“This what I like about Vero Beach; it’s very cultural,” said Canadian snowbird Tim Williston, echoing the sentiments of many in the packed crowd of visitors to last Friday evening’s opening night reception of the Vero Beach Art Club’s 27th annual Art by the Sea Exhibition. The show continued through the weekend.
More than 240 pieces were on display in the Museum’s Holmes Great Hall, each a singular work entered by talented members of the Vero Beach Art Club and Vero Beach Museum of Art.
“I think this is one of the best art shows in Vero Beach,” said Sue Sharpe, a Museum docent. “I love the show because it showcases the local talent, and the local talent is amazing; it’s fabulous.”
Snippets of conversation overheard all through the evening were similar to Sharpe’s and of Susan Pfau, who said, “This always blows me away; the whole show is wonderful.”
The Friday evening reception gives art lovers first crack at purchasing their favorite pieces, some of which had already been scoped out by fellow artists as the show was laid out.
“I was drooling over it all day; it’s absolutely gorgeous,” said artist Elise Geary, who not only won third prize in acrylic, but had also quickly snapped up Joe Montagnino’s spectacular handcrafted bowl, “Wonder,” carved from Norfolk Island pine.
A beaming Montagnino, who chaired the successful show with co-chairs Carolyn Frederiksen and Ron Miller, was clearly having a good night. Glowing as if made of glass, his perfectly polished piece had also caught the eye of the show’s judge, Marian Heath Axley, who presented Montagnino with the John Mazur Memorial Award for Best in Show.
No favoritism here; a different out-of-town judge is selected each year, charged with the challenging job of determining winners. This year’s other top awards included Jim McMillan, who received the Noel Rothmayer Award for Oil. First-place awards were presented to Soozi Schuble, acrylic; Joan Lyons, watercolor; George Pillorge, pastels/graphic; Greg Ingerson, mixed media and Ronald Miller, sculpture/3D. Best in category went to Jens Bisgaard, jewelry; David Goodrich, film & digital photography and Betsy McKean, digitally enhanced photography.
“We really like it; I bet you had a lot of fun doing it,” said Marna Huber to Margaret Goembel, remarking about her creative, multifaceted collage, “Coastal Memories No. X.”
“It sold!” said Mackie Duch, excited about the sale of her acrylic, “In the Shadows.” Noting that it was the first one she had sold at an actual art show she added, “It does definitely give you inspiration. I take classes at the Museum and the teachers are excited too. They’re happy for me.”
Pastel artist and art teacher Dawn Miller was equally proud that the first and second place pastel winners had studied with her. “It’s not about who’s better; it’s who’s learning. They did it!”
The Vero Beach Art Club, originally formed 1936 as the Vero Beach Sketch Club, incorporated under its present name in 1954. Funds raised at the annual show benefit the Vero Beach Art Club Scholarship Program, which awards scholarships towards degrees in fine arts to local high school students.
Photos:
Mackie and Richard Duch
David and Marna Huber
Sue and George Sharpe with Betsy Marshall
Helen Robertson, Vero Beach Mayor Dick Winger and Laura Moss
Elise Geary and Joe Montagnino
Agnes Manganelli and Minakshi De
Brent and Marian Greene