The Cotton Districts Arts Festival was another success this year starting with a 5k race with some 400 people or so, a pet parade, one mile fun run, juried art exhibition, numerous art and/or crafts booths, awesome music, food, dance, poetry, and lots more! Wow. And, great weather. Plus, with Super Bulldog Weekend going on the same weekend, tons of folks were in town.
For me, the juried show was the highlight, as I managed to get all three of my pieces accepted in this eclectic show judged by David Lambert, who I mentioned in my last blog as being the current Gallery Director of Michalopoulos Gallery in New Orleans, LA. This guy is also a talented artist who is into surrealism, pop art, and expression. You can check out his art at davidlambert.com.
Well, the show could not have gone better for me, as my piece "Convergence" won Best of Show and also won first place in the Painting/Drawing category, both with sweet cash prizes ($750 and $500). Cool, cool, cool! Also, I won a $100 merit prize for my piece entitled "Going to the Circus."
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| some pieces from the show, with my piece "Convergence" (upper left) |
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Juror David Lambert and me in front of Convergence
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Going to the Circus
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My third piece, "March Madness," did not win an award. Glad it was there though, as it received lots of attention and comments. People either loved it or hated it! In general, the high school and college kids really liked it (REALLY liked it), a few older people too, but mostly the middle aged to older conservative crowd strongly disliked it. Thought it was scary! Haha. Awesome! This is great news. If I don't get a reaction, be it positive or negative, I don't feel like I have done my job! I mentioned to one naysayer who was on the exhibition committee that this piece was going back on my kitchen wall. She said, "I bet your wife hates that!" I said, "I have not been married for some time now." She said, "thats probably why she left!" Thats what I'm talking about. I can tell you this, I sure as hell did not paint this for a middle aged conservative to hang in his or her kitchen:)
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| March Madness |
All in all, a pretty nice show this year. Lots of cool stuff from some great regional artists. Here are a few more picts.
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| Second place in the 3D division, "Peacock" by Bonnie Renfroe |
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| cool stuff |
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| Super awesome and nationally known photographer Lelanie Salter viewing some art including Libby Pollard's piece on the left, which sold, and my "March Madness" on right. |
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| Some viewers including my high school art teacher Nelle Elam from 30 years ago (far right, back to camera). She is going strong at 80 years old and still a driving force in our local arts scene! |
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| Art! |
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| More art! |
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| More art! |
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| Mark Brown, art professor at Jones Community College and creator of awesome sculptures! |
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| Another Mark Brown creation! |
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| Jeremy, Paul Buckley and Libby Pollard. Paul's awesome cool sculpture in on the right! |
This year's award winners are listed below. Congrats to all who were accepted into the show and to the award winners! In addition to these award winners, many of the artists sold their works. Great day for pretty much everyone.
2014 CDAF Juried Art Award Winners
Best of Show: Joe MacGown - Convergence
1st Place Painting/Drawing: Joe MacGown - Convergence
1st place Photography: Suzanne McClain - Little Wing
1st place 3-D/Mixed Media: Mark Brown – Bust 12
2nd Place Painting/Drawing: Mary Parker Buckley – Water Poetry
2nd Place Photography: Jonathan Feng – Pokerface
2nd Place 3-D/Mixed Media: Bonnie Renfroe – Peacock
Merit Award Winners $200 (5)
Mike Box – Farm Eggs (Painting)
Jonathan Feng – Rain on Me (Photography)
Bessie Johnson – Breaking Waves Vase (3-D/Mixed Media)
Barbara Parrish – The Relationship (Painting/Drawing)
Wanda Hurt Warren – Mulvihill (Painting/Drawing)
Merit Award Winners $100 (6)
Luanne Blankenship – Free Range Child (Photography)
Luanne Blankenship – Sweet Golden (3-D/Mixed Media)
Mark Brown – Chain Bust (3-D/Mixed Media)
Jonathan Feng – Stalker (Photography)
Joe MacGown – Going to the Circus (Painting/Drawing)
Wanda Hurt Warren – Georgia (Painting/Drawing)
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