Artists from Kentucky and surrounding states competed for more than $3,500 in Merit Awards in the Owensboro Art Guild’s 59th annual juried exhibition, which opens Sunday at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art.
Entries were judged by William Kolok, a retired professor of art from Kentucky Wesleyan College. From 134 entries, Kolok juried the exhibition to 69 works and distributed 10 Merit Awards.
Nancy Raen Mendez of Evansville, Ind., won the Best in Show Award for “Hers.”
Iris Gentry of Henderson won 1st Place for “Daphne,” Larry Simpson of Owensboro received 2nd Place for “Rue de Rivoli,” and Alla Gilbert of Russellville took 3rd Place for “Respite II.”
Six Honorable Mentions were distributed by the juror to Rhonda McEnroe, Cynthia Watson, Terry Rone, Rob Millard-Mendez, Carol Bosko and Bill Whorrall.
The traditional gala and awards presentation held in conjunction with the opening of the exhibition has been delayed until April 18 due to pandemic restrictions.
Online events will include a virtual tour of the exhibition and special programming presented by some of the winning artists.
The Owensboro Art Guild is Kentucky’s oldest continuing visual arts organization operated by artists and sponsors a variety of exhibition opportunities throughout the year.
In addition to the annual juried exhibition at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, open exhibitions are also organized by the guild. Monthly meetings featuring a wide variety of visual arts topics are held in the Kolok-Ralph Center on Kentucky Wesleyan College’s campus in Owensboro.
The exhibition will remain on view at the Museum, located at 9th and Frederica streets, through April 23.
Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday from 12-5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations of $3 for adults and $2 for children are encouraged.
For more information visit the museum’s website omfa.us.
