CREATIVE 360 ANNOUNCES ARTFEST 55 WINNERS

Creative 360 hosted the 10th annual Artfest 55 festival celebrating the creativity of Michigan residents who are 55 and older on Friday, June 21. The evening included an exhibition opening, performances, and a written word competition all with prizes. This year, there were 149 art entries, 23 written entries, and 5 performers from cities across Michigan including Auburn, Bay City, Bridgeport, Essexville, Freeland, Gladwin, Hope, Midland, Mt. Pleasant, Munger, Saginaw, Sanford, Standish and Twining.

“We are grateful that so many shared their talents with us to demonstrate that achievement in the arts can begin and thrive at any age,” said Executive Director Carol Rumba as she opened the program.

Congratulations to all of the award winners!

The Senior Moments performance competition had three performances this year. Judges were Joannah Lodico and Rusty Moe of Midland, and Janet Martineau from Saginaw who is the creative mind behind Artfest 55. Awards were presented as follows:

• Chris Gouin, Midland for his hilarious guitar and vocal performance of “The Remember Song.”
• Darby and Jerry Gwisdala for their ukulele and vocal performance of “Magnolia Wind;”
• Mike Zureich and John Costello, a.k.a. The Old Rascals, came in third place with their three song guitar instrumental of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon,” Stephen Stills’ “Change Partners” and Neil Young’s “Needle and the Damage Done.”

Thanks to Eastman Party Store and Heather and Holly for sponsoring the awards for this category.

The Sentimental Journeys written word competition included 23 entries this year, which included 8 poems, 11 memoirs and 4 short stories. A booklet containing all 23 entries is available by order from the Creative 360 office. Adjudicators for Sentimental Journeys were Luana Russell and Sarah Yoder, both retired Midland Public School teachers. Winners are:

Poetry: “Totaled” by Jim Crissman
Memoir: “Rock the Dibble” by Jim Crissman
Short Story: “The Gift” by Nancy Renko

The evening wrapped up with awards for visual art. This year, there were 149 entries from 89 artists from all across Michigan. Jurist Katherine Sullivan, professor of art, and chairperson of Art and Art History at Hope College chose 98 pieces that will be on exhibit in the Creative 360 gallery until August 18.

Awards were presented in three categories: photography, 3D and 2D. Ballots for a People’s Choice Award are available for the duration of the exhibit. A $100 prize will be awarded to the winner who will be announced August 19.

 

Congratulations go to Jean Mathieu who received Best in Show for her work “The Boardman River”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best Photography: Mark Winslow for “High Key Vignette”

Honorable mention:
Douglas Allen “Moonrise on Muriel Lake”
Charles Bonham “Tannery Falls – Winter”
Mike Buller “Golden Goddess”

 

 

 

Best 2D: Jim Matherne for “Good Girl”

Honorable mention:
Jan Lin Alfano “Upstaged by Eggs”
Donald Bennett “Slight Shift”
Vicki Berry“Bambi”
Rebecca Houck “Florabundace”
Priscilla Olson “Long Standing”
Leslie A.G. Peterson, quilt “Barn Yard Friends”
Rebecca Spohn “The Chair”
Jan Wegner “The Fire Within”

 

Best 3D: Mike Zureich for “Three Rings”  

Honorable mention:

Pamela C. Hart “Bassoon Quartet”

 

 

 

 

 

About Creative 360
Creative 360 is a not-for-profit community arts and wellness organization founded in 1994. Its mission is to create environments that allow people of all ages and abilities to experience the creative process, and to enhance physical, mental and spiritual wellness through the arts and humanities. The organization’s core values of inclusiveness, creativity, respect and community drive the culture at Creative 360. Activities at Creative 360 are supported in part by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, Midland Area Community Foundation and the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation.