Gadsden Arts celebrates award-winning artists from across the region.
Grace Robinson
Gadsden County News Service
Gadsden Arts welcomed more than 300 patrons for the opening reception and awards ceremony of the 37th Art in Gadsden Juried Exhibition.
The event, held on Friday, Aug. 1, was presented by Thomas Howell Ferguson, P.A., represented by longtime colleague Debie Leonard.
A popular regional tradition since 1989, this year’s exhibition features 117 outstanding artworks by 91 artists from across our region. On Friday night, Gadsden Arts was honored to have Gadsden County Commissioner Alonzetta Simpkins welcome the enthusiastic crowd.
This year’s award-winning works were selected by Harris Wiltsher, a distinguished artist and educator who has made lasting contributions to the regional arts scene. A Fulbright Scholar and faculty member at Florida A&M University since 2000, Wiltsher has been an active volunteer and advocate of Gadsden Arts for nearly two decades, and is an award-winning American artist in his own right.
Wiltsher selected winners based on artistic excellence, originality, and emotional impact. As he announced each award winner, Wiltsher shared his thoughts regarding the selection and the stories that each work of art evoked.
The Best of Show award, sponsored by Doug Croley Insurance Services, was garnered by D. Arthur McBride (Havana) for her painting titled Against All Odds. Wiltsher said that this work spoke to him every time he entered the gallery. It is masterfully painted, and represents a young black man with a kind face, spider man T-shirt, tattoo, and contemplative expression. McBride shared that this young man befriended her son, both of whom battle Type 1 Diabetes.
Wiltsher awarded First Place, sponsored by Iron Oak Wealth Management, to Beth Appleton (Tallahassee, FL) for her hand-colored cut paper collage titled Maelstrom. This was particularly touching for longtime friends of Gadsden Arts, as Appleton and her husband founded the Art in Gadsden exhibition. Wiltsher said of this piece, “Appleton’s work is not only extraordinary in detail and craftsmanship, it tells a story – in this case, appealing to my Jamaican heritage, and referencing the hurricanes we all experience here in Florida.”
Alex Hinson of Lines, Hinson, and Lines, the oldest continually operated law firm in Gadsden County, announced the Second Place award, which went to Joel Thornton (Tallahassee) for his painting titled Mickey Mantle at Bat. Thornton shared that this is one of the highest awards of his artistic career, and that he is a painting student of D. Arthur McBride.
Juror Harris Wiltsher said of this work, “I loved the daring horizontal format, and the mix of realism and abstraction, capturing a moment in time – and as a native of the Bronx, New York, I am definitely a Yankees fan.”
Lucy Harris, owner of Full Earth Farm, reminded the crowd to eat your vegetables, and then presented the Third Place award. The award winner is Fred Sanguiliano (Tallahassee) for his painting, The Gift. Wiltsher said that the shadows and light in this painting create a powerful, emotional effect. Artist Sanguiliano shared the poem that inspired this piece that depicts an elderly grandmother sewing a button onto a worn doll as a Christmas present for her granddaughter.
Honorable Mentions were awarded to Jennifer Clinard (Tallahassee for her painting, Oarsman on Bradford Creek; Brenda Francis (Tallahassee) for her painting titled Look Both Ways; Echo Gates (Tallahassee) for her work titled Ready for Next Year; and Mark Georgiades (Havana) for his sculpture titled Verdant Dreams.Art in Gadsden continues this month, sponsored in part by Black Fig and Proof Brewing Company, with Artist’s Studio Visits on Saturday, August 23, and a Dine & Discover Luncheon conversation with award winners on Thursday, August 28. For more information and reservations, visit www.gadsdenarts.org.
Gadsden Arts is located at 13 N. Madison Street in Quincy, and open to the public Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10am – 5pm. Admission is free for members, children ages 17 and under, and families with children who visit on Saturdays. Admission is $3 – $5 for nonmember adults. For more information, visit www.gadsdenarts.org.
