Amateur art show competition displays community artists work
Amy Suhajda
Issue date: 3/19/07 Section: News
Walking straight ahead into the gallery, spectators are greeted with a black and white painting of a buckle that rests on what appears to be a man's pair of jeans. Making a left from the painting hangs the familiar faces of singer Avril Lavigne and actress Audrey Hepburn.
The McLean County Arts Center of downtown Bloomington is hosting their 80th annual amateur art competition-exhibition located in the Brandt Gallery. Members of the community are invited to come see the works of amateur adult, high school and college students' artwork.
"Having a show like this is very unusual for a small town like this," Sheila Asbell Allen, a Bloomington resident and juror of competition said. "More artists should definitely take advantage of this."
The art center received 164 entries for this year's competition, but only 88 were selected. Of the entries selected, 46 were high school students, 22 were college students and 20 were from adult members of the community.
"I had fun seeing all the different kinds of artwork from all the different age groups," Allen said.
Thirty-two amateur artists were given cash prizes. Prizes included $75 for first place, $50 dollars for second place and $200 for best in show. The first and second place awards were given to each category of media including painting, graphics, photography, sculpture, skilled craft and woodcarving.
Allen said she judged the competition based on the artists' own originality and overall personal expression.
"I was looking at different techniques the artists used and how the artist used it. Something that was unique and not copied," Allen said.
Among the winners of the competition were some ISU art students, including the winner for best in show.
Stephanie Lebak, a senior BFA student was the winner for best in show for her painting "I Fit with You."
"It was a pretty big honor. I was just standing in the back of the room when they called my name. I definitely did not see it coming," she said.
The McLean County Arts Center of downtown Bloomington is hosting their 80th annual amateur art competition-exhibition located in the Brandt Gallery. Members of the community are invited to come see the works of amateur adult, high school and college students' artwork.
"Having a show like this is very unusual for a small town like this," Sheila Asbell Allen, a Bloomington resident and juror of competition said. "More artists should definitely take advantage of this."
The art center received 164 entries for this year's competition, but only 88 were selected. Of the entries selected, 46 were high school students, 22 were college students and 20 were from adult members of the community.
"I had fun seeing all the different kinds of artwork from all the different age groups," Allen said.
Thirty-two amateur artists were given cash prizes. Prizes included $75 for first place, $50 dollars for second place and $200 for best in show. The first and second place awards were given to each category of media including painting, graphics, photography, sculpture, skilled craft and woodcarving.
Allen said she judged the competition based on the artists' own originality and overall personal expression.
"I was looking at different techniques the artists used and how the artist used it. Something that was unique and not copied," Allen said.
Among the winners of the competition were some ISU art students, including the winner for best in show.
Stephanie Lebak, a senior BFA student was the winner for best in show for her painting "I Fit with You."
"It was a pretty big honor. I was just standing in the back of the room when they called my name. I definitely did not see it coming," she said.
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