Bath County Art Show Features 266 Artists

ASHWOOD – The 47th annual Bath County Art Show is underway.
On display at Valley Elementary School this week are 710 pieces of artwork by 266 artists.

This year’s show remembers Wayne Alexander (1938-2010), who organizers said was “our dear friend and generous patron of the arts.”

The Bath County Arts Association expressed its appreciation to patrons and volunteers. Special thanks were given to Mr. and Mrs. Bruce McWilliams, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Diamond, Bath County Public Schools, Kudos Trophies and Awards and Country Garden Florist and Gifts.

The original cover and poster design were created by Karen Diamond and Theresa Graviano.

Bath County Arts Association officers include Sarah McWilliams and Michael Wildasin, co-chairs; Jean Howell, treasurer; and Janice McWilliams, secretary.

Directors include Kay Alexander, Patty Biederman, Ellen Collins, Karen Diamond, Beth Eley, Perlista Henry, Terry Kershner, Todd Lacks, Margo Oxendine, Cathy Singleton and Lou Ann Vincent.

Ellen Collins and Karen Diamond are serving as art show chairpersons.

Volunteers include Hella Armstrong, Kay Alexander, Ellen and Michael Collins, Dyan Connelly, Laura Dascher, Becky Deemer, Arlene and Luca DiCicco, Karen and Marty Diamond, Beth Eley, Debra Faraone and Jim Fechner.

Also, Jamie Fussell, Louise Firth, Ramona Garcia, Kathe Hetzer, Glenn Hirsh, Jean Howell, Ellen Killoren, Bonnie Kling, Todd Lacks, Dee Lobe and Janice McWilliams.

Also, Sarah and Bruce McWilliams, Ann Mellen, Margo Oxendine, Kathie and Selby Schwend, Jean Seymour, Cathy and Chris Singleton, Lou Ann and Dane Vincent, Michael Wildasin and Becky Wilson.

The judge of this year’s show is Dr. Erich Keel of the Kreeger Museum in Washington, D.C.

“It has been a true privilege to be invited to the Bath County Annual Art Show and judge the entries,” Dr. Keel said. “With digital media dominating the way we communicate today, the viability of traditional forms of expression with pigments, graphite or film is often in question.

“The 2011 Bath County Art Show gives vivid testimony that painting, drawing and analogue photography still offer contemporary artists resources to articulate their vision and picture the visible and invisible,” he added. “I should add that sculpture, less in competition with the digital media, is making a particularly strong showing at this annual.

“Recognizing and rewarding talent is one of the tasks that the Bath County Arts Association has set itself,” Dr. Keel said. “With so many fine works submitted to the association, identifying the best was nearly impossible; although my criterion was simple – finding art that would explore the chosen medium’s potential to the fullest.”

The Bath County Art Show supports the arts in Bath County.

It is a great opportunity to bring artists and art lovers together each year.

The art show is the art association’s major fundraiser. All donations and proceeds from artwork sales are used to support community programs, award scholarships to students, sponsor visual and performing arts programs and art education in the schools.

Many programs benefit from the art show. They include:

– Art education in Bath County Public Schools –  Children’s Art Network (studio seminars for elementary students) and Bath County High School field trips to Blackfriars Theater and Taubman Art Museum.

– Bath County Bluegrass Jamboree.

– Support for Mountain Valley Players.

– Bath County Arts Association College Scholarships ($1,500 scholarships).

– Supplemental music instructor (Bath County High School Band).

– Band Camp Scholarship (Bath County High School students).

– American Dance Festival Scholarship (six-week dance school).

– O’Connor Method Camp for Strings Scholarship.

– Support for Allegheny Mountain Strings Project.

– Virginia Blues and Jazz Festival sponsorship (Garth Newel Music Center).

– 11th annual Missoula Children’s Theatre (Valley Elementary School).

– 47th annual Bath County Art Show.

This year’s winners include:

Best In Show: Deborah Kozura, Charlottesville, photography, ”Black and White Sunset II.”

Prudence and Bill Field Award (Best Animal or Bird, any medium: Jacquelyn Chenault, Lynchburg, photography, “Nosey Neighbors.”

Wayne Alexander Memorial Award (best figure, oil): Ursilla Dilley, Salem, “Ernie.”

Elinor Hopkins Award (best flower, watercolor): Myrna Pichon Nein, Lynchburg, “Flora Fantasia.”

