COFA awards celebration set to music

Robert Parry, left, accepts his award from Robert Pearl for his watercolor work at the WWAC Artists’ Reception. Photo by Louise Seeholzer

The climax of the 16th Community of Fine Arts Show on Aug. 29 at the Meet the Artists Reception combined pleasant socializing and the presentation of prizes with a musical background.

The COFA, a juried art show presented by the Westlake-Westshore Arts Council, displays original, one of a kind art works that are judged in five categories: Watercolor; Oil/Acrylic; Drawing/Pen & Ink; Charcoal/Pastel; and Photography. The 2015 event, which was open for public viewing throughout August at Westlake Porter Public Library, presented nearly 80 pieces, representing the work of 35 artists.

The wealth of art and the abundance of desserts generated a friendly and festive air at the well-attended reception. Piano performances by Ashley Baker, owner and teacher of Rhapsody Music Studio in Westlake, and one of her students, Ian Healey, brought an added dimension of color to the gathering.

Patt Long, WWAC president, introduced the awards program, welcomed the attendees, and expressed appreciation to the artists, judges and show’s sponsors, noting the generosity of Elaine Engeln, a COFA sponsor for many years. Robert Pearl made the presentation of the 2015 cash prizes and certificates. This year’s judges were Paula Blackman, Bill Kufahl and Patricia Hanahan Sigmier.

Prizes were awarded in each category and in each category’s divisions of professional and amateur/semi-pro. A $100 cash award was given to first-place winners in each division/category and $50 was awarded for second place. Honorable mention ribbons were also awarded as determined by the judges. This year’s recipients are:

Watercolor, Professional: 1st Place – "Funky Cellist" by Robert M. Moyer; 2nd Place – "Sailing-Door County" by Ken Marshall; Honorable Mention – "Juliet’s Balcony" by Cheri Polk.

Watercolor, Amateur/Semi-Pro: 1st Place – "Peaceful Dawn" by Thomas Hemsath; 2nd Place – "Low Tide at Stonington, Maine" by Robert Parry; Honorable Mention – "Macaws" by Blanche Ahern.

Oil/Acrylic, Professional: 1st Place – "Pendulous-Three Bar Ochre" by Joshua Eiskamp; 2nd Place – "Pendulous-Three Bar Indigo Dark" by Joshua Eiskamp; Honorable Mention – "Lakeside" by Vicky Thompson.

Oil/Acrylic, Amateur/Semi-Pro: 1st Place – "The Crooked Door" by Robert Pearl; 2nd Place – "Guidance" by Janice Reash; Honorable Mention – "Boats of Venice" by Ellen A. Erzen.

Drawing, Professional: 1st Place – "Frosty Acrobat" by Jackie K. Hixon; 2nd Place – "Swift Sphinx" by Jackie K. Hixon.

Drawing, Amateur/Semi-Pro: 1st Place – "Nesting" by Christine England; 2nd Place – "Looking Back" by Judy Hazen.

Pastel/Charcoal, Professional: 1st Place – "Canosia Rooftops" by Dani Altieri Marinucci; 2nd Place – "From Zia’s Hilltop" by Dani Altieri Marinucci; Honorable Mention – "Athena Meets the Amaryllis" by Eleanor St. John.

Pastel/Charcoal, Amateur/Semi-Pro: 1st Place – "Labor of Love" by Cheri Polk; 2nd Place – "A Seanchai – The Storyteller" by Denise McConville; Honorable Mention – "Rudy" by Jerry Kluiber.

Photography, Professional: 1st Place – "Painted Pony" by Kelly Berkheimer; 2nd Place – "Independence Day" by Zachary Hoon; Honorable Mention – "Julia Butterfly" by Neil Doren.

Photography, Amateur/Semi-Pro: 1st Place – "Living on the Edge" by Judy Maruszan; 2nd Place – "Snow Deer" by Ben Curatolo; Honorable Mention – "Rosebush in the Sky" by Jeanine Surace.

Louise Seeholzer

Publicist for Westlake-Westshore Arts Council

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Volume 7, Issue 17, Posted 8:46 AM, 09.01.2015