The Lake Country Juried Art Show celebrated a decade of showcasing regional artistic talent June 25 as artists, patrons, and supporters gathered at Barrel 118 in Eatonton for a reception and presentation of awards hosted by The Artisans Village.
The 10th annual show proved to be exceptional in the event’s history, according to co-chair Cathy McIntire, who said it received a record number of entries, but maintained a very high standard of work.
“After 10 years of producing this show, I can say this is the most competitive show that we’ve ever had,” McIntire said. “We had more entries, and the quality of the work was really over the top.”
Award winners were selected by judge Brenda Pinnick, an accomplished artist from Woodstock whose work has been featured in several popular art publications, including American Art Collector, Modern Impressionist Magazine, Art of the West, and Fine Art Connoisseur, among others. She also has provided expertise in creative design and product development to both Hallmark Cards and Plaid Enterprises. Pinnick said narrowing the field to just a handful of winners was one of the most difficult judging assignments she has faced.
“I was pretty much blown away when I saw the artwork,” Pinnick said. “There were so many beautiful pieces and wonderfully executed works. So many deserved awards, and they told me I get to pick six. That was tough.”
Pinnick explained she approached the judging first from an academic perspective, evaluating each work for composition, color, design, storytelling, and technical execution before allowing personal preference to influence her final decisions.
“A painting or a work of art doesn’t have to be about everything,” she said. “If it’s just one thing that is just jaw-dropping and over-the-top wonderful, you can look past some other things.”
She also encouraged artists whose work was not selected for the exhibition to keep creating.
“If you didn’t get into the show, please don’t give up,” Pinnick said. “Keep trying and you will be surprised how sometimes you can have a piece of work that doesn’t get into a show, but it can go on to another show and possibly win an award.”
The exhibition’s first-place award went to Pat DeVane Burns for She Rules the Roost, which Pinnick praised for turning an ordinary farm scene into an engaging portrait full of personality.
“It’s such a fun story,” she said of the barnyard birds portrayed. “Every single one has a different personality, and you really just pulled off a beautiful painting from such a simple, unassuming scene.”
Second place was awarded to John Anderson for Veiled Virgin, while Janet Getter earned Third Place for Gathered. Merit awards went to Ann Dody for The Orange Vest, Renee Crouser for A Wonderful Choice and Brian Danson for Forest Majesty, the lone sculpture to be recognized with an award.
The evening concluded with the presentation of the prestigious People’s Choice Award, voted on by attendees during the reception. That honor went to Holly Parker for her abstract painting, Never Never Land.
For Parker, the award carried special significance. She said the painting was the first she’s completed since taking more than a year off from art after a “kind of a sad period” in her life.
She said the work came and marked a fresh beginning.
“All of a sudden it wasn’t sad anymore,” she said. “I painted for the first time in a year, and this is what I painted.”
Parker admitted she was both excited and surprised when her name was announced.
“I told my family and friends, ‘I’m just glad I got in the show because I know what kind of art is here,’” she said. “It’s an honor just to be in this show.”
A longtime supporter of The Artisans Village, Parker recalled wondering whether the fledgling organization would find enough artists when it formed a decade ago.
“We all said, “Where are they going to get the artists from?’ And it’s just grown and grown from then,” she said.
McIntire thanked the artists and visitors for helping make the anniversary exhibition a success, noting the show provides an opportunity for creators to share their work with the community.
“They say a piece of art is never really finished until it’s shown to somebody else,” she told the large crowd attending. “Thank you for coming.”
All unsold artwork from the 10th annual Lake Country Juried Art Show has been moved to The Artisans Village Gallery (110 W. Marion St., Eatonton), where starting July 1, it will be on display and available for purchase.