Hundreds gathered on April 10 for the 36th Annual Spring Into Art Gala, hosted by the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts. More than 340 pieces of original art created by 196 regional artists were entered into the region’s most prominent art exhibition and will remain on display through June 7.
“After a challenging past year, we are extremely grateful to the artists, sponsors, volunteers, vendors, patrons and other stakeholders for making this an incredible spring event,” said Executive Director Sementha Mathews. “The public is invited to view the beautiful art that adorns the creative spaces within the Turner Center galleries. And, as always, admission to the galleries is free.”
Selections for awards were based on a dual-judge review, which was conducted without respect to names, title or prices of the artists’ work. Six thousand dollars in cash prizes were awarded to the top three winners in four categories, a Best of Show, as well as 10 honorable mentions.
Congratulations to the following award winners:
Best In Show
Kat Chudy, Tallahassee, FL, “Anxiety Suit” Cotton, Silk Screen on Cotton, Faux Pearls
Painting Category
1st place: Ramiro Santillan, Valdosta, GA, “Suburban Visitor” Oil on Canvas2nd place: Logan Dotson, Gainesville, FL, “Across the Street” Oil on Canvas
3rd place: Harry Ally, Valdosta, GA, “Seated Figure with Shape #3” Oil on Canvas
Drawing/Printmaking/ Mixed Media Category
1st place: Taylor Gray, Valdosta, GA, “Thirty Minute Shower” Screen Print
2nd place: Christine Flanagan, Live Oak, FL, “City Drug” Colored Pencil
3rd place: Eli Rainwater, Valdosta, GA, “Tailgate Breakfast” Watercolor
Digital Arts/Photography Category
1st place: Zane Ally, Valdosta, GA, “Untitled I” Photography2nd place: Mike Tanner, Nicholls, GA, “Path on the River” Photography
3rd place: Amanda Yates, Thomasville, GA, “Hanging Out When It’s Past Time to Go” Photography
Sculpture/Ceramics/Jewelry/Crafts Category
1st place: Amber Moore, Moultrie, GA “In Conversation” Glazed Stone
2nd place: Barbara Balzer, Tallahassee, FL, “Van Gogh Never Owned a Dog” Ceramic
3rd place: Julie Barnes Smith, Valdosta, GA, “Container Garden” Ceramic
Honorable Mentions
Suzanne Ally, Valdosta, GA, “Angels and Other Fallen Objects #2” Cold Wax & Mixed Media on Panel
Jennifer Clinard, Tallahassee, FL, “Fog on the Ecofina River” Oil on Canvas Panel
Harvie Ann Cox, Moultrie, GA, “Looking at Life Through Rose Colored Glasses” Watercolor
Yazmyne Franklin, Valdosta, GA, “Alaska Mountaintop” Photography
Taylor Gray, Valdosta, GA, “Renewal” Reductive Relief Print
Pong Holton, Douglas, GA, “Up Root” Metal Point
D. Arthur McBride, Havana, FL, “Avyanna” Oil on Linen
Coby Rice, Ray City, GA, “Visiting the Old Home Place” Colored Pencil
Dave Richards, Valdosta, GA, “Rough Around the Edges” Wood
Lance Wilkes, Valdosta, GA, “1966 Ford Bronco” Charcoal
Judges
Amy Bennion – MFA from University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. Currently an Assistant Professor at the University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL
Sheila Goloborotko – MFA from Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, New York. Currently an Associate Professor, Printmaking, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL
At the event, Colson Printing also selected 13 works from the exhibition to be featured in their 2024 calendar, which will be available to the public this fall.
The Loyce and Annette Turner Foundation, Synovus Bank, Patrick Parker and Dr. Mike S. Chiang are Platinum Sponsors of the 2023 Spring Into Art Gala. The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts appreciates dozens of other sponsors that, along with the Platinum Sponsors, made the 2023 exhibition a regional success. These sponsors are proudly displayed at the Center and at turnercenter.org.
The exhibit is on display at the Turner Center until close of business on June 7. Participating artists, as well as individuals who purchased art from the exhibit, may pick up their pieces from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Thursday, June 8; and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on June 9, at 527 N. Patterson St. For more information, call 229-247-2787 or visit turnercenter.org.
