Local Artist Wins at Rowayton Arts Center's 1st Juried Show of the Year

The first Rowayton Arts Center (RAC) juried show of 2011 opened with a strong showing of area artists, with a graphite drawing by Eddie Nino of Norwalk winning "Best in Show."

According to the gallery director, Deb Randall, over 91 artworks were entered and 55 were selected to appear in the show. “Most of the exhibits here are open to the exhibiting members, but we have two juried shows that have cash prizes and this show, 'Expressions' was the first of the year."

Randall highlighted notable works in the show that was juried by Anne Marie Stuelpnagel, the exhibitions director at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich .

Edith McClean won first place in the acrylic category. The artist, said Randall, “is about ninety-ish, she’s legally blind and she constantly gets prizes. She sells more artwork these days.”

Some of the other major categories for which first prizes were awarded were  mixed media, oil, pastels and drawings,photography, print, sculpture and watercolor. Best of show earned $150. First place earned an artist $100; second place, $75; third place, $50; and honorable mention, $25.

“This is very cool, this is all made out of bags, you’ll find stuff in the cheetohs bag or Kellogs if you look really close,” Randall said pointing to "Untitled" an artwork by Amy Schott.

Keeping with the mobile times, there was even an iPhone drawing by Susan O’Neill.

Richard Ventre’s work, called "After Wyeth", was an interpretation of Andrew Wyeth’s iconic 1948 painting Christina’s World.

Best in Show:

Eddie Nino (Norwalk)

Other prize winners by category are:

Acrylic:

First—Edith McClean (Rowayton)

Second—Susan Frey (Stamford)

Mixed Media:

Firs—Richard Ventre (Norwalk)

Second—Amy Schott (Wilton)

Third—Dana Laird (Rowayton)

Oil:

First—Kathryn Glover (Norwalk)

Second—Kerwin Mayers (Goshen)

Third—Linda George (Darien)

Pastels and Drawings:

First—Janine Brown (Fairfield)

Second—Janice Bielawa (Woodbury)

Honorable mention—Carol Burt (Stamford)

Photography:

First—Pierre Lahaussois (Rowayton)

Second—Terry Spring (New Canaan)

Print:

Honorable mention—Lisa Black (Fairfield)

Sculpture:

First—Mary Ellen Pastore (Norwalk)

Watercolor:

First—Ellen Gordon (Stamford)

Second—Marianne Rothballer (New Canaan)

Third—Wendy Pieper (Westport)

The exhibit runs through March 27. There’s no admission to the gallery which is open 12:00-5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 1:00-4:00 p.m. on Sundays. For information call 203-866-2744.

Jackie Lightfield serves as chair of the Norwalk Arts Commission.