VVAA Awards Presented At August Exhibit Reception

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

The Virgin Valley Artist Association gave out its monthly exhibit/competitions awards on Thursday evening, Aug. 19 at a wine and cheese reception at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery.

The August exhibit theme was “The Nature of Things.” This month’s sponsor was Liz Etie, an artist herself and member of the VVAA. Etie’s choice for the Sponsors Award went to a watercolor by Jackie Long entitled “Splash.”

“This painting is just so beautiful,” Etie said of her Sponsor’s Choice. “It is so cool the way colorful water Splash drains down.”

Best of Show was a photograph entitled “Pelican” by Walt Alder.
First Place went to Susan McPherson for a photograph entitled “The Human Effects”
Second Place and the Mayors Choice award went to a watercolor called “Pecking Order” by Cheryle Sachse.

Sachse said that this work was painted from a photograph that her son had made. The realistic portrayal had many viewers thinking it was a photograph.
“I like to use deep colors and get depth to my painting,” Sachse said.

The third place award went to Randy Bauman for a photograph of “Floating Petals”
The People Choice Award and an Honorable Mention distinction went to Charyn McDonnell for the photograph of “Teton Reflections over a Beaver Dam.”

Other Honorable Mention distinctions went to Irene Bandringa for “Warped Wood and Sandstone,” Liz Etie for her pencil drawing of “Family,” Diane Alexanian for her Mixed Media “Road Trip/Four Corners.”

This last work by Alexanian appears to be made of four auto license plates. But the artist explained it was actually done with clay. She said the meeting of the four states inspired her. The feather that is attached represents the native American history of the Four Corners area.

VVAA President Christine Picior said that it was unusual to have so many photographs be recognized by the judges. The Judge commented that there were so many good photographs this month, she said.

The upcoming September exhibition will be the VVAA Invitational. It will be sponsored by Barbara Ellestad and Linda Faas.