Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

Krystyna Robbins, artist from El Paso, TX, served as the judge for the 2017 Grant County Art Guild 32nd Annual Purchase Prize Show. A reception took place at the guild's gallery in the Pinos Altos Church in Pinos Altos, NM.

The show featured 51 works of art by 29 artists. Tom Vaughan, who along with his wife, Sandy Feutz, organized the show, said: "Because they are all New Mexico artists, we had to import the judge."

"Judging is very difficult," Robbins said. "As a friend of mine says, no particular work of art is better than another. If you did it from the heart, and you are happy with it, it is a good work of art."

But, she continued, some pieces just "stand out. The composition, the light and when it tells you something. We usually follow some rules, such as complementary or analogous colors. if you feel like you can walk into the painting, it's due to the composition. I've been painting for 32 years, basically oil painting, but I love watercolor, too. Acrylic, not so much, but I've started putting down acrylic and adding oil on top."

She said the Best of Show, "After the Storm" by Gay Marks, has a "beautiful aura. I love the sky. And good drawing is another important criteria. The ones I picked were through my own personal criteria. There is nothing here that isn't good. If you like it, it's valuable to you."

The show has oils, acrylics, watercolors, drawings in pastel and pencil. The Tatsch family provides the money each year for the prizes.

The following is a complete list of those chosen to receive awards and recognition for their entries to this much anticipated annual show.

The Best of Show and Award of Excellence are two of the most desired placements in the show. Gay Marks’ oil painting, “After the Storm,” captured the Best of Show award. “Canyon,” an oil painting by Keith Spangle, was given the Award of Excellence.

In oil paintings, the awards were: First Place - Diane Cornelius, “Chiricahua Meadows"; Second Place - Jane Seavers, “ Monsoon Over La Mesa”; Third Place - Priscilla Baldwin, “Sunlight and Shadow”; Honorable Mentions went to Keith Spangle, “Canyon;” Marilyn Burbrink, “Roadside Garden”; Priscilla Baldwin, “The Lady Gets New Shoes”; and Jane Seavers, “Lone Tree.”

Awards in acrylics went to: First Place – Marie Siegrist, “Frary Peak, Antelope Island, Utah”; Second Place – Eric Sarkela, “One Dump Truck #2”; Third Place - Arlene Sarkela, “Crossing the Creek”; Honorable Mention – Ann Taylor, “The Moccasins”; Timithy L. Gordon, “ Big Bend on the Colorado”; Ann Taylor, “Rebecca’s Agave”; and Eric Sarkela, “Gila Cliff Dwellings #2.”

Awards in watercolors: First Place – Penny Thomas Simpson, “Claret Cup”; Second Place - Linda Keener, “Cattle Drive, Valles Caldera”; Third Place - Marie Siegrist, “Totem Pole & Yai Bi Che.” Honorable Mention - Debbie Guerra, “La Bella del Ballet Folklorico”; Dan Davidson,” Veritas III w/Truncated Cube”; and Arlene Sarkela, “Snow on Pine Tree.”

In drawings, the awards were: First Place - Eric Sarkela, “Pinos Altos Church”; Second Place – Robert W. Blagg, “Navajo Country”; Third Place – Brent Flenniken, “Bicycle Race@ Murray Hotel”; and Honorable Mention – Brent Flenniken, “St. Vincent de Paul Church.”

Visitors voted for the “People’s Choice” award. The winner will be announced prior to the final week of the show.

The Purchase Prize Show will be available for viewing at the PInos Altos Art Gallery, 14 Golden Avenue, during regular gallery hours from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. for the last time on September 29, 30 and October 1.

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