Juror's Notes from "New Works," 2003 juried exhibition of Artspace artists' work, for which Gomez won the Best in Show award. Dr. Sarah Schroth, curator, Duke University Museum of Art.

As way of introduction, I should say that the high quality and limitations of space made this show especially hard to jury. For the artists that did not make it in, remember: it is always a question of the taste of the juror, and taste is as individual as it is arbitrary. Mostly I thought, during the three hours I spent with your artworks, of the courage each of you have to do what you do--all members and affiliates are doing strong work that demands respect.

The following are first thoughts I had while choosing works for the show, based in memory, as this accident has separated my notes from me. Take what you like and leave the rest, as they say in another group setting. As I did not look at names when I judged, I will refer to the work rather than the artist.

Best of Show is awarded to the work on paper that combines old master painting skill [pigment mixture, variety of surface, emotive brushwork] with modernist draughtsmanship, which bleeds onto the second supporting sheet left uncolored. The strength in my opinion is the duality of media in combination with a complex narrative. A story is being told on many levels here, a world of personal, interior mythology executed by a skillful artist.

A daring work; it is the real thing.