Congratulations to the Winners of the Artistic Alchemy, our Spring Student and Member Showcase!

"Separate Ways" by Danielle Melas [cropped]

Another show has closed at The Art Center, and while we’re sad to see it go, we are delighted for the time we had with the artwork. Artistic Alchemy, our spring Student and Member Showcase, was a true testament to the incredible talents we have here at the center. Our hardworking students have made each new showcase more impressive than the last, and our generous members continue to honor us with their stunning work.

As with many of our shows, this one was judged and winners were selected. Student and member works were considered in separate categories and, due to our robust showing from the ceramics studio, the student work judging was further divided between visual and ceramic pieces. A heartfelt congratulations to our student winners!

Catalina Bueth Gomez took first place in ceramics for “Untitled,” a beautiful and technically impressive work featuring three decorated ceramic pod-like shapes all connected with intricate woven fibers.

Danielle Melas took first place in visual for “Separate Ways,” the painting featuring a white haired woman and a grey-furred dog, angled away from each other with detailed and expressive faces against a soft grey background.

Naomi Nikolas took second place in ceramics for “Gossamer,” a beautiful wavy piece of ceramics that attracted the attention of many of our guests with its complex glaze and abstracted form.

Diann Denny took second place in visual for “Simpler Times,” a tranquil lake scene painted with a nod to the Impressionist style in colors that vividly portray the serenity of a sunny day by the water.

Anne Harriman took third place in ceramics for “Thing,” a tongue-in-cheek name for an intricate bowl reminiscent of a kelp forest.

Eileen Bodamer took third place in visual for “Consumed by the Desert,” a painting that took a unique perspective on desert flora with vibrant colors and a latticework of shading.

We also had two Honorable Mentions: Miranda Baumann for “All of My Secrets” and Gretchin Jones for “Rolling Thunder.”

For our Member show, Lori Macrate took first place for “Studebaker,” a colorful large scale acrylic painting of the titular car. Its vibrant colors and tight composition caught many eyes during the course of the exhibition!

Summer Lowe took second for “Autumn Tree,” an oil painting that translated her iconic portraiture style to a landscape representation of a tree to stunning effect.

Katheryn Ericksen took third place for “Pergola,” a photograph of a flowery pergola that made masterful use of focus to create a warm and dreamy sensation within the piece.

And last, but not least, our People’s Choice Award goes to Jim Forester for “Cheers”!

We would like to extend our thanks and congratulations to all of the exhibiting artists for this spring’s Student and Member Exhibition! Your work is a testament to your incredible skill, unique vision, and dedication to the arts, and we at The Art Center are proud to have the opportunity to share your pieces with the world.

Be sure to stop by to see our next exhibition of work by our own Debra Yaun and her group, The Art Gathering, featuring an array of beautifully detailed work in mediums including colored pencil, watercolor, ceramics, and more! They will be hosting a closing reception on Friday June 13 from 5-6:30 PM.

If you’re seeking an opportunity to exhibit your own work, our call for art for the annual Summer Serendipity show is now open and taking submissions!