PRESS RELEASE
THE WOODLANDS, TX -- "It is very difficult in general for a mixed media painting to win an advanced award in an open show, so I feel extremely awed that "Watergarden" was chosen," says Joella Guaraglia-Wheeler of the Woodlands Art League. The artist from Spring was awarded the Dorothy Hargraves Memorial Award for Best Floral at the 2013 Lone Star Art Guild (
www.lonestarartguild.org) Annual Convention and Art Exhibition. The organization's 51st, this year's event was held at the Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center in The Woodlands, Texas on July 19 & 20 in conjunction with Artist Expo Houston (
www.artistexpohouston.com).
Best of Show for the judged exhibition was awarded to professional artist, Barbara Noll of Woodville, Texas for her piece "Cactus Friends". A member of the Lufkin Art Guild, Noll says of her winning piece, "My artwork showed the subtle colors at day's end. Pear cacti grow in bountiful clusters here in west Texas. I am thrilled to have had my artwork chosen from among so many wonderful artworks present here."
"This was a large show by LSAG standards with about 748 pieces displayed, including traditional oils, acrylic and watercolor paintings," explained Guaraglia-Wheeler. Other categories include drawing, mixed media, photography, digital art, experimental, sculpture & fine art crafts. Artists of all ages & skill level are included in the annual juried show ranging from professional & semi-professional to non-professional and adult student. School students are also featured from elementary to high school. All art at the show had to have won an award in its particular category and division at one of the member leagues' open shows held during the last season, fall 2012-spring 2013, to qualify for entry in this juried exhibit. Ribbons were awarded to several pieces at the various levels in each category represented from 1st place to Honorable Mention.
The Lone Star Art Guild is an organization of 18 art leagues and approximately 2,000 member artists within a 200-mile radius of Houston. The event featured 748 pieces of artwork from 307 Southeast Texas artists in both 2-dimensional & 3-dimensional mediums, various forms of painting, drawing and photography. "We are excited to see so many of our award-winning artists enjoying the opportunity to come together and show their artwork at our annual convention," said Sue Syvertson, 2012-3 First Vice president of LSAG (and incoming LSAG President for 2013-2014). "This show represents the best of the best from our member leagues."
This year's three judges for the exhibition were Rene Wiley, Sheila Blakemore and Jeannette Cuevas. All are accomplished professional artists in their own art mediums of expertise. After the show judging, the three judges were available to critique the artists' work. In addition to the judged art show and exhibition, attendees also had the opportunity to view 2-hour art demonstrations from national-recognized artists from Texas. This year's demonstrators included professional artists Bob Rohm, Deborah Hill, Bill Kalwick, Jr, Karen Vernon, and Judy Crowe."These artists are some of the best known talents in their mediums and we were very privileged to have them join us for our convention this year," says Syvertson.
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