1967 — San Francisco, the summer of love. We were at war, and people with flowers in their hair demonstrated for peace and understanding. In San Francisco in 2003, everything old is new again. This year’s theme for the ASA Art Exhibit, “Flower Power,” harkens back to a time when the world was in a similar situation. “Flower Power” provides the artist and writer with a universal theme and offers them a gateway to express themselves within various mediums.

If anyone is tempted to submit a work of art to the ASA exhibit, this is the year to do it. Works can be entered in the theme “Flower Power” or any of the following categories: painting (oil and acrylics, watercolor, tempera and gouache); photography (color and black-and-white and digital); graphic works on paper (drawings, prints and pastels); sculpture (including found works); crafts (including needlework, weaving, pottery, stained glass, jewelry, construction, metal work, etc.); literature (including short stories and poetry of 50 pages or less); and junior exhibitors age 18 or under. A new category this year is for “totally computer-generated artwork.” As we move ever-speedily into the computer age, this method of artistic expression is fast becoming a favorite mode of expression for a computer-savvy generation.

Once again, our literature judge is Shelley Fraser Mickle, who has provided us with wonderful critiques for the last two years. Ms. Mickle continues to publish, and her latest book, The Kids are Gone, the Dog is Depressed and Mom’s on the Loose, is a hilarious celebration of the joys, tribulations and downright fun of motherhood. The Turning Hour, her latest novel, is based on fact and current research and tells the story of a high school senior recovering from a suicide attempt. She is also a weekly syndicated columnist, enlightening us on recent and classically published works.

This year’s art judges are Alan Daniel and Monique Stern.

Mr. Daniel specializes in intaglio and received his M.F.A. from Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington, with additional postgraduate work at California State University, Long Beach, California, which resulted in his receiving the very first Printmaking Certificate Award in the Department of Art. His prints have been exhibited in the western United States, Hawaii and Europe, and his work is included in the permanent collections of the Colby College Museum of Art in Waterville, Maine, and the Museo Internacional de Electrografía in Cuenca, Spain. Alan produces work that is primarily figurative, self-referential and small of format.

Ms. Stern is the founder and president of ArtPeople, an international art placement agency that arranges exhibitions, reception rentals and sales for its member artists, galleries and publishers. She was formerly a curator with Meandra, the San Francisco Design Museum, and a volunteer with the site committee of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. She also was involved with Circle Galleries and publishers, which afforded her an in-depth understanding of the contemporary art market. Ms. Stern was educated in London, England, and has an academic background in both art and finance.

This year’s logo is reminiscent of the original “Flower Power” era. The logo will be featured on T-shirts at a cost of $10 each and will be a “must have” for everyone attending the convention. The logo also will be displayed on a large banner to guide attendees to the Art Exhibit area. Come follow it, and mellow out in the midst of a field of artwork and groovy literature that embodies “Flower Power.”

The exhibit will be open on Sunday, October 12, from noon until 5 p.m., and on Monday and Tuesday, October 13–14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each ASA member, spouse or child can enter up to six works per person. Please check the ASA Web site at <www2.asahq.org/web/miscfiles/
03exhibitgl.asp> for a complete list of rules and regulations governing the exhibit.

So grab your love beads and tie-dyed shirts and come to the “Happening” at the ASA 2003 Art Exhibit. We look forward to seeing you there.

Peace.

Jerry J. Berger, M.D., is Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.