By Page H. Gifford
Correspondent
Among the 52 diverse and creative pieces entered in the People’s Choice Award Show, artist Linda Bethke won first in Masters for River Rain and for one of the two special categories, Best in Color for Chinoiserie. The winners were announced on Nov. 23.
This year the Fluvanna Art Association used three categories plus two special ones, Best in Color and Most Innovative. In the Most Innovative category, Carol Sorber won hands-down for A Bees Life, a beautiful iridescent piece forged in glass with a mosaic honeycomb and glass bees buzzing around.
The other three categories were Intermediate 1, 2, and Masters. Collage artist Marcie Stahl took first and third in Intermediate 1, for Hillside Harmony and Nestled in Nature. Both pieces were flawlessly executed, making the choice difficult. Linda Napier won second for Pond in Sunset and newcomer Linda Ficke received an honorable mention for Spring Flowers.
Susan Walker won first place in Intermediate 2 with the visually appealing Leo Leopard. Cindy Stenz’s Christmas 2024 and Fluvanna High School art teacher Michael Morris’ Sunday Afternoon on the James tied for second in the Intermediate 2 category. Deborah Nixon received an honorable mention for Owen’s Gone Fishing.
The show was strong in diversity and skill, featuring the ethereal nature prints of Alyce Walcavich and a delicate botanical by Bev Bowman. Gigi Dodds’ Butterfly Swirl was an eye-catching fiber art, exploding in color. Lisa Daniels’ Madam Goat was cleverly created with humor. But it was newcomer Donna Lerner’s perfect soapstone sculpture of Octo Man that got attention from fellow artists.
Narrowing the choices to a few in each category was difficult for anyone while surrounded by so much talent.
