Main Street White Sulphur Springs held its annual West Virginia Dandelion Festival Art Show at the White Sulphur Springs Public Library on Friday, May 25. Forty-one adult entries by 16 artists were displayed at the show in seven different categories. Twenty-five student entries were also shown.
The following award winners were announced at the show.
Linda Dotson Vaughn took the first place ribbon in textiles for her vibrant quilting square composition called “Doodle Cat.” Linda Treadway revealed her diverse talents by taking second and third place in textiles with two very different entries – a plastic weaving sculpture called “Flower Cart” and “Butterfly Garden,” created from cross stitch and bead work. Judi Lewis took the first place ribbon with her ceramic sculpture of her sweet cat called “Old Tom.” Linda Treadway received the first place ribbon in photography for her cleaver photo of a tree knot entitled “I am Knot.” Shelby Oreolt’s “Perfect Setting” won the first place ribbon in mixed media. The painting of a bird resting on an apple tree was done in watercolor, oil, acrylic and pen. Linda Dotson Vaughn took second and third place ribbons with two fabric squares that were painted and embroidered. The square that earned second place depicted an aging farm building called “Country Rust” and the third place winner was called “Sunflowers.”
Rose Dobbins took first place in pastels with a beautiful landscape of a bubbling waterfall called “Babcock Rock.” Brenda Lewis earned a second place in the same category with a restful depiction of flowering trees called “Renewal of Life.” Shelby Oreolt garnered first place in acrylics with a charming picture of fuzzy baby birds getting ready to fly called “Don’t look down.” Vicky Wickline’s use of color and action granted her “Swinging Girl” the second place ribbon. Marie Lewis’s playful portrait of a nanny goat earned her a third place ribbon in acrylics. Patricia Stine swept the watercolor category. Her intricate panting of morel mushrooms entitled “Secret Society” took first place. The second place ribbon was awarded to her action packed “Ker plunk” painting of a girl throwing a rock into a stream and the third place ribbon went to the portrait of her Airedale terrier, “Siegfried.” Misty Murry-Walkup’s “Back County” rendering of a black bear took third place in oils. Mimi deOlloqui’s oil painting of ibises called “The Rookery” won the second place ribbon. Lisa Saunder’s dynamic picture of a pale horse preparing for a “Storm” won the first place in oils and best of show.
The art show accepted applications from juvenile artists and received entries from several talented budding artists. Kalee Walkup won first place for the kindergarten entries with her work “Finger-paint Flower.” Jesse Walkup won the first place ribbon for third graders for his painting of a Japanese bridge called “My Monet.” Mynra Hamilton took best of show for fifth and sixth graders with her elegant painting of dandelion blowing away called “Wishful.” Seventh graders Sophia Bunch and Gavin Brown won first place ribbons for their art work. Gavin utilized a unique painting technique to produce a colorful depiction of a wolf. Sophia’s pen and ink drawing of a deer with just a touch of color took best of show in the seventh grade level. Ceili Alder and Julia Smith took first place ribbons in the eighth grade section of the art show. Julia created a spellbinding drawing of cat’s eye. Ceili took the eighth grade best of show with a colorful cubist painting of a garden. Tia Walkup took best of show for the 11th graders with a vibrant painting of “Fire Lilies.”
After counting the votes submitted by visitors to the art show from Friday, May 25, to Sunday, May 27, two People’s Choice Awards were announced. Misty Murry-Walkup’s detailed oil painting of a “Gray Wolf” and eighth grade student Ceili Allder’s charcoal drawing of a happy raccoon both earned the People’s Choice Award.
The White Sulphur Springs Public Library and the organizers of The West Virginia Dandelion Festival would like to thank all the sponsors and artists who made this very successful show possible. They would also like to thank the very dedicated individuals who volunteered their time and energies into making the reception and exhibit a rousing success.