Best of Show: Poplar, Sycamore, Falling by Todd Stokes
Fifty-seven entries by 22 Wabash Valley artists are featured in the River City Art Association Eighth Annual Juried Exhibition in First Financial Bank at Sixth Street and Wabash Avenue.
First Financial and FFB vice president of marketing Terry Tevlin hosted the Aug. 5 opening reception and awards ceremony with 18 of the 22 exhibiting artists attending the Downtown Terre Haute First Friday event. Harpist Amy Auset Rohn of Boone County, Indiana, provided entertainment.
Artwork will remain on display for viewing during regular banking hours through Aug. 26. Bank patrons are encouraged to participate in selecting the People’s Choice Award winner.
Juror Cynthia Phillips-Sabla, assistant professor of art at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, selected winners in four categories as well as Best of Show.
Best of Show winnings, sponsored by First Financial, went to RCAA vice president Todd Stokes of Terre Haute for his etched glass and photography mixed media entry, “Poplar, Sycamore Falling.”
First-place medallions were awarded to Todd Stokes for his 3-D etched glass and photography mixed media entry, “Tulip Poplar in Bloom”; RCAA founding member Ruthann Brady of Terre Haute for her resin painting, “Poppy Fusion”; former Vigo County art educator Don Turner of Terre Haute for his drawing/watercolor, “The Legend of Satchmo”; and Sheila K. Ter Meer of Brazil for her abstract digital photography, “Angry Peacock.”
Second-place honors went to Ruthann Brady for her encaustic/ink mixed media piece, “Siena”; Steve Harrold of West Terre Haute for his painting, “Strong Medicine”; RCAA president Mike Bender of Terre Haute for his graphite/pen/ink entry, “Birds and the Bees”; and Sheila Ter Meer for her digital photography, “The Woods Enchanted.”
Third-place recognition went to Valerie Funk of Terre Haute for her mixed media fabric and threads, “Someone I Once Knew, Self Portrait of an Artist”; RCAA founding member Monty “Indiana” Jones of Terre Haute for his acrylic painting, “Big Mouth”; Elise Spaid-Roberts of Terre Haute for her chalk/pastel drawing, “The Golden Hour”; and Debbie Goodin for her photography on giclee, “Heartland Sunrise.”
Phillips-Sabla also awarded an honorable mention to Janae Holland of Clinton for her mixed media entry, “Fruit Stand”; Eugene Thomas of Fairview Park for his oil on canvas, “Cascades”; Kathy Matlock of Sullivan for her pencil and ink drawing, “Zebra X2”; and Debbie Goodin for her photography on aluminum, “Falls of Spring” at McCormick’s Creek State Park.
Sheila Ter Meer received a special award for her dedicated service as a member and secretary for River City Art Association. Monty Jones and Todd Stokes presented her with the Marty Martinez Contributory Award, in memory of the late founding member and owner of the Raven Art Gallery in Terre Haute.
The reception ended with the Artists’ Choice Award presentation to RCAA treasurer Edith Acton of Terre Haute for her fused glass wall hanging, “Sunset.”
The exhibition also features ceramics/clay wall art by Richard Acton of Terre Haute, inlaid wood with acrylic by retired Lost Creek Elementary teacher Deborah Anderson of Carbon, photographs and painting by Deanna Swearingen of Brazil, and paintings by Judith Lynn Smith of Waveland, and Terre Haute artists Jenny Bai, Julia London-Meddles, Dian Der Ohanian Phillips and Michael R. Elmore.
RCAA meets the second Tuesday of each month in the Vigo County Public Library in Terre Haute. For more information visit RiverCityArt.org or contact RCAA vice president Todd Stokes at 812-232-0048.
RIVER CITY ART ASSOCIATION 