The Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery displayed competition art for “Roads Not Taken,” sponsored by Sherry Gosdis. The monthly awards ceremony was held on Oct. 16.

The display revealed an array of different perspectives of the theme from artists. It was October, and several witches were spied among the gallery guests.

The Best of Show award went to Paulette Shererhorn for her quilted fabric piece titled “Portrait of Mystery,” which showcased desert terrain and plant life.

The People’s Choice Award and first-place award in Dimensional Arts and Earth Elements was a fused glass and mud mix showing a colorful scene of autumn trees lining a less traveled road.

In that same category, second place was a barn owl by Whiterose Whitefeatherm all made with screws. Honorable mentions went to Paulette Schermerhorn and Wendy Douglas.

The Sponsor’s Choice Award went to Vanessa Temple for her very appropriate watercolor of an old truck stuck in the mud on a dirt road. Sponsor Gosdis said, “I thought the picture displayed the theme perfectly.” Temple also took first place in the Brushed Art Category with “Southbound,” a watercolor painting of people waiting at a bus stop. Second place went to Lance Bar for his oil painting of “Road Forgotten,” a road grown over with weeds. Honorable mentions went to Vicki Orgill and Janna Worwood.

In the Photography and Digital Art Category, first place went to Susan McPherson for her “Floating Highway.” She captured a colorful hot air balloon floating over the freeway. Second place went to Loesje Lindberg for “An Ageless Avenue,” an old red brick street. Honorable mentions went to Steve Dudrow and Brandy Bauman.

In Drawing and Sketch Art, first place went to Lynn Craven for “Bodie Ghost Town,” a pyrography of abandoned, broken-down trucks and cars in the ghost town of Bodie. Craven is also Artist of the Month, and his other works are hung in the back gallery. He stated his pieces take anywhere from 12 to 28 hours to complete. He usually works three to four hours at a time on one piece. “My pieces are priced reasonably,” he said. “I want people to be able to enjoy something they didn’t have to spend a fortune for. If it gives them enjoyment, it gives me joy.”