ST. MARYS — Winning entries for the 27th Annual Artfest at the St. Marys Community Public Library have been selected by a father and son team of judges: Dan Knepper, artist (danknepperart.weebly.com); and Jordan Knepper, Executive Director of the Piqua Arts Council (designsbythebaldguy.com).
The winners are as follows:
Best of Show, $200 sponsored by Donald Glaser, was awarded to Gary Hovey for his stainless steel flatware sculpture, Whoo’s Hungry.
The Friends Annual Award, $150 sponsored by the Friends of the Library, went to Julie Baltes for Life After Death (pencil).
First Place, $175 sponsored by Family Audiology Associates, Inc., was garnered by Debby Gregory for her acrylic painting, Blue Bird.
Second Place, $150 given by Wright State University – Lake Campus, was awarded to Jeff Doseck for his photograph, Roxy.
Third Place, $125 sponsored by Stolly Insurance went to Pat Rayman for On the Way to Defiance (watercolor).
The Alternative Media Award, $100 sponsored by Alex and Susan Pittman, went to Cathy Huber for Nature’s Tree; the Three Dimensional Award, $100 sponsored by R. J. Burke Insurance Agency – Robbie Burke was awarded to Jerry Knoch for Traffic Jam (glass); the Photography Award, $100 sponsored by Plus One Professionals went to Cathy Huber for Galway Dawn. The Ohio Theme Award, $100 sponsored by Ned E. and Doris S. Lawler Family went to Donald Nuss for Lock 13 (photograph); and the Painting Award, $100 given by Hudson Jewelers, was awarded to Rhonda Hager for Jerry and the Parrots (acrylic).
Honorable Mentions were awarded to: Julie Baltes for Hydrangea; Donelda Conrad for Chambered Nautilus; Jane Kippold for Chicago Lakeshore; Jeff Doseck for Wapa; Calen Fledderjohann for The First Ride; Rhonda Hager for Fishermans Warf; Jodi Knoch for Cafe Seating; Tom Lehman for No One Home; Michiko Matthews for Admiration; Keith Norman for Shroom; Melanie Norman for Days of Yore; Barbara Tompary for Peachy Keen.
Jordan Knepper offered the following comment about what he looked for in jurying and judging the show: “Jurying a show falls right back on the elements and principles of design. Line, shape, form, texture, space, rhythm, balance, proportion and movement play a large part in selecting pieces. Technical excellence and how the artist handles the medium is important, too. What really helps is when a single piece of artwork tells a story and takes me beyond the frame. I like getting lost in the story.”
His father, Dan Knepper, said, “It was my honor to jury and judge the St. Marys Summer Artfest, 2016. Jordan and I deliberated over the pieces for two hours, making some difficult choices. We looked for technical mastery, and good use of the elements of art and design, as well as creativity and ‘staying power,’ the ability of the image to hold your interest and stick with you even after you’ve left the show. Congratulations to all the artists!”
The public is invited to attend the Artist Reception and Awards Presentation at the St. Marys Community Public Library on Sunday, Aug. 7, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Exhibition dates for the art show are Monday to Friday, Aug. 8 to 12, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 14, from noon to 4 p.m. For more information about the St. Marys Summer Artfest and other library programs please visit the St. Marys Community Public Library, 140 S. Chestnut St., St. Marys, on the web at www.stmarys.lib.oh.us, or call (419) 394-7471.
