Published: July 02, 2009 09:16 pm         

Annual Wabash Valley Juried Exhibition opens July 11 at Swope

The 65th Annual Wabash Valley Juried Exhibition, sponsored by First Financial Bank, opens July 11 and runs through Aug. 29 at the Swope Art Museum at 25 S. Seventh Street. A public reception will be July 11 from 1 to 3 p.m. with the award presentation at 2 p.m.

One of the oldest juried exhibitions in Indiana, the Annual Wabash Valley Exhibition accepts up to three submissions, in any fine art medium, from artists living within a 150-mile radius of Terre Haute. One hundred twenty-two artists submitted 351 works of art for consideration this year. Selections for the exhibition are chosen by an impartial judge working from digital images. This year, the judge selected 76 works of art representing 57 artists from Indiana and Illinois. For accuracy, the judge selects jurors’ awards in person after the works of art have been delivered to the museum. Seventeen sponsors donated jurors’ awards and five sponsors selected purchase awards.

This year’s juror was Ann Albano, executive director of The Sculpture Center in Cleveland. “… Many art works in this exhibition show a keen and carefully honed sense of design and structure and a brilliant depiction of natural light in many variations … a virtuosity of line, amassed detail and color is found repeatedly …” explains Albano.

In addition to the awards listed below, the Swope announces a People’s Choice Award will be given out. The award is sponsored by the Joint Boards of the Swope Art Museum and will be selected by visitors to the museum who vote for their favorite work of art in this year’s Wabash Valley Juried Exhibition. Visitors can vote as many times as they like, but must visit the museum and galleries to obtain a ballot. Only one ballot may be submitted per visit. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be named at the close of the exhibition, and that artist will receive a $250 prize.

The Juried Exhibition awards presented are:

• Nancy Nichols-Pethick, Terre Haute, “Little Things,” oil, Alliance of the Swope Art Museum Best in Show

• Justin Schwab, Brazil, “Flush Ingress,” found object, Phyllis Dye Turner Award of Distinction

• Dana Goodman, Huntington, “Hercules in the Garden,” clay, Mike and Debbie Egy Body Art Inc. Award of Honor

• Courtland Blade, Terre Haute, “Children at Play,” oil, Guille and Cindy Cox Award of Recognition

• Erin Caldwell, Terre Haute, “Symbiotic,” 2009, drawing & cut paper, Daniel and Barbara Weber Award of Recognition

• John DenHouter, Edwardsville, Ill., “Dreamboat,” oil, Robert H. Puckett Award of Recognition

• Judy Dethmers, Champaign, Ill., “Mind’s Eye,” Prismacolor pencil on mylar, Lant and Amanda Davis Award of Recognition

• John Gardner, Terre Haute, “Men with Long Objects,” photograph, David and Joan Zaun Award of Recognition

• Jamie S. Kruidenier, Champaign, Ill., “Fertility,” watercolor, Mary Ann Carroll Award of Recognition

• Suzanne Keith Loechl, Champaign, Ill., “Warehouse Store II,” oil, Barbara Vogel Award of Recognition

• Robin Riggs, Champaign, Ill., “Pink Cake,” oil, Sue Bentrup Award of Recognition

• Siti Mariah Sullivan, Champaign, Ill., “Iridescent Tom,” clay, Vernon B. Cristee Memorial Award of Recognition

• Thomas Swopes, Dennison, Ill., “Balance,” clay, David and Jerry Mitchell Award of Recognition

• Melissa Vandenberg, Terre Haute, “Did You Think of a Meaning … When You Gave Me My Name?,” latch hook, Arts Illiana Award of Recognition

• Michael A. Finger, Bloomington, Ind., “Leaves and Grasses,” photograph, Tom and Connie Francis Award of Merit

• Chad Gallion, Indianapolis, “Green Tender Bullets,” oil, Scott and Jill Francis Award of Merit

• Mary Ann Michna, Terre Haute, “Whiting, Indiana House with TV Antenna,” acrylic, Danette Angermeier Memorial Award of Merit

• Kris Mobley, Greenwood, “Green Arrow,” graphite, Scott and Jill Francis Award of Merit

• Fran Lattanzio, Terre Haute, “Quiet Entry,” photography, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Purchase Award

• Jackie K. Tice, Terre Haute, “Green Door,” oil, Indiana State University Permanent Collection Purchase Award

• Susan Tingley, Terre Haute, “Firecracker Pot #1,” clay, Tom and Susie Dinkel Purchase Award

• Susan Tingley, Terre Haute, “Firecracker Pot #2,” clay, Rick and Candy Shagley Purchase Award

• Dana Wright-Wiggins, North Salem, “Making Waves,” watercolor, Emily and John Gedrick Purchase Award

Images of work from the exhibition are available on request. For more information, call (812) 238-1676 or visit www.swope.org.