The Yadkin Arts Council’s Third Annual Juried Show “Eye of the Artist” brought in a record-breaking crowd for its opening night on July 12.
This year’s show drew interest from over 100 North Carolina artists. Jurors narrowed the exhibit down to 70 2D and 3D pieces ranging from works in oil, pastel, water color, mixed media, acrylic, wood, glass, steel and more.
This year’s exhibit was judged by Page H. Laughlin, a painter and professor of art at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. Laughlin has exhibited in galleries located in cities throughout the United States and was awarded a North Carolina Art Council Fellowship, and she was a nominee for a USA Artist Fellowship.
Donna Willingham presented awards totaling $3,000 at the opening receptions and awards ceremony.
Third place was awarded to Jim Taub of Boone, NC for his pen and ink piece titled “Labryinth.” Laughlin said that Taub’s piece was “quirky, imaginative and intense.” Taub took home a $500 prize.
Second place was awarded to Eris Ball of Elkin, NC for her installation “Deconstructed Bridge.”
“This is a thoughtful piece and very brave,” Laughlin said of the piece. “The artist has made smart decisions. The bleached bone effect is captured well.”
Ball took home a $1,000 prize.
First place was awarded to Karen Parker of Statesville, NC for her oil painting “Bizar Glad in Speckled Vase.”
“A lot of restraint is apparent in this piece,” Laughlin said. “The artist demonstrates an evocative use of space and creates a mood that is more than just a picture. Overall the painting is more about restraint and space than about the flower.”
Parker took home a $1,500 prize.
This year the Yadkin Arts Council included a “People’s Choice Award” for the crowd favorite on opening night. All in attendance at the gallery reception were given the opportunity to cast a ballot for their favorite piece in the show.
Nelson Brookshire of Lenoir, NC won for his rolled paper piece titled “Daffodil.” Brookshire took home a $100 prize.
Laughlin chose five honorable mentions in this year’s show. Honorable mention recipients were given a season pass for the Yadkin Arts Council’s fall/winter theater season.
The following were honorable mention recipients:
Arlene Daniel of Winston-Salem, NC for her oil piece “Sunlight Serenade.”
Dan Smith of Hickory, NC for his watercolor piece “Marina.”
Samantha Woitovich of Greenville, NC for her steel sculpture “Shifting Facet.”
Sandra Cieszewski of Winston-Salem, NC for her watercolor “Sea Life.”
Ginger Gehres of Angier, NC for her scratchboard piece “Coda Binturong.”
In response to the popularity of the “People’s Choice Award” the Yadkin Arts Council will also include a “Viewer’s Choice Award” allowing anyone who comes to view the gallery to vote on their favorite piece.
“Eye of the Artist” will be on display in the Welborn Gallery until August 24. The gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is located at 226 E. Main Street in Yadkinville, NC.
For more information about the Yadkin Arts Council or the juried show visit www.yadkinarts.org.
