The 16th annual Stars of Texas Juried Art Exhibit opened Saturday night with a reception and awards ceremony showcasing talented artists’ works from across the state of Texas.
This year’s exhibit features 144 artistic works of 86 artists selected by juror Benito Huerta out of 257 entries.
“As my role as a curator for The Gallery at UTA – University of Arlington – I try to look beyond my own tastes to bring work that represents the various areas of the department. So with this work I was basing my selections on two criteria – one being originality and the other craftsmanship, either solely or in combination,” said Huerta. “Why? Sometimes people have an original but it is so new they might not have skills to execute it but we give them some slack because of the unique concept. In other cases, some artists have incredible skills but their ideas are not so new, but their technique more than compensates for this. And, when the two are equally as great, the work stands out. This is how I look at the work that was brought in last Saturday.”
Awards and cash prizes totaling $6500 were given to 16 artists in a variety of categories. This year’s $1000 Dorothy Mays Best of Show Award was given to Erin Medellin of Weatherford for her oil painting “Ready for My Close-up, Mr. DeMille.” Medellin is pictured at top with the piece. See other award winners and photos below.
Art lovers of all ages may view the Stars of Texas Juried Art Exhibit February 2-15 at the Depot Civic and Cultural Center located at 600 E. Depot in Brownwood. Show hours Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday, February 8th 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Saturday, February 15th, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Sunday 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Artwork that did not make the Stars of Texas Art Exhibit will be featured in the Salon des Refuses at the Art Center located at 215 Fisk Avenue.
The Stars of Texas will hold a paint-off competition on Saturday, February 8th at the Depot Civic and Cultural Center.
$750 Texas State Optical Juror Award – Carolyn Wood of Brownwood, “The Celebration of Rose.” Medium – acrylic
$500 Don C. Martin Memorial Sculpture Award – Esteban C. Apodaca of San Angelo, “Dad and I.” Medium – clay and wood
$500 KOHLER Award – “Tell Tail Sign” – Jenna Murray of Denton. Medium – mixed
$500 Kay Beth and Charles Stavley Merit Award – Robert Priddy of Priddy, “Patience?” Medium – graphite
$500 Larry J. Elling Memorial Photography Award – Randy Hall of San Angelo, “Taoist Temple.” Medium – photography
$500 Mary Cadenhead Pastel Award – Kit Timmins of Brownwood, “Wait! That’s Not Mine.” Medium – pastel
$500 J. Hite Homes, Inc. Merit Award – Robert W. Cook of Granbury, “Chimneys of Auch.” Medium – Watercolor
$500 Oil Medium Award (by anonymous donor) – Ben Sum of San Angelo, “Wudang Morning.” Medium – oil
$500 Rufus F. Stanley, Jr. Memorial Watercolor Award – Cathie Tyler of Mason, “House Mountain.” Medium – watercolor
$100 Stanley Dodge Honorable Mention Award -Ryan McKerley of Austin, “Oval Bowl.” Medium – porcelain
$100 Stanley Dodge Honorable Mention Award – Britt Stokes of Fort Worth, “Piazzo San Marco, Venice ’13.” Medium – photography
$100 Stanley Dodge Honorable Mention Award – Martha Middleton of Brownwood, “Tea Master.” Medium – oil
$100 Stanley Dodge Honorable Mention Award – Jason Page of Corpus Christi, “Sunset on Lake Brownwood.” Medium – photography
$100 Honorable Mention Award – Polly Jones of Abilene, “Carnival Glass.” Medium – mixed.
Photo Shootout contest, held January 25th – to Michael Apodaca of Mesquite.
