The Fine Arts Center's Hampden Gallery is on a mission: to exhibit the work of emerging artists, artists who are at the beginning of their careers.

This is nothing new, however. Since the gallery first opened its doors, it has been seeking out artists using new processes, employing innovative use of materials, as well as artists tapping into the issues of the day. In March, Hampden Gallery will feature its first juried group show of emerging artists.

Everyone is interested in who the next important and influential artist will be; we're conditioned by popular culture to want to know who is the latest and greatest. No one can guarantee that the artists picked for New England/New York/New Talent 2001 will become the visual artists of greatest importance in the new millennium, Hampden Gallery is excited to participate in the process of identifying who they may be. The show's juror, Jeanette Ingberman said, "It is a great responsibility to be in the position that has the opportunity and the power to present and expose new work to the public and influence the contemporary dialogue on art and culture -- It's like trees and fruits. The fruits are beginning to grow and you have to choose on the basis of an unknown mature fruit, using all your experience, knowledge and above all intuition, believing that your choice will ripen and be good to eat."

Artists participating in this year's event: Sasha Appleton, Geoffrey Beadle, Meryl Blinder, Arvin Jason A. Flores, Steven Harper, Karl Hluska, Wade Kramm, Lynn Imperatore, Zachary Keating, Martin Kruck, Eugenie Lewaslki Berg, Jennifer Liston Munson, Megan E. McNaught, Sarah Malakoff, Thomas Matsude, Soon Hwa Oh, Maria Luiza Riberio, Mary Sherman, Collin Mura Smith, and Emily Stork. Hampden Gallery anticipates that New England/New York/New Talent 2001 is the first of what is anticipated to be a biannual showcase of the most vital new talent in the region.

New England/New York/New Talents runs March 4 -25 at Hampden Gallery, with an opening reception March 4 from 2-5pm. Juror is Jeanette Ingberman. For more information on this and other Hampden Gallery events, call 545-3394.

Art: Geoffrey Beadle, "Studio #4: View #2"