Kari Rajkumar, Best of Show, Autumn Walk. Photo courtesy of Union Health
Best of Show update: Kari Rajkumar of Paris, Ill, is the recipient of the Best of Show award as voted on by Union Health employees for Union Hospital’s 125th Anniversary “Celebration of Care” Juried Art Exhibition Nov. 12-21. The exhibit, in collaboration with River City Art Association, included works from nearly 30 Wabash Valley artists with more than 60 pieces entered in the show. Special thanks goes to exhibition judge, Kathy Gotshall, for selecting First, Second and Third Place winners in five categories.
Kari Rajkumar‘s prize-winning painting, “Autumn Walk,” is only her third official oil portrait since launching into the medium in early 2014. At 5ft x 3ft, it is also her largest painting to date. Kari’s work has received top honors in regional, national and international competitions and has been included in such notable publications as The Artist Magazine, Southwest Art Magazine, and Pastel Journal Magazine. More of her work can be viewed on her website (www.karirajkumar.com).
Morning Light by Jo Rich-Vadas
Eight River City Art Association members are among the 13 Wabash Valley artists to have award-winning works in the “Celebration of Care” juried art exhibition Nov. 12-21 at Union Hospital in Terre Haute.
Union Health, in collaboration with RCAA, hosted the exhibition as part of Union Hospital’s 125th anniversary celebration.
Awards were presented Nov. 14 by juror Kathy Gotshall, assistant professor of art therapy at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Gotshall selected artwork that best interpret the serene, uplifting and inspirational theme for the exhibition.
Oconaluftee (By the River) by Debbie Goodin
First Place honors went to Jo Rich-Vadas of Marshall, Ill., for her painting “Morning Light” and to Debbie Goodin of Terre Haute for her photography entry, “Oconaluftee (By the River)”.
“A Longing Fulfilled is a Tree of Life by Kyma Drake
Kyma Drake of Shelburn received First and Second Place in mixed media for her entries “A Longing Fulfilled is a Tree of Life” and “The Fruit of the Righteous is a Tree of Life” respectively.
Second Place in the drawing category went to J. Melanie Cloutier of Terre Haute for her entry, “New Friends.”
Sheila Ter Meer of Brazil, Indiana, received a Second Place ribbon for her photography entry, “Dr. Scully,” a personal tribute to the late Dr. William Scully, a beloved Terre Haute pediatrician and former Chief of Medical and Dental Staff at Union Hospital. Sheila also was awarded a Third Place for her digital art abstraction, “Jazz.”
Third Place honors also went to Donald Turner of Terre Haute for his drawing, “Baptism on the Wabash”; Richard Acton of Terre Haute for his ceramic wall hanging, “Nature”; and Ruthann Brady of Terre Haute for her mixed media piece, “Kinship.”
Nonmembers also winners in the exhibition include Marcia Norman, First and Second Place in ceramics/glass for her entries “Serenity” and “The Cross” respectively; Michaela Gomez, First Place in drawing for “Pelusa”; Mary Mayhew, Second Place in painting, for “Dancing For Joy”; and Laura Mason, Third Place in painting, for “Sympathy.”
Other RCAA artists with works in the exhibition include Edith Acton, Marvetta Bee, Rod Funk, Valerie Funk, Steve Harrold, Monty “Indiana” Jones, Marty Jones, Dian Der Ohanian Phillips, Elise Spaid-Roberts, Todd Stokes, Eugene Thomas and Spencer Young.
Other participating artists include Alila Buchanan and George Pfister.
RIVER CITY ART ASSOCIATION 
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