River of Time, pen and ink, by Mike Bender

Also published Jan. 15, 2015, in Terre Haute Tribune-Star

River City Art Association and the Vigo County Public Library will showcase artwork by Mike Bender of Terre Haute throughout January in the library at Seventh and Poplar streets.

Bender has won several awards for his intricately detailed pen and ink drawings, most recently Second Place and the People’s Choice award last October at the sixth annual RCAA Juried Exhibition for his drawing titled “Thinker’s Kingdom.”

The Brazil, Indiana, native began exhibiting his drawings professionally in 2013 and has since received other honors and accolades.

His “River of Time” was chosen for the cover of the January-March 2013 issue of Arts Illiana’s Spectrum magazine highlighting the 2013 Year of the River celebration in Terre Haute. Also that year Bender received a Third Place award in a juried exhibition in Halcyon Contemporary Art Gallery in Terre Haute, a Merit Award at the Swope Art Museum 69th Annual Wabash Valley Juried Exhibition, and a Third Place in RCAA’s fifth annual Juried Exhibition.

On Jan. 1 Bender began his first term as president of RCAA. In February, Bender’s artwork will be featured in the RCAA Artist of the Month gallery in Sycamore Manor and in March, in the AOTM gallery in Harrison College.

For more information on RCAA and membership details visit rivercityart.org.