Minto Arts holds annual Juried Art Show
Event saw 50% increase in entrants over last year
HARRISTON – The Minto Arts Council recently held what it calls one of its “biggest events” of the year: the annual Juried Art Show.
Located on the third floor of the Harriston library, the opening reception was held on May 7, welcoming a gallery full of artists and viewers.
Minto Arts Council president Juliane von Westerholt told the crowd that this year broke all records for the gallery.
“We are most excited by 49 entrants, which is about a 50 per cent increase from last year,” she said.
Artists featured in the gallery are from Wellington, Perth and Grey counties, as well as the Region of Waterloo and Guelph.
“This show has also had an exceptional and strong presence of photography … so much so that we are happy to announce we will have a group photography show this November,” noted von Westerholt.
She added this year’s Juried Art Show includes new entrants making up about 50% of the show, while the other 50% are returning artists.
The arts council received a total of 135 entries, and von Westerholt explained the council was “encouraged” by the diverse forms of media.
“I think there is something here for everybody,” she said. “It is evident that art forms an important connection in our community. If you love art, nurture this passion, grow your talent and develop your skills.”
PHOTO 2: Pictured on the right is Tania K. Hoffman’s watercolour piece titled Old Man Look at me Now, which won the prize for Best Watercolour. PHOTO 3: First place was awarded to Jim Dillabough for his piece Ebony Jewel Wing.
The winners of this year’s show were as follows:
– Best Watercolour: Tania K. Hoffman (Old Man Look at me Now);
– Best Print: Cornelia Le Roux (Elephant);
– Best Mixed Media: Laura Dietrich (Tower Bridge);
– Best Sculpture: Laurel Pederson (Mlle. Renoir);
– Best Photography: Deborah Barrett (Reflections of Time);
– Emerging Artist Award: Xavier Dietrich (The Lioness);
– Third Prize: Gabriela Compos (Sunny Day-1);
– Second Prize: Mark Robinson (Grace Among the Ruins); and
– First Prize: Jim Dillabough (Ebony Jewel Wing).
Honourable mentions included Beryl Rosewarne, Rosemary Galloway, Donna Hirtle and Sharron Deacon-Begg.
Juror for the event was Diane Morgan. Originally from the UK but having spent most of her life living in Ontario, Morgan creates fine art oil paintings and drawings, according to the Minto Arts website.
She had learned drawing and painting at the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto and Boston, and is a former award winner herself.
Morgan explained to the crowd what she looks for when deciding the winners. These are things such as composition, values, perspective, colour, hue and chroma.
“But congratulations to everybody, because, honestly, this is a very nice show this year and there was such a wide variety of works,” said Morgan.
“It’s so nice to see such a large amount of everything.”
The show will be available for viewing until May 29 at the Minto Arts Gallery. For more information, visit mintoartscouncil.ca.
