Exhibit includes flowers, furry friends

With titles such as “Melty Ice Cream,” “Loco-Motive,” “Hoops” and “Biltmore Pineapple,” regional artists are sharing works that could appeal to a variety of interests and tastebuds.

Several advanced or amateur artists from Wayne, Fayette and Randolph counties were among those selected for Richmond Art Museum’s 126th Annual Exhibition by Indiana and Ohio Artists. Some received merit awards of $100 or more provided by local individuals and organizations.

Best of Show, which included a $5,000 prize, went to Aaron James Pickens of Greentown for an oil painting called “Loco-Motive.”

The exhibit will close Jan. 11. However, those wanting to see the art should note RAM will be closed Dec. 24-Jan. 2 while Richmond Community Schools is on winter break.

This year’s jurors were Paula Katz, senior curator for Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, and Mark Daly, described by RAM’s Executive Director Shaun Dingwerth as a respected Cincinnati artist.

Katz said she tried to pick pieces that she found most conceptually challenging as well as technically proficient, while including a wide range of media.

“Many of the chosen pieces displayed an additional element that I can only say had a tinge of the uncanny or nostalgic, something underlying that simply intrigued me,” Katz said. “I hope these works intrigue others as well.”

Dingwerth said the exhibit offers artists an incentive for getting their work out in the public eye, networking opportunities, feedback and exposure for potential sales, commissions, and representation.

The exhibit’s catalog also allows RAM to highlight its recent successes.

For instance, RAM celebrates serving 5,000 students in the past year through its exhibits, special events and outreach programs. RAM staff visited about 2,200 elementary students in their classrooms with the “Art Is … Mexico” program.

Dingwerth said its VanGo mobile outreach program is critically important because of changes to Indiana academic standards that make access to the arts more difficult for school-aged children.

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Local artists chosen for Richmond Art Museum exhibit

Cambridge City: Larry Sturgis

Centerville: David Samuels

Connersville: Cheryl Johnson, Brandy Steinard

Economy: Brently Dixon

Hagerstown: Summer Shafer

Lynn: Sheryl Thurston

Parker City: Martin Price (purchase award)

Richmond: Jana Elaine Angelucci, Jo Taylor Auger, Suzanne Elizabeth Cox, Gabriela Falconi ($500 award and purchase award), Jeanne Felmy, Rex Godfrey ($100 award), Tami Johnson ($100 award), Eugenia M. Mills (purchase award), Deborah Ness ($500 award), Mark Isaac Pearson, Joe Potter ($125 award and purchase award), Sharon Rodriguez, Katie Seitz, Brent H. Smith ($100 award), Jessica Sylvia ($200 award), Nancy Taylor (purchase award), Shirley Wise

Union City: Carol Strock Wasson

Regional artists: Lauren Anderson, Craig Barton, Margaret Anne Beinkemper, Grace Benedict, Jody L. Bruns, Debra Buchanan, Luke A Buck, Brian Burt, Edward Charney, Bob Coates, Jim Henry Conroy, Hilarie Couture, Mary Ann Davis, Alan Dapore, Steve Dodge, Juli Dorton, Arem Ess, Brad Fields, Ann Filipiak, Ronda A. Fischer, Adam Freeland, Joel A. Fremion, Jyoti Gangaraju, David W. Groff, Karen Houtchens, Kevin Houtchens, David Humphrey, Richard E. Jurus, John Kiser, Patrick Kluesner, Deborah Michelle Kovacs-Sturdevant, Chris Krupinski, Terry Lacy, Alan J. Larkin, Diane Tracy Lehman, Cheryle Lowe, Ellen Starr Lyon, Janet Marisano, Beverly S. Mathis, Jeffrey May, Jeanne Mcleish, Bob A. Meyers, Jeff Morrow, Ardine Nelson, Nancy N. Neville, Tammy Lynn Newby, Pam C. Newell, Sarabeth Noggle, Dana Olsen, Kate Orr, Alan K. Patrick, Aaron James Pickens, Dianna K. Porter, Kyle Ragsdale, James Rodney Reveal, Carleen O’Connor Rivera, J. Anna Roberts, Lorena Salinas, Beth Clary Schwier, Constance Edwards Scopelitis, Ann Seaver, David M. Seward, Leslie Shiels, Jenny Moore Smith, Jennifer L. Sowders, Rita Spalding, Diane Staver, Arianna Tate, Sara Torgison, Steve Warner, Audrey Williams, Denise Yoder