Virgin Valley Artists Association has announced the winners of its annual “Artists and Poets”

D Gary Christian poses with his Sponsor's Choice-winning poem and painting by Lance Barr.

D Gary Christian poses with his Sponsor’s Choice-winning poem and painting by Lance Barr.

Susan Holladay and Donald E Groves swept People's Choice and White Ribbon award with their interpretation of the resilience of old age.

Susan Holladay and Donald E Groves swept People’s Choice and White Ribbon award with their interpretation of the resilience of old age.

People's Choice winners Donald Groves and Susan Holladay.

People’s Choice winners Donald Groves and Susan Holladay.

Marlie Warren and Gary Christian took honorable mention in Artists and Poets.

Marlie Warren and Gary Christian took honorable mention in Artists and Poets.

Lin Floyd and Jan Hansen were named Best of Show in Artists and Poets Exhibition.

Lin Floyd and Jan Hansen were named Best of Show in Artists and Poets Exhibition.

Judith Hetem and Merry Bradshaw teamed up in their red ribbon entry visualization of a junkyard.

Judith Hetem and Merry Bradshaw teamed up in their red ribbon entry visualization of a junkyard.

Jan E. Hansen watercolor painting, The Journey, won Best of Show at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery. She painted to the poetry of Lin Floyd.

Jan E. Hansen watercolor painting, The Journey, won Best of Show at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery. She painted to the poetry of Lin Floyd.

Flashback, drawn by Shauna Lee, reflected Lin Floyd's poem by the same name.  The team won the Blue Ribbon cash award for their work.

Flashback, drawn by Shauna Lee, reflected Lin Floyd’s poem by the same name. The team won the Blue Ribbon cash award for their work.

Exhibition that shows at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery through May 2.  Mesquite Gaming

is corporate sponsor for this competition that pairs the words of poets from the region with original artwork created by VVAA members.

At the April 23 reception for the exhibition, VVAA president Jean Wiensch named the award winners.   Judges chose a watercolor by Jan J Hansen and poem by Lin Floyd as “Best of Show,”  with each woman winning  cash award and ribbon for her efforts.  Ms. Floyd, a frequent  entrant in the Gallery’s yearly competition, wrote the poem, “Returning,” which Hansen used as basis for her painting, titled “The Journey.”

Floyd’s winning poem that inspired Hansen’s beautiful painting, will resonate with many.

Returning
Traveling home alone
in the summer’s stifling heat
through barren deserts,
jagged mountain peaks
tucked together by dusk,
lay hidden from view.
Evening arrives quietly
as brilliant red-pink rays
announce sunset’s arrival.
Majestic designs appear on the horizon,
darkening clouds play, dance
with blackening outlines.
Time to rest and unwind
in evening’s cooling darkness,
forget stresses of living.
Another new day will bring
fresh opportunities, renewed energy
to begin the journey again.
(Lin Floyd, ©)

A top non-cash award was given to the work that garnered the most votes from gallery visitors. Susan Holladay and Donald E. (Buss) Groves won the hearts of the people with “But, I Am Still Here,” dry media art drawn to the poem, “Fire.”   A coveted award, Sponsor’s Choice, was selected by Christian Adderson, Corporate Sales Manager of Mesquite Gaming, who confessed to having a hard time choosing a favorite.  His vote went to a winterscape, “Fall is Gone,” painted by Lance Barr from words in the poem “Autumn Winds,” written by D. Gary Christian.

Additional winning artist/poet teams are:

Blue Ribbon artist Shauna Lee and poet Lin Floyd; Red Ribbon artist Judith Hetem and poet Merry Bradshaw; White Ribbon artist Susan Holladay and poet Donald E. Groves; Honorable Mention ribbons:  artist Marlie Warren and poet D. Gary Christian; artist Janet Trobough and poet D. Gary Christian; artist Judith Heusner and poet Amanda Webster;  artist Geraldine Zarate and poet Marilyn Ball; artist Judith Heusner and poet Amanda Webster; and artist Phoebe Wrighter and poet Marie Tollstrup.

Also honored at the reception was the Gallery’s featured Artist of the Month, Sally Leppala.

Her display of paintings in the Mesa Gallery will also show through May 2.

These artists, and all members showing their original artwork at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery, contribute their time and talent to maintaining the gallery for the community.  VVAA is a nonprofit 501c3 organization that accomplishes its charter objectives through the volunteer efforts of its members. They operate the Gallery, which is a retail art gallery that features all original artwork, a pottery studio that is open to the public, artist studios and the Mesquite Fine arts Center classroom. VVAA offers art classes, public lectures, free art classes for seniors and kids, and hosts many other cultural events at the Gallery throughout the year.

The work done by VVAA is financially supported by the sale of artwork in the gallery and gift shop, as well as the generous sponsorships and donations of local businesses and individuals, as well as grants from Greater Mesquite Arts Foundation (GMAF) and other entities. Such support is invaluable in helping VVAA to promote the power of the arts in the region.  VVAA is a member of the GMAF Arts Roundtable.

From May 4 through May 30, the entire Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery is devoted to Student Art Month, a display of the public school artwork created by students of the Virgin Valley K-12 schools. The Gallery is located at 15 West Mesquite Blvd, open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Call 702-346-1338 or visit the website at  www.mesquitefineartscenter.com, and on Facebook for more information.