VVAA “Journey” theme piques artists’ imagination

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

The Virgin Valley Artist Association (VVAA) monthly competition exhibit for January was themed “Journey.” This theme piqued the artists’ imaginations which was evidenced by the 45 entries on exhibit during the competition awards ceremony held Thursday, Jan. 18 at the Mesquite Fine Art Center. The exhibit will continue to the end of the month.

The Best of Show award went to Floyd Johnson, for his acrylic painting of “Viking Journey to Vinland.” The piece was complete with four Viking ships on the ocean and two ghost-like faces painted above the waters.

The judges commented it was “Great composition and very good anatomy in faces. Pattern of ship images draws your eye throughout. Overall symmetrical balance.”
Johnson said the faces “represented the Vikings gods.”

The Mayor’s Choice award went to Charyn McDonnel for a photograph of “Life’s Journey.” This beautiful photo depicted a peaceful road lined on either side with trees with a course of rain puddles down the middle of the road. The work also took first place in the Photography category.

The Sponsors Choice award went to Pam Jacobson for “Trees of Gold:” a scenic piece all in fused glass.

The sponsors this month are artists themselves: Christine Picior and Randy Bauman.
The Peoples’s Choice Award went to Susan Kjellsen for her photograph “Road through the Valley of Fire.”

In the Brushed Art Category 1st place went to “Long Voyage Home by Floyd Johnson; 2nd place by Kaylea’ W. Whitefeather showed Rosa Parks sitting on the bus and was titled “Journey to Equality.” Honorable mentions in the category went to Judy Balen and Whitefeather.

In the Photography and Digital Art category, 1st place went to Charyn McDonnell for “Life’s Journeys.” Second place went to Steve Dudrow for “Desperate Journey.” Honorable mentions went to Tyler Roylance and Shirley Smith.

In the Drawing and Sketch category, 1st place went to Rita Fulmer for “Journey to the Swimming Hole.” 2nd place went to Katherine Rountree for her colorful pastel of a Kauai Rooster titled “Journey to Kauai. She also received an Honorable Mention in this category along with Amy Wells.

In the Dimensional Art and Earth Elements category, 1st place went to Jane Johnson for a sculpture of “The Buddha.” 2nd place winner was Jane Johnson for a Sculpture titled “Toscana.” Honorable Mentions went to Elena Ahrens for her fused glass and mixed media titled “Beyond the Next Horizon;” and Margaret Abramshe for “Finding Rain in the Desert.”

Bank of Nevada will be sponsoring next month’s competition entitled “Southwest Style.”
More information on classes and activities at the center can be found at www.mesquitefineartscenter.com.