Marka Kroeger of Henderson took home the top honor at the Owensboro Art Guild’s 63rd Annual Juried Exhibition, winning Best in Show for her watercolor painting Play House-WKBG. The announcement came Saturday evening at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, where more than $5,000 in awards were presented to artists from Kentucky and surrounding states.
Kroeger, who has been painting for about 50 years, created her winning piece during last fall’s Buffalo Paintout plein air event at the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden. The event was sponsored by OMFA.
Kroeger said she hoped to win but was surprised when her name was announced.
“Oh, it means everything,” Kroeger said of winning. “It’s validation — validation from the judge and the opportunity to have my work recognized and displayed.”
More than 50 works of art now fill the museum’s galleries as part of the juried exhibition, which was narrowed down from 73 submissions by juror Beverly Bruntz, a contemporary painter based in Kentucky. Bruntz, who holds a master’s degree from California State University, Fullerton, has been active in the Indiana Plein Air Painters Association since relocating to the region in 2009.
The exhibition showcases a variety of styles and mediums, from paintings and prints to sculptures and mixed media. Owensboro Art Guild President Jim Barr emphasized the collaborative effort behind the exhibition, recognizing the artists, museum staff, and community supporters who make the event possible.
“There’s a phrase often used — ‘It takes a village’ — that seems appropriate here tonight,” Barr said. “All the work and financing that so many people do would have less meaning if people like yourselves didn’t come here to appreciate, and hopefully, to purchase this beautiful work.”
Additional ranked awards included:
- Best 2D ($600, sponsored by Helen & Jesse Mountjoy): Take a Left at the Milkweed by Iris Gentry
- Best 3D ($600): Imagine by James Taylor
- Second Place ($300): Ghost in the Machine by Darrell Coomes
- Third Place ($200): Iris Garden by Kazhia Kolb
Three merit awards of $100, sponsored by Jim and Paula Naas, were given to:
- Don’t Let the Moments Pass You By by Leslie Nelson
- Pigeon River by Terry Rone
- Terra Incognita by Ryun Schienbein
Several purchase awards were also presented, ensuring that selected works will find permanent homes in collections. OMFA introduced a new $1,000 annual purchase award in memory of longtime supporter John A. Medley Jr., acquiring Of Day Arising by Stephanie Kinney. The family of the late Carol Colburn also established an annual $500 purchase award, which this year went to Elisa Blue, a jewelry piece by Selma Wiesenberg.
Owensboro Museum of Fine Art Board Chair Jim Naas emphasized the museum’s role as a cornerstone of Owensboro’s cultural infrastructure and the importance of partnerships within the arts community, particularly the Art Guild.
“The art guild is such an essential part of art in our community,” he said. “The museum serves as the linchpin of cultural infrastructure, and the talent that the art guild brings is remarkable. It’s great to have this partnership.”
The juried exhibition, a longstanding tradition in Owensboro, is presented in partnership with the museum and will remain on display through May 10. The museum, located at 901 Frederica St., is open from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 1 to 4 p.m. on weekends. Admission is free, though donations of $3 for adults and $2 for children are encouraged.
