And that's why I think this show is so exciting.”

Be sure to take in this not “just” black and white Black and White Show at River Arts, located at 241 U.S. Route 1 in Damariscotta,  Call for hours: 207-563-1507.