Juried by Samantha Cataldo
Curator of Contemporary Art, Worcester Art Museum
Cataldo stewards the presentation and interpretation of post-war and contemporary art at WAM and develops the Museum’s collection of global contemporary art. In addition to organizing exhibitions and long-term installations, Cataldo directs the Museum’s Southeast Asia Artists-in-Residence program and leads local art series including the Central Massachusetts Artist Initiative and the Sally Bishop Prize exhibition in partnership with ArtsWorcester. Recent projects include Fever Dreams of a Cool-Breathed Earth (2026); The More I Wonder, The More I Love by Ryan Adams and Rachel Gloria Adams (2025-ongoing); Correspondence: For Elizabeth Bishop by Crystalle Lacouture (2024–2026); and Faith Ringgold: Freedom to Say What I Please (2023–2024). Before joining WAM in 2022, Cataldo was Senior Curator of Contemporary Art at the Currier Museum of Art.
27th Annual Frances N. Roddy Exhibition
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Congratulations to the 27th Roddy Award Winners!
Pictured clockwise from left:
Executive Director Kate James
Michael Sprague
Juror Samantha Cataldo
Joan Butler
Laura Wallace
Stephen Wetzel
Victoria Elbroch
Sarah Bossert
The Frances N. Roddy Open Competition is an annual exhibition competition and is one of Concord Art’s most exciting and competitive shows. The competition is named for a long-standing friend and artist member of the art association, Frances Roddy, whose family and friends endowed a prize to be given annually in her name to the best entry in this all media show. “Frances enjoyed participating in watercolor workshops around the world and taking watercolor classes from her longtime Association friend, Marjorie Young. With Marge’s support, Frances became fascinated with color. She particularly enjoyed watching sunsets and often remarked, ‘If I painted the colors I see right now, no one would believe what I put down on paper.’ Nevertheless, she never hesitated to do so, and developed a deep fascination with color during her later artistic years. Frances truly loved the Concord Art Association. In particular, she cherished the friendships she made with fellow artists through the many classes and exhibits in which she participated. She was very proud of being one of the Association’s distinguished artists. In short, Frances found the people and dynamism of the Art Association invigorating. Concord Art was a central, and wonderful, aspect of her life in Concord.” – Gibbs Roddy, Son
This year’s exhibition is supported in part by the Mass Cultural Council. Thank you from all of us at Concord Art!
