Valley Art Club lists winners of 67th exhibit
Recipients of top awards in the 67th annual juried exhibit of the Valley Art Club have been announced. Sharing the spotlight in the event at Mon Valley Community Health Center in Monessen were:
n Christine Gilotty, Best of Show, Sparky, watercolor; first-place, Spring Fresh Floral, watercolor; Best Materials, Taste Like Summer, watercolor; Best Theme, Pastry Art, watercolor.
n Sabra Clark, Best Oil and Acrylic, Nussar Barn in Rostraver Township; second-place, animals, Pong the Chow at three months old; third-place, Floral; honorable mention, oil and acrylic, Colonel Cook’s Residence, Rostraver Township.
n John DiBattista, Best Other Media, J.D.; first-place, abstract, Smiling Acrobats; honorable mention, portrait, Bianca, and abstract, Joan’s Choice.
n Joyce Gazdick, second-place, floral, Poinsettia; third-place, still life, Red Beets and Eggs; honorable mention, still life, Super Season, all in watercolors.
n Patricia Jones, first-place, still life, oil and acrylic, Old Door In Italy; Best Valley Scene, other media, John’s Balcony; honorable mention, abstract, oil and acrylic; Abstract Bottles; floral, Vase of Lilacs, other media.
n Mary Ann Kopach-Laber, first-place, landscape, oil and acrylic, Pond; honorable mention, animal, oil and acrylic, Big John.
n Arabelle Lancaster, first-place, Genre, oil and acrylic, Granada Greeting Band.
n Mary Elaine Lozosky, first-place, Portrait, Miner; second-place, Genre, A Proud Miner; third-place, Genre, Coal Mine Blacksmith, and Animal, Mariah; honorable mention, Genre, A Path to the Sea. All were in the oil and acrylic category.
n Michelle Meneskie, third-place, Animal, another media, Jack.
n Clarice Munk, first-place, animal, Chelsey; third-place, portrait, Baby. Both were in the oil and acrylic category.
n Fay Thomas, second-place, portrait, Sitting in the Sun, and abstract, Untitled, both in watercolors.
Meanwhile, two new awards for floral and landscape painting were introduced and presented in honor and memory of the late Mary F. Alvarez, a long-time member, awards winner and past president of the organization. Those awards, sponsored by Charleroi Chiropractic Pain & Wellness Center Inc., were presented to Patricia Jones of Fallowfield Township, best floral, and Sabra Clark of Belle Vernon, best landscape.
Laura Emricko, of Carroll Township, Alvarez’s daughter, presented the awards.
Other family members at the event were Alvarez’s husband, Joseph “Speed” Alvarez of Carroll Township; her daughters, Adella Boord of Carroll, Mary Jo Garbart of Donora and Donna Marie DiBiaso of Youngwood, and her son, Joseph Alvarez III of Fallowfield Township.
Other artists whose works were featured in the exhibit are Rita Bates, Anne T. Cepaitis, Anne R. Finnen, Harriett Peters, Kay Podany and Bonita Tome.
Juried judge for the exhibit was James A. Bove, assistant professor of art and design at California University of Pennsylvania.
Entertainment for the exhibit was presented by the Laurel Mountain Winds, a woodwind quintet comprised of John Martucci, Gayle Cuneo, Dane Shultz, Barbara Mayer and Richard McCoy.
Work spotlighted at the opening reception will continue to be displayed for public viewing on the fourth floor of the health center Monday through Friday from noon until 8 p.m. through Friday. Many of the paintings are for sale.