Sherry Haaland, Judy Rixom and Fran Devitt [Photo: Denise Ritchie]

Thousands of art lovers and savvy collectors attended the 32nd annual Art by the Sea Exhibition, presented by the Vero Beach Art Club last weekend at the Vero Beach Museum of Art. The museum’s Holmes Great Hall was a hubbub of activity at the opening reception Friday evening, as artists accepted accolades from viewers and, in the case of the lucky winners, awards in a variety of categories.

Each of the 222 artists, members of the Art Club, the museum or in many cases both, is allowed to exhibit one original piece not entered in a prior Art by the Sea. Although it is not a juried show, it is judged, with awards determined by an independent judge. This year saw a return of R. Lynn Whitelaw, founding director and curator of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art at St. Petersburg College.

Judy Rixom, who co-chaired the show for the fifth time with Sherry Haaland, said that Whitelaw had also judged the show about four years ago.

This year’s Mary Mazur Award for Best of Show was presented to Charles Kaune, for his pastel work, ‘Portrait Study for Ali.’

“I think that’s maybe a first,” said Rixom. “Usually it seems to go to sculptors. I loved his piece; it’s a beautiful piece.”

As a pastel artist herself, who teaches pastel classes at the VBMA, Haaland too was pleased with the Best of Show choice, adding, “It’s always a nice show; people really enjoy it.”

A relative novice, Kaune said he didn’t even begin painting until he turned 69.

“I took a workshop in beginning portraits and it was like a little light went off in my head and I thought, oh, there’s a method to it,” said Kaune, adding that he was stunned by the award, but very happy that people liked his work.

The talented Joan Earnhart, last year’s Best of Show winner, received First Place in Sculpture for her complex assemblage piece, ‘The Sphinx of Thebes.’ Rife with symbolism, her striking work represented many aspects regarding the female monster from Greek mythology. “She is really not very nice,” said Earnhart, explaining that while Oedipus was able to avoid being torn apart and devoured after answering her riddle, he had his own issues. “Nothing ends well!”

On the other hand, all will end well for the Vero Beach Art Club. Artists donate a percentage of sales from the show to support the club’s educational outreach programs, scholarships to high school seniors and art supplies to budding artists in elementary and middle schools.

For more information, visit verobeachartclub.org.