Fisher is an American designer who has survived AIDS and cancer to become a globally recognized artist, author, advocate, and social entrepreneur. She made history in 1992 when she addressed the Republican National Convention with a speech about advocacy in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The artist is founder of the Mary Fisher Clinical AIDS Research and Education (CARE) Fund at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

In her juror’s statement, Fisher states, “What I now know is that judging is no more comfortable for an artist than being judged. I approached the 537 pieces submitted for this exhibit as if each was being created in a shared studio with friends. We are, after all, colleagues, collaborators.”

“What, then, distinguished those I recommended from those I merely admired? Some criteria were fairly objective. There’s a mastery over process that shows in some of the works – the artist wasn’t just reaching for an idea, she had one. In the best of the best, use of color or black-and-white was spot-on; that, with shading, showed maturity not in years but in skill. The use of symmetry and texture was smart. Risks were taken but they were creative, not foolish. The technique surprised me, engaged me, made me want to call the artist and say, “Hi, I just saw this piece of yours and I’d like to know how you did this….”’

“Hardest for me to define but clearest for me to sense is the power of honesty that comes through a piece. It’s emotionally appealing. It tugs at me. I look away, then come back to look again. It’s what artist David Smith had in mind when he wrote, “Art is made from dreams and visions, and things not known, and least of all from things that can be said. It comes from the inside of who you are, when you face yourself.” In many of the pieces I was allowed to see, the work carried a truth that could not be said. All 45 chosen finalists – and many others as well – spoke silently of something true, sometimes achingly true.”

Fisher continues, “As an artist, judging the works of others is an immediate course in humility. I was humbled by this work. To all who submitted pieces, my thanks for coming into my studio and into my life. I’m honored to be an artist in the company of such splendid artists.”

The participating artists are: Lucy Aiken (Mechanicsville, VA), Erin Almazan (Dayton, OH), Mika Aono Boyd (Eugene, OR), Janet Badger (Houston, TX), Joshua Butler (Grand Junction, CO), Laurie Carnohan (Richmond, VA), Tyrus Clutter (Ocala, FL), Thomas Condon (Richmond, VA), Raymond DeCicco (Orlando, FL), Jean Dibble (South Bend, IN), Stephanie Dykes (Salt Lake City, UT), DebiLynn Fendley (Arkdelphia, AR), Jill Fitterer (Boise, ID), Jenny Freestone (Takoma Park, MD), Donald Furst (Wilmington, NC), Christopher Hickey (Avondale Estates, GA), Yuji Hiratsuka (Corvallis, OR), Zachary Kator (Brooklyn, NY), Lauren Kinney (Moorhead, MN), Mario Kiran (Odessa, TX), Padaric Kolander (Austin, TX), Brian Kreydatus (Williamsburg, VA), Alan Larkin (South Bend, IN), Diego Lasansky (Iowa City, IA), Tony Lazorko (Mesilla, NM), Mary Mead (Warner, NH), Jody Mitchell (Bloomington, IN), R. Bruce Muirhead (Clinton, NY), Akemi Ohira (Charlottesville, VA), Barry O’Keefe (Athens, OH), Bruce Pollock (Philadelphia, PA), Jeera Rattanangkoon (Ocean View, HI), Rashaun Rucker (Grosse Point Park, MI), Jill Schwartz (Coral Gables, FL), Neil Shigley (San Diego, CA), Edgar Soberon (New York, NY), Mike Stephens (Portland, TX), Lisa Sweet (Olympia, WA), Thomas Tartaglino (Palmyra, VA), Caroline Thorington (Bethesda, MD), Jono Vaughan (Tampa, FL), Chris Warot (Glendale, CO), Josh Winkler (Mankato, MN), Rina Yoon (Milwaukee, WI), and Angela Young (Cedarburg, WI).