The People’s Choice and first place winning entry ‘Where’s my Mom,’ by artist Jean Battalgia, could only be viewed as a photograph because it sold during the exhibit. Photo by Teri Nehrenz
Virgin Valley Artists Association president Katherine Cole led the awards ceremony for “All in a Row,” held at the Mesquite Fine Arts Center on Thursday, Aug. 18.
Barr takes Sponsor’s Choice award in gallery exhibit with oil painting titled “Standing Tall in a Row.” Photo by Teri Nehrenz
The exhibit, which runs through the month of August, was sponsored by the Eureka Casino. Eureka representatives were unable to attend the reception but Cole was more than happy to announce their “Sponsor’s Choice” award recipient Lance Barr for his oil painting of trees “Standing Tall in a Row.”
First place and People’s Choice could only be seen as a photograph because somebody already purchased Jean Battalgia’s 3D toile piece of lion cubs titled “Where’s my Mom.”
Best of show went to Susan Holladay for her colored pencil piece “One Step at a Time.”
Second place was awarded to Floyd Johnson who had a wonderful painting of a poker table titled “Poker is a Killing Game” and a story to go along with it. The painting is of an authentic casino poker room fashioned off of a snapshot Johnson took while visiting Las Vegas. The seats are filled with 12 characters from a book that Johnson wrote with the same title. Johnson said in the book isn’t quite ready for publication yet. Quite a lot of it has to be edited and rethought but the storylines are of the 12 people and their lives leading up to them all coming together at the poker table.
VVAA president Katherine Cole presents Floyd Johnson the envelope for second place for his painting titled ‘Poker is a Killing Game.’ The painting is of an authentic casino poker room fashioned off of a snapshot Johnson took while visiting Las Vegas. The seats are filled with 12 characters from a book that Johnson wrote with the same title. Photo by Teri Nehrenz
Third place went to Shirley Smith for her digital photograph “Beach Days.”
For more information on the Gallery and exhibits contact the VVAA at 702-346-1338 or visit the Mesquite Fine Arts Center, 15 W. Mesquite Blvd. Monday through Saturday form 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
