Allied Arts presents Oconee Arts Exhibit

  • First-place winner Berry Smith stands beside his watercolor piece, “Thundering Hooves.”
    First-place winner Berry Smith stands beside his watercolor piece, “Thundering Hooves.”
  • A woman examines some of the wall displays from the Oconee Artist Exhibit.
    A woman examines some of the wall displays from the Oconee Artist Exhibit.
  • Third-place winner Jessica Whitehead stands beside her photograph titled “Sheep Family” that was taken at Comfort Farms in Milledgeville.
    Third-place winner Jessica Whitehead stands beside her photograph titled “Sheep Family” that was taken at Comfort Farms in Milledgeville.

    Milledgeville-Baldwin County Allied Arts, Inc.(Allied Arts) hosted the reception for the Oconee Arts Exhibit on May 12.

    Allied Arts hosted its annual Oconee Artist Contest through April 28, where artists from all over middle Georgia could submit their artwork for an exhibition in May and awards. There were six categories an artist could enter: drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, mixed media and sculpture. The first-place winner won $500, second-place won $250, and third-place won $125. In addition, the top entries in each category were awarded a Certificate of Merit.

    Allied Arts received 52 submissions from 21 artists that have their artwork exhibited in the Marlor House Art Center in downtown Milledgeville. At the opening reception, the winners and honorable mentions were announced to a large crowd gathered to see the first showing of the exhibit.

    Judge Matthew Forrest, interim chair of the GCSU Art Department and associate professor of art, selected the winners.

    First-place was awarded to Berry Smith’s watercolor piece 'Thundering Hooves.' Second-place was awarded to Dana Wiggins-Thompson’s watercolor piece 'Labor of Love' and third-place was awarded to Jessica Whitehead’s photograph “Sheep Family.”

    Honorable mentions included Robert Battle’s 'Cow in Field', Casaundra Bennett’s 'Dancing Druids in the Fog' and Bev Eaton’s 'Tranquil Curves'.

    “I want to thank Allied Arts for making this contest and exhibit possible and to thank our artists who put out some exceptionally beautiful pieces,” said Tammi McMullen, Allie Arts’ office manager. “It takes a lot of courage and talent to be able to create these artworks and submit them to the community.

    Every piece was extraordinary, and we thank each of you for contributing.”

    The exhibit will be open to the public through May 26. The Marlor House Art Center is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays (May 13 & 20) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    “We are thankful to all the artists who submitted their artwork to the Oconee Artist Contest and Exhibit, and we highly encourage the community to visit us and see this extraordinary artwork for themselves,” said Kristin Allen, program coordinator for Allied Arts.