Five years ago, the Vero Beach Art Club presented Joan Earnhart, a mixed-media assemblage artist, and glass sculptor Sheila Vislocky with the job of creating an exhibition featuring 3-dimensional works by club members. This year’s event co-chairs, sculptor George Paxton and fabric artist Paulette Visceglia, were charged with revamping the show and taking it to new heights.

The result? A New Dimensions Fine Art 3-Dimensional Exhibit at the Marsh Island Clubhouse last weekend, which received rave reviews at its Friday night opening reception.

“I am so tickled with this show; I really am,” said Earnhart, who had two pieces in the show. “I think they have chosen some really fine pieces. I think it’s a step forward. We can see what’s going on in the rest of the country and what else is out there. I’m absolutely thrilled with it.”

There were two significant changes this year. While works in the prior shows were judged, this show was juried as well as judged. Additionally, it was open to artists from around the country.

Of the roughly 180 entries – artists could submit two – 84 works were selected by an independent panel that included the president of the National Sculpture Society and a dean at the Ringling School of Art and Design; the judge was independent as well. And, although a percentage of spots were reserved for VBAC members, their submissions were juried along with the rest.

“I believe it is the only purely three-dimensional show of its kind in Florida. It will be something transcending in terms of local art shows, and may further cement Vero’s position as a mecca for the arts on the east coast of Florida,” said Paxton. “Should this show develop as we optimistically hope, the benefits to the local artistic community and the Treasure Coast could be quite substantial.”

“The board had a vision that they wanted to bring a premier, desired show of 3-dimensional art and make it national; hopefully have it grow to international,” said Visceglia.

“We increased the prize money for this show because we wanted to make it national and we wanted to raise awareness of how good the 3-D art is here,” said Rosemary Polsky-Newman, current VBMA president. “One of the things that’s really nice is that the first-place winner is a club member, which is really quite wonderful. That’s a feather in our cap I think.”

“This show is outstanding,” said artist Ed Uttridge, whose wooden kinetic sculpture was chosen for the show. “There are sculptors from all over the country and the quality of this work is just top notch. It’s so wonderful; it’s inspirational.”

“I’m thrilled. I’m so proud of the Vero Beach Art Club,” said City Councilwoman Laura Moss.

Funds raised through donations to the weekend-long show help support the Art Club’s various outreach and educational efforts, including college scholarships to high school seniors and camp scholarships to the Vero Beach Museum of Art summer camp.