Awards
57th National Mother Lode Art Exhibition
This year's Juror/Judge, William Ishmael presented the exhibition's awards including the Best of Show, three Honorable Mention, three Awards of Merit, and three Awards of Excellence. Placerville Arts Association Members are eligible to receive a First, Second and Third Place award. The Mother Lode Show Awards also include three endowed awards: Anita Wolff Memorial Award sponsored her former student, Joyce Martin; Matt Sugarman Memorial Award sponsored by his wife and daughter; and Joyce Bahnsen Award sponsored by Joyce herself, the Juror for our 2023 Member Show at Harris Center. William Ishmael also chose to award an exceptional artist with a Juror's Award.
Best of Show "Emerging" by Thomas Ramey
Emerging, polished stainless steel abstract sculpture. Emerging was inspired by the ballet. During a performance, there was a moment when two dancers had pulled the energy inward to create an embrace. Captivating the audience. Then as if an explosion, the couple emerged, giving the power they had coupled during the embrace to the world in a spin that truly mesmerized and excited.
Juror Award "Focus" by Jeremy Wells
Graphite on Paper
Award of Excellence "WIDOW PARTY" by Valerie Birkhoff
Expressive Clay Sculpture
Award of Excellence "Ethereal Illusion" by Henry Parada
In 'Ethereal Illusion,' dynamic ribbons of red converge asymmetrically, creating a mesmerizing play of convexity and concavity. Varying-height wooden rods add depth, while a gradient blue background completes this work tridimensional pointillism.
Acrylic on wood supported a Gessobord
Award of Excellence "Wallflower" by Kerri Warner
Mixed Media Collage on wood panel, book pages, wrapping paper form subject, raised texture background with acrylic paint background
Award of Merit "Random Thoughts Triptych 123" by John Angell
The Random Thoughts Triptych addresses what passes through my mind as I am trying to get to sleep. It contains very personal images of family, places I've been and things I've seen that both soothe me and keep me awake.
Photo Encaustic, mixed media on wood panels
Award of Merit "The Way Home" by Heidi Murray
Five figures joined.
Mid range fired sculpture clay underglaze and glaze
Award of Merit "American Totem" by Cat ODonnell
Three large totems, selling as as one art piece, assembled from antique industrial pieces and parts in celebration of the ingenuity and work ethics of the American people. All three totems have assembled design on all four sides. It shows best when public can walk around all sides.
Antique wood beams and metal pieces
Honorable Mention "Mario/Stella" by Vanessa Colwell
The covic minded Muse Mario and Stella, the baby squirrel he rescued.
Oil and 24k Gold Leaf on Stretched Canvas
Honorable Mention "The Bubble Nebula" by Robin Hart
'The Bubble Nebula' is a unique artwork that was inspired by a photo from the Hubble Telescope. It is a bubble of light against the darkness of space and became even more so during the height of the Covid Pandemic when I created it.
Digital painting in Photoshop printed on fabric with free motion art quilting
Honorable Mention "Mooyani Flowers" by Michael White
Mixed Media Painting on Canvas with Paint (with pigments created from various flowers, plants, diesel soot, etc.)
Placerville Arts Association First Place "Crystalization II" by Kandi Thompson
Crystals still life.
Watercolor on paper
Placerville Arts Association Second Place "DREAM CATCHER" by Louise Vidaurri
This piece of art demands deep contemplation and appreciation. Its digital origins do not detract from its grandeur; in fact , it reaffirms the advancement of art and its ability to evolve with modern technology. DREAM CATCHER invites the viewer to take a step back from the chaos of the world, to immerse themselves in moment of introspection and wonder.
PRINTED ON BRUSHED ALUMINUM
Placerville Arts Association Third Place "Bent Paper 2" by Irene Yesley
Bent paper.
paper
Anita Wolff Award "Lupine Super Bloom, Granite Bay" by Marie Gonzales
We went to see the super bloom in Granite Bay two years ago.
Soft pastel on sanded paper
Joyce Bahnsen Award "Storm Brewing" by Sondra Olson
During a storm light has changing atmospheric qualities which prompt use of a more tonal pallette, reflecting the mood and mystery of storm conditions. I wanted to make visible the slightest undertones of light in the landscape as the sky darkened and the storm passed through.
Heavy Body Acrylic
Matt Sugarman Memorial Award "Soldier" by Janice Ramey
Watercolor portrait
Watercolor on yupo paper
