Best of Show: David Gill, “The Old Engineer”

River City Art Association recognized the talent of 26 Indiana and Illinois artists during the 12th Annual RCAA Juried Exhibition Aug. 7 and 8 in the Fine Arts/Floriculture Building at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds in Terre Haute.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Downtown Terre Haute First Friday event sponsored by First Financial Bank was moved to the fairgrounds to allow larger space for social distancing.

Christy Brinkman-Robertson, professional artist and art curator at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, selected winners in five categories as well as Best of Show from more than 70 entries.

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Her comments include “Has the illusion of stained glass”; “Great handling of pencil and use of color”; “Beautiful carving details”; “Immediately calls up emotions”; “Love the unexpected use of fabric for a 3D effect”; “Great title, nice double picture effect with reflection in glass”; “Great technical use of paint”; and “Extra fine lines around banjo makes this piece look like it’s playing!”

Best of Show winnings, sponsored by First Financial Bank, went to David V. Gill of Clay City for his oil painting, “The Old Engineer.”

First-place medallions were awarded to Gill for his oil painting, “What Now?”; Sheila K. Ter Meer of Brazil for her photography entry on giclee canvas, “City in Pane”; RCAA co-founer Monty “Indiana” Jones of Terre Haute for “Ragtop” in colored pencil in the drawing category; Valerie Funk of Terre Haute for a mixed media entry in fabric and threads, “Dream Pray Scream”; and Edith Acton of Terre Haute for a fused glass wall hanging in the ceramics/glass category, “Always Spring.”

Second-place honors went to Acton for her fused glass entry, “Crossover”; Jane Lubbehusen of Terre Haute for her pastel drawing, “Church Meeting”; Elaine Waltz of Parke County for an oil painting, “Bainbridge Feed and Grain”; Alexandra McNichols-Torroledo of Terre Haute for “Weaving/Txhiicx Umnxi (Yuwe Ige),” a platinum palladium print entry in the photography category; and Todd Stokes of Dennison, Illinois for his mixed media entry, a 3D etched glass piece, “Banjo.”

3rd Place Drawing and Artists’ Choice: “Covered Bridge” by David Garrison

Third-place recognition went to Stokes for a photography entry, “Dennison Sunrise”; Mary Mayhew of Terre Haute for her oil painting, “All In It Together”; Bob DeFrance of Terre Haute for a mixed media piece, a wood carving titled “Sycamore Leaf, B”; Richard Acton of Terre Haute for a wall hanging in ceramics/clay, “Old Town”; and David Garrison of Spencer for his Conte crayon drawing, “Covered Bridge.”

Mike Bender Memorial Drawing Award

RCAA created a special award this year in the drawing category to be presented posthumously to its past president and award-winning pen and ink artist Mike Bender.

The Aug. 8 reception ended with Garrison receiving the Artists’ Choice Award for “Covered Bridge” and the People’s Choice award for “Old Mill,” another Conte crayon drawing.

Other participating artists at the closing reception/awards ceremony were Bryan Bromstrup, Brad Burson, Dian Der Ohanian Phillips, Lynne Dunnavant, Marcia Norman, Sandy Ridge-Fisher, Thomas Wright and Spencer Young. The exhibition also featured artwork by Hayley Bean, Lacey Lewis, Tna Martin and Don Turner.

For more exhibition highlights visit River City Art Association on Facebook. For membership details, contact past president Todd Stokes at 812-870-8252.