Art show opening draws crowd

By CYNTHIA AUKERMAN

News-Gazette reporter

More than 100 people packed the Arts Depot in Union City for the opening reception of the 54th annual spring art show sponsored by the Art Association of Randolph County. They were drawn by the art, by the chance to see the awarding of $2,875 in prize money, and perhaps, by the beautiful culinary creations of volunteers Chris and Kathy Moore and friends.

Each year the AARC hires a different judge from outside the area. This year's show was judged by Mike Major, who has a masters in Fine Art from New York's prestigious Pratt Institute. He said the 2008 AARC showed a lot of talent, as reflected in the record number of entries, 192.

Major added, "I am delighted with the depth of talent and commitment to high-quality fine art. It's a well-organized show and very pleasurable to judge."

For the third year in a row, Robert Farlow, Winchester, won best-of-show award, the Mildred Whitesel Memorial Fine Arts, for his oil painting of "Eldon and the Milkcow." His painting of "Amish Cattle Drive" also won the Indiana/Ohio Landscape Painting Award in the professional category.

Other awards of distinction went to:

€ the Teresa Martin Memorial Fine Arts Award for Best Emerging Arts, Bobby Manning, Ridgeville, "A Farmer's Rockpile"

€ the Beulah Wise Memorial Award for Best Still Live, Tracy Onoz, Greenville, Ohio, "Kitchen Still Life"

€ the Elizabeth Keesling Memorial Award for Best Realism, Sherry Whitesel, Muncie, "My Family"

€ Past Presidents' Award for Best Floral, Regina Whipp, Dayton, Ohio, "Prickly Pears in Bloom"

€ Current President's Award for Best Portrait, Tracy Onoz, "Dylan and Louisa

€ Indiana/Ohio Landscape Painting, Amateur, Margaret Hilt, Dayton, Ohio, "Riverscape Fountain"

€ Mayors' Award for Intrigue, Philip Huntwork, Winchester, "Untitled"

€ Randolph County Camera Club Award for Best Photo, Allen Conrad, Centerville, "Mystic River"

At the professional level, awards went to: Pat Rayman, Ohio City, Ohio, and Mary Ellen Bertram, Farmland, in black and white photography; Pat Clark, Eaton, Ohio, in color photography; Michael Davis, Anderson, digitally-enhanced photograph; Sharron Smith, Union, Ohio, and Juanita Angel, Dayton, in drawing/printmaking; Ann Barnell, Modoc, and Pat Clark in mixed media/collage; Sandy Cable-Barringer, Greenville, and Carol Strock Wasson, Union City, in oil/acrylic; Sally Hughes, Richmond, and Thelma Frame, Richmond, in pastels; James Weaver, Indianapolis, in water media; Roe Kienle, Piqua, and Jan Roestamadji, Arcanum, in three dimensional.

At the amateur level, awards went to: Wendy Smith and Kory Blankely, both of Union City, black and white photography; Brittany Smith, Union City, color photography; digitally-enhanced photography, Josh Ralls, Winchester; drawing/printmaking, Zack Fritts, Saratoga; Aleea Woodbury,Winchester, mixed media/collage, Tiffany Strobel, Greenville, and Christian Solomon, Winchester, oil/acrylic; pastel, Carolyn Woods, Union City; Rachel Hardacre-Cunningham, Henryville, water media; three dimensional, Jake Gibson, Farmland.

The Community Foundation of Randolph County underwrote the 54th annual art show, and many donors contributed to the award funds.

The art show is on display through April 6. It is open Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 3 p.m., except for Easter. Other hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays (except for Good Friday) and until 7 p.m. Thursdays.

€ Current President's Award for Best Portrait, Tracy Onoz, "Dylan and Louisa