PMA announces four prizes

The Portland Museum of Art Biennial yielded a big booty for the museum's collection, and a nice reward for Maine-born installation artist Wade Kavanaugh. At a reception for members on Tuesday night, the museum announced four prizes for artists in the exhibition. The Purchase Prizes were awarded to three artists: Mary Aro for her three paintings, "Trailer Home on Polka Valley Road," "Microwaves" and "End of the Burn"; Julianna Swaney for her three drawings "Wolfgirl," "Beebeard" and "Central Park, March 6, 1890"; and Sean Foley for his painting "Accuser." The Purchase Prizes are chosen by members of the museum's Collection Committee, and will become part of the permanent collection. The William E. and Helen E. Thon Jurors' Prize of $4,000 was awarded to Kavanaugh for his piece "Falsework," a cascading collection of gypsum-board bricks, which takes over nearly the entire first gallery of the exhibition. This year's biennial is the sixth exhibition in a series that highlights work by emerging and established artists associated with Maine. The works represent a range of media, with a heavy load of installation art. The biennial officially opens Wednesday and will be on view through June 7.