VVAA Holds First Awards Reception For 2022

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

The Virgin Valley Artist Association held its first awards reception for 2022 on Thursday evening, Jan. 20. Besides the normal themed competition awards the Assocation also announced the winner of the first ever Mesquite Nevada poster contest.
The gallery was quite crowded with competing artist and viewers of the exhibition.

This month-theme exhibition competition, Fairies & Dragons & Myths, activated the creative juices within the artists.

Rachelle Knight was artist of the night, winning both the Mayor’s Choice Award and the Best of Show with her portrayal of Domoval, a European House spirit or gnome. As the Myth reveals, the spirit can only be seen by cats. The house spirit and cat in the painting were brought to life in enticing acrylic technicolor.

The sponsor this month was Deep Roots Harvest. Their sponsor’s choice award went to a woodburning and acrylic by Lyn Craven entitled “Looking for St. George.”

First place went to Leslie Anderson for “Enchanted Trees”

Second Place went to Kathleen Ludwig for “A Time to Fly”

Third place went to Charyn McDonnell for “Dragon’s Lair.” It also won the People’s Choice award.

Honorable Mentions went to Leslie Anderson for “Blue Bonsai,” Elena Ahrens for “Myth of Lorelei,” Rita Fulmer for “Myth of Notre Dame,” and Amy Wells for “Puff.”

The evening also announced the winner for the inaugural Mesquite Nevada Poster contest. This was an idea which was suggested to the Assocation by Mayor Al Litman and his wife, Phyllis.
“I am grateful to Phyllis Litman for bringing to our attention VVAA new fundraiser, the Mesquite Nevada Poster Contest,” said 2022 VVAA President Dottie Golden.

Phyllis Litman explained that the idea came from when they were living in Hawaii. “The Lahaina Arts Society held a poster contest and used the winning picture as a poster signed by the artist,” she said. “They sold posters to the tourists as a memento of their trips. I thought ‘Why couldn’t this work for us?’”

According to Golden the Association sold ten posters at the reception. The posters will be on sale at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery for the entire year.

The entries to the poster contest were to depict a memorable spot in Mesquite. It was quite interesting to see the pictures of different places in Mesquite that were presented.

The winning picture was a depiction of the Art Gallery and the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum next door created by Cheryle Sacks. The poster is being sold, numbered and signed by the artist for $25. All funds raised in the sales will benefit the VVAA. This poster contest is intended to be an annual event.

The current exhibition will be on display at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery until January 29.
President Dottie Golden said, she expects to have a good year with new artist on board and by fulfilling their mission To promote the power of the arts for all ages and all cultures.