Winners Awarded Amid Christmas Boutique

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

It was a busy evening at the Mesquite Fine Arts Center on Thursday, Nov. 17. The Virgin Valley Artist Association was holding its monthly themed exhibit awards ceremony. This was going on amid the Christmas Boutique which is currently ongoing at the gallery.

The small “Lucky Thirteen” themed art pieces hung on the gallery walls. The handcrafted fine art and craft pieces of the Christmas Boutique were displayed on tables lined against the walls. The wine bar and appetizer tables were also in the mix. And we can’t forget Kenny D. providing music on the keyboard.

The “Lucky Thirteen” themed art competition is held annually in the month of November. The pieces stay on display at the gallery through January 2. The competition is open to all artists nationwide. There were 62 entries in this year’s exhibit from ten different states. No entry can be larger than 13” x 13.” This competition was sponsored by the Eureka Resort.

The first place award went to Helen Mathyssen-Dobbins from Florida for an intricate miniature entitled “Through the Mist,” done in pastels.

Second Place went to Janet Weaver from Arizona for an oil painting entitled “Pomegranates No. 44.”

Third place went to Jan Hensen from Arizona for another oil painting called “Sweet Landing.” Henson also won the People’s Choice award for her “All Clear” acrylic work.

Best of Show went to Charyn McDonnell from Nevada for a stunning photo on metal entitled “Teton Reflections.”

The Mayor’s Choice award went to Pam Jacobson from Nevada for “Country Garden” done in glass. She also won an honorable mention ribbon for the same piece.

Honorable Mentions also went to Barbara Hageman for “In the Garden,” Amy Wells for “All Roads Lead to Gnome,” and Dale Gibbs for “Hue Girls.”

After handing out the awards VVAA President Dottie Golden announced that her term is up at the end of the year and that this would be her last award ceremony as president.
“A few times I wanted to pull my hair out,” Golden said of her term as VVAA president. “But all in all I loved this year. It has been fun. There are many great things planned for next year for our artist community.”

The VVAA Christmas Boutique has gotten off to a strong start. “So far, the boutique has proved to be incredible,” said Boutique Chairperson Pam Jacobson. “There are people here shopping continuously. Our artists have to keep coming in to resupply their stock.”

The Christmas Boutique and Gallery is open Monday through Saturday 10 am -4 pm. through December 30. On Sunday November 27, the boutique will be open 10 AM-4 PM giving locals a chance to show out-of-town-guests the artistic talent located here.