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12th Annual Artfest 55 Awardees Announced

 

 

The 12th Annual Artfest 55, featuring the work of regional writers and artists aged 55 and older, opened Friday, July 23rd at Creative 360.  The exhibit features the work of more than 100 visual artists and writers from across the state.

“Artfest 55 is a very popular exhibition and this one features remarkable work,” said Colleen Reed, Creative 360’s program director and curator. “We had nearly 200 art and writing submissions from all over Michigan. Entries were strong in all categories and that makes for a truly compelling show.”

Jurist for the Visual Arts was Professor of Illustration Patricia Constantine from Kendall College of Art and Design.  Jurists for the written work in the exhibit were writers Jim Crissman, a previous Artfest 55 poetry and memoir winner, and Sarah Yoder and Luana Russell, both Midland Public School teachers who are now retired.

Winners were announced in the following categories:

Writing:  Best Poetry – “Damned Tittabawassee Dam Blues” by Steven A Griffin

Best Memoir – “Places on the Prairie; Places in the Heart” by Thomas Donahue

Best Short Story – “Rose” by Laura Vosejpka

Visual Arts:  Best Photography – “Moon Over the Depot” by Mark Winslow

Best Two-Dimensional Art – “Looking East”, oil on canvas by Alan Maciag

Best Three-Dimensional Art – “The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars”, ceramic by Pamela C. Hart.

Best in Show – “Take Time”, coiled basket by Chris Ann French – shown above.

Honorable mentions included Beth Bynum for “Big Blue Barn”-mixed media, Patty Carlson for “Loneliness” – photography, Priscilla Olson for “Clear Morning” – oil, Judy Wood Thurston for “Trio in Red” – watercolor, and Laura Vosejpka for “Juxtaposition” – photography.

The work will be on display through August 27th and, like all of Creative 360’s gallery shows, is free and open to the public.  The artwork can also be viewed on Creative 360’s online gallery at https://becreative360.org/12th-annual-artfest-55-exhibit-2021.  Many of the works on display are available for purchase. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9 am until 5 pm.  Call for weekend hours – 989-837-1885.

 

 

 

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