Warm Springs Gallery (best Virginia Rivers and streams, any medium): James Underwood, Bedford, pastel, “New River at Eggleston.”

George & Mary Beach Memorial Award (best iris, any medium): Julie Farrell, Staunton, oil, “Studio Miscellaney with Iris.”

Dancing Lady Design Figurative Art Award (best figure as focus of the work, any medium): James Steel, Falls Church, photography, “Virginia Creeper.”

Garth Newel Music Center Award (where harmony of color sings to the soul, any medium): Lee Penny Baker, Roanoke, watercolor, “Along the Water’s Edge.”

Reuse-Recycle (use of recycled materials to create artwork, any medium): Devan Malore, Lexington, sculpture, “Maury River After the Flood.”

Warm Springs Valley Garden Club (one touch of nature makes the whole world kin): Cheng Fen Yeh, Radford, watercolor, “Sunflowers.”

Wm. Grover Galleries Award (best traditional landscape, oil): Joseph Wilson, Lexington, “Fertile Valley.”

Shelly Bechtel Shepherd Memorial Award (best landscape of Bath or Highland County, watercolor): Anna Bangley, Lexington, “From My Window.”

Awards by Category

Watercolor: Cynthia Rector Jones, Norfolk, first place, “Tough Survivors;” Penny Cabell, Waynesboro, second place, “Maine Dinghies;” Mei Shu, Radford, third place, “Water Village;” Janice Creasy, Louisa, fourth place, “Here Comes Daddy.”

Oils & Acrylics: Nina McGee, Roanoke, first place, “Old Times;” Anne D. Weede, Lexington, second place, “Lavender River No. 2;” Myrtle Hooker, Roanoke, third place, “Highland Mountain Stream;” David McCaskey, Staunton, fourth place, “Jackson Oak.”

Charcoal, Pastels & Graphics: Dorothy Blackwell, Lexington, first place, “Scarlet;” Barbara Brothers, Staunton, second place, “Peeling Bark;” Terri J. Miller, Lynchburg, “You’ve Called Me Fourth World I Am Bambuti;” Z.L. Feng, Radford, fourth place, “Vince.”

Sculpture: Michael Hough, New Hope, first place, “Tank Transformation;” Susan Harb, Lexington, second place, “Babes in the Woods;” Dave Wertz, Roanoke, third place, “Sugar Magnolia;” J. Gail Geer, Roanoke; fourth place, “Stealthy Cat.”

Mixed Media: Kelly Gravely-Mattox, Lynchburg, first place, “In the Beginning;” Donna Ramsey Nevers, Moneta, second place, “Jackson River Waters;” Kitty Washburn, Owings Mill, Md., “Jackson River Waters,” Maribeth Nolde, Mt. Sydney, fourth place, “Old Fabric Illusion No. 7.”

Photography: Susan Lockwood, Radford, first place, “Garden Gothic;” Robert Sulkin, Roanoke, second place, “Composition 222;” Martin Macqueen, Covington, third place, “Sound of Raasay, Isle of Syke, Scotland; Carolyn Ratcliffe, Crozet, fourth place, “Zebras in S. Africa.”

Local artists participating in the show include: Chuck Almarez of Clifton Forge, Clyde Beck of McDowell, Loretta Benham of Covington, Pat Bird of Hot Springs, Susan Blanchard of Monterey, Sally Branch of Clifton Forge, David Cockerham of Monterey, Libby Davis of Covington, Mary Madge Dufour of Hot Springs, Michael Farrar of Clifton Forge and Suse Field of Monterey.

Also, Kirby Green Smith of Hot Springs, Perlista Henry of Warm Springs, Barbara J. Hevener of Monterey, Robert Hilton of Millboro, Courtney Horner of Hot Springs, Heather Kipp of Hot Springs, Gertrude Lacy of Covington and Jaime Letourneau of Warm Springs.

Also, Jane Lyle of Warm Springs, Martin Macqueen of Covington, Judy Maliwauki of Hot Springs, Anne McMennamy of Covington, Amy Baird Middleton of Monterey, Annette Naber of Monterey, Nancy Newhard of Clifton Forge, Carl F. Pattison of Covington and John W. Persinger Sr. of Covington.

Also, Susan Bull Riley of Hot Springs, Mary Hylton Sanders of Millboro, Judy Skeen of Monterey, Maryjane Spencer of Covington, Jane D. Stockwell of Covington, Susan Trotter of Hot Springs, Sarah Williams of Warm Springs and Rebecca Wilson of Hot Springs.

2011 Patrons
Mrs. Katherine Alexander, Mr. & Mrs. Edward Armbrecht, Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Armstrong, Dr. Richard Armstrong, Mr. & Mrs. Ronald J. Back, Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Bairstow, Bath County Board of Supervisors, Mr. & Mrs. Jay Batley, Mr. George B. Beach.

Mr. & Mrs. Gaylon Beights, Mr. & Mrs. Lucius Bracey, Mr. & Mrs. J. Stewart Bryan, Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Bussard, Mr. & Mrs. Keene Byrd, Ms. Nell Carpenter, Mr. & Mrs. Henley Carter, Ms. Betty Cauley.

Mr. & Mrs. Michael M. Collins, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Connelly, Jr., Covington Virginian, Dr. & Mrs. Robert Creekmore, Mr. & Mrs. Steve Curtain, Mr. & Mrs. John Dalzell, Mr. & Mrs. Wiliam Danforth, Ms. Lynda Davies, Senator R. Creigh Deeds.

Mr. & Mrs. Philip M. Deemer, Ms. Elizabeth Delahoussaye, Jack and Mimi Deolloqui-Turner, Dr. & Mrs. Martin Diamond, Mr. & Mrs. Luca DiCecco, Mr. Walter Dixon, Mr. & Mrs. Rene Dufour, Mr. & Mrs. Doug Durrett, Mr. & Mrs. Claud Eley.

Ms. Lee Elliot and Mr. Bill Jones, Mr. Brian Everist, Mr. & Mrs. Florence Fahrbach, Mr. James Fechner, Ms. Suse Field, Mr. & Mrs. William Fields, First and Citizens Bank, Ms. Louise Firth.

Mr. & Mrs. W. Kent Ford, Jr., Mr. & Mrs. John Fowler, Hon. & Mrs. Humes J. Franklin, Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Hiter Harris, Mr. & Mrs. J. Sheppard Haw III, Mr. & Mrs. Scott Hetzer, Highlands Community Bank, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Hilton, Mr. & Mrs. L. Ryan Hodges, Ms. Jean Howell.

Mr. & Mrs. Craig A. Johnson, Mr. & Mrs. Peter Judah, Mr. & Mrs. Don Killoren, Ms. Marion Kober, Law Offices of John C. Singleton, Mr. & Mrs. David LeMay, Mr. William K. Lindsey, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Lynn, Mr. Richard Madlener, Mr. & Mrs. Charles McCarthy, Mr. Kenneth McGraw, Mr. & Mrs. Bruce McWilliams, Mrs. Janice McWilliams, Mr. & Mrs. Amory Mellen III, Mr. Bill Mock & Ms. Julia Certain.

Mr. & Mrs. Victor Murillo, Mrs. Clifford Nelson, Mr. & Mrs. Percy Nowlin, Mr. & Mrs. Ripley Owen, Mr. & Mrs. Dabney L. Pasco, Mr. & Mrs. Gene Phillips, Mr. & Mrs. George Phillips, Mr. & Mrs. Ron Ponzun, Mr. & Mrs. J. Tyler Pugh, Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Putnam, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Rath, Mr. & Mrs. William Ray, Mr. & Mrs. Brian Richardson, Mr. & Mrs. Crit Richardson, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Riley, Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Riner.

Rev. & Mrs. M. G. Robertson, Ms. Cynthia Rudnick, Mr. & Mrs. J. Schellenger III, Ms. Jean Seymour, Mr. & Mrs. B. R. Shriver Jr., Mr. & Mrs. John C. Singleton, Ms. Ann Snead, Ms. Sarah Solomon, Mr. & Mrs. Henry Spire, Mr. & Mrs. Newton Thomas, Mr. & Mrs. W. Mcllwaine Thompson, Mr. & Mrs. John T. Tompkins III.

Ms. Susan Trotter, Mr. & Mrs. James Utt, Virginia Foundation for the Arts, Mr. & Mrs. Franz von Schilling, Mr. Tobi Werner and Ms. Teresa Ling, Mr. Michael Wildasin, Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Wilson, Ms. Rebecca L. Wilson, Mr. & Mrs. Barrie Wolf, Mr. & Mrs. A. Michael Wood, Ms. Ann Wright.