Winners announced at Rockwall Art League’s 2015 Fine Art Show

(ROCKWALL, TX – Oct 4, 2015) The Rockwall Art League‘s 15th Annual Fine Art Show, presented Oct. 2-4 at Rockwall Rotary Hall, drew a steady crowd of artists, art enthusiasts, buyers, friends, family and community members.

The show was judged by nationally recognized, award winning artist Carol B. Mitchell. Cash awards were presented for Best of Show, Oil, Acrylic, Water Media, Drawing, Photography, and Mixed Media/3-Dimensional. The People’s Choice Award gave visitors a chance to vote on their favorite piece of artwork.

Sales of artwork during the show help support RAL’s Tom Collins Memorial Fine Art Scholarship, which is given annually to a Rockwall graduating senior.

Rockwall Art League president Thom Loafman addressed the crowd during an Artists Reception and Awards Ceremony on Saturday evening.

“This is Rockwall County’s only Fine Art Show, and it’s something we’re very proud to bring to the community.  But it doesn’t happen for a nonprofit like ours without our sponsors, and we’re very grateful to have such a wonderful group of sponsors. They  sponsored every cash prize awarded here tonight. Without the involvement of the businesses in our community who provide that prize money, a show like this would never make it on to the map,” Loafman said.

Loafman then introduced Cindy Paris, president of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall. He thanked Paris and the hospital for sponsoring the $500 Best of Show Award “for more years than I can count.”

He presented certificates of appreciation and thanked the other  prize money sponsors as well – many who offer their support year after year – and a couple of newcomers, too.

Other local businesses and organizations who helped make this event a success include Kroger, Tom Thumb Rockwall, AMICA, Rockwall Old Town Shoppes, Rockwall Women’s League, Rotary Club of Rockwall, Asel Art Supply, Rockwall Arts, Albright, Hill and Sumpter CPA, and The Flower Box. Blue Ribbon News served as media sponsor.

“The other thing that a show like this requires besides money is people – the labor. The Art League is lucky to have a strong membership – a lot of people have put time and effort into producing this show,” Loafman said. “And the most effort is by our two co-chairs, Karen Perry and Kay Roe. They’re both relative newcomers to the Art League, but they were fearless in taking on probably the biggest project we have all year. I want to thank them them for their patience and grace.”

Roe and Perry both expressed their thanks and appreciation to the artists, volunteers and community sponsors. Rowe gave a special shout-out to her husband and others who supported their spouses throughout the planning of the show.

Loafman also recognized Ginny Hibbard and her another big program of the Art League – the ArtReach program. “It’s a program whereby our volunteers share the joy of creativity with young men and women who are mentally or developmentally challenged. Our volunteers work at the Connections location of the Lakes Region MHMR (Mental Health Mental Rehabilitation)… It’s something we’re so proud of. We are assisted in that effort by the ladies of AMICA and the Rockwall Women’s League who provide the funding for the program, and we’d like to express our thanks to them and point out the artwork of some of the participant of the program. It’s a program that gives extra substance to what we’re doing as an Art League.”

OIL PAINTING 

First Place, sponsored by Milestone Electric: Susan Jump

Second Place, sponsored by Lakeside National Bank Rockwall: Stephanie Grant

Honorable Mention: Joe LaBarre

ACRYLIC

First Place, sponsored by North Star Bank of Rockwall: Thom Loafman

Second Place, sponsored by North Texas Appliance Rockwall: Helen Comeau

Honorable Mention: Betty Jean Hoaglund

WATERMEDIA

First Place, sponsored by American National Bank: Patricia LaBarre

Second Place, sponsored by Milestone Electric: Darlene Dittoe

Honorable Mention: Helen Comeau

DRAWING

First Place, sponsored by Toyota of Rockwall: Alisa Fulghum

Second Place, sponsored by Milestone Electric: Helen Comeau

Honorable Mention: Terri Benson

PHOTOGRAPHY

First Place, sponsored by Lake Pointe Medical Center Rowlett: Michael K. P. Yeo

Second Place, sponsored by Honda Cars of Rockwall: Barbara Scurlock

Honorable Mention: Richard Hoaglund

MIXED MEDIA & 3-DIMENSIONAL

First Place, sponsored by Heritage GMC Buick of Rockwall: Marga Rootlieb

Second Place, sponsored by Barbara Kelly Insurance: Dixie Bickerstaff

Honorable Mention: Lauriann Dygowski

BEST OF SHOW

Sponsored by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall: Jordan Grimes

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

Jordan Grimes

Jordan Grimes explained that his sculpture was inspired by his ancestor who was kidnapped by Indians when she was nine; she lived with the Comanches for 24 years, and her son led the Comanche Indians as they transferred to reservations. “That’s always been a big part of our family history…Native American culture is something I’ve always been inspired by and it leads me to do the kind of work I do.”  Visit Jordan Grimes’ website at jordangrimes.com.

  art league, Awards, best of show, fine art show, Rockwall, sponsors, winners