VALDOSTA —
Paintings dominate the 25th Annual Spring Into Art in the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, but it was a three-dimensional piece which took home the top honor Monday night.
Perry, Fla., artist Jeff Byers’ “Jefftapose Tea Service,” a silver, ebony and rosewood piece, won best in show. The work is an actual tea service, with a unique design.
The show features 455 art works by 239 artists. While the show includes sculpture, ceramics, photographs, prints, etc., the majority of works are paintings using oils, acrylics and watercolors.
Thomasville artist Dick Inman’s “St. Croix Madonna” won first-place painting; the powerful canvas features an African-American mother and child. Former arts center curator Jamie Harmon, now of Memphis, Tenn., won first place in the printmaking/digital arts/photography category. Tallahassee, Fla., artist Barbara Balzer again won first-place honors in the sculpture category. Dedo Maranville was the lone Valdosta artist to take a first place, topping the ceramics/jewelry/crafts category.
The show fills nearly every gallery within the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts. For Monday’s opening reception, hundreds of visitors poured into the arts center to view the art.
Eddie Norris, who is credited with founding Spring Into Art, returned to Valdosta for the show. He bestowed a special Eddie Norris Award to Thomasville artist Suzanna Winton for “Sparky’s Chair.”
“We spent 19 years in Valdosta,” Norris said, referring to himself and wife Ann. “We loved it here. We’re so excited to be a part of the 25th Spring Into Art.”
SPRING INTO ART AWARD WINNERS
• Best of Show: Jeff Byers, “Jefftapose Tea Service,” silver, ebony & rosewood.
• Drawing/Painting/Mixed Media
First Place: Dick Inman, “St. Croix Madonna,” oil painting.
Second Place: Kelly Rowell, “Thrash Hall,” colored pencil.
Third Place: Colleen Harris, “Samuel, oil painting.
• Printmaking/Digital Arts/Photography
First Place: Jamie Harmon, “Ditch,” photography.
Second Place: David Retterbush, “Hay Swirl,” digital photography.
Third Place: Lynde Young, “The Bloom is in the Seed ,” digital/giclee on canvas.
• Sculpture
First Place: Barbara Balzer, “Prelude,” clay.
Second Place: Lynde Young, “Rolling A Wave ,” paper & acrylic mediums.
Third Place: Dennis Pitts, “Buttons the Pig,” metal.
• Ceramics/Jewelry/Crafts
First Place: Dedo Maranville, “Summer Medley,” clay.
Second Place: Connie Wells, “Time After Time ,” jewelry.
Third Place: Matthew Lawrence, “Walnut Side Table,” wood.
• Honorable Mention Awards
Lennis Carrier, “Spring Bouquet,” metal, vintage glass, textiles, paint.
Jack Smith, “Multi-Chambers,” walnut & glass.
H. Marshall Norris, “Shh — Don’t Wake Metal Baby ,” metal.
Beth Lind, “Travel Plans,” photography.
Sharon L. Coleman, “Beauty in the Bog,” photography.
Steven Heddon, “Angular Connections,” photo framed.
Harley D. Hall Jr., “All Eyes Dotted,” acrylic paint.
Kaleb Foshee, Untitled, selenium-toned silver print.
Sarah DeLoach, “Perfect Imperfection,” watercolor.
Stephani Joseph, “The Dormouse’s Presents Arrive: The Alice in Wonderland Series,” oil on canvas.
COLSON CALENDAR WINNERS
Philip Bagrow, “In Line at the Vatican,” oil on canvas.
Jill Bright, “Hahira Whoops,” oil paint.
Annette Crosby, “View from Above,” acrylic paint.
Susan R. Dolan, “A Quiet Place,” oil on canvas.
Cindy Inman, “Don’t Mess with Texas,” acrylic paint.
Stefani Joseph, “The Dormouse’s Presents Arrive: The Alice in Wonderland Series,” oil on canvas.
Joe Morgan, “Sunset Departure: Key West,” photography.
Earle McKey, “Sunrise,” oil paint.
Don Pettigrew, “Beach Fun,” watercolor.
Sally Querin, Untitled 1, photography.
David Retterbush, “Butterfly on Sunflower,” photography.
Deanna Wheeler, “Retired Road Warriors,” oil paint.
Suzanna Winton, “Men on Horses,” oil paint.
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