Harrisburg, PA – The State Museum of Pennsylvania today announced the winners of Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2017.
Art of the State is an annual juried exhibition that has been showcasing the work of Pennsylvania’s artists at The State Museum of Pennsylvania since 1968. The body of art that has been exhibited reflects half a century of creative endeavor in the Keystone State. Exhibitors have shared their ideas and engaged viewers in the categories of painting, photography, craft, sculpture, and work on paper. This year marks the 50th anniversary of this prestigious exhibition.
Awards were given in painting, photography, sculpture, craft and work on paper.
The William D. Davis Memorial Award for Drawing and The State Museum of Pennsylvania Purchase Award were also selected. Jump Street, co-presenter of the exhibit, presented an award for the work that embodies the spirit of the arts and the Art Docents Corps of The State Museum presented its inaugural Docents’ Choice Award in honor of the exhibit’s anniversary.
The winners were chosen from 130 works selected from more than 2,200 submissions.
This year’s first-prize winners are from Centre, Dauphin, Lancaster, Northampton and Philadelphia counties. Special awards went to artists from Centre, Erie, Northampton, Schuylkill and Philadelphia counties.
The 50th annual exhibit runs through September 10 and includes 130 works of art by 119 artists from 28 counties.
Art of the State is co-presented by The State Museum and Jump Street. WITF Public Media and Higher Information Group are exhibit sponsors.
Jump Street, a non-profit arts organization, has been serving the Capital Region for over 38 years, providing arts programs for students and adults; arts grants to artists and organizations throughout the state of Pennsylvania; arts-based community service programs; and technical assistance to artists and organizations.
The State Museum of Pennsylvania, adjacent to the State Capitol in Harrisburg, is one of 24 historic sites and museums administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission as part of the Pennsylvania Trails of History®. The State Museum offers expansive collections interpreting Pennsylvania’s fascinating heritage.
With exhibits examining the dawn of geologic time, the Native American experience, the colonial and revolutionary era, a pivotal Civil War battleground, and the commonwealth's vast industrial age, The State Museum demonstrates that Pennsylvania's story is America’s story.
Visit The State Museum online at www.statemuseumpa.org.
Media Contact: Howard Pollman, 717-705-8639
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The following prizes were awarded at the 2017 Art of the State Artists’ Reception on Sunday, June 11. Cash awards for each category are first prize, $500; second prize, $300; third, $200. A full gallery of Art of the State images is available at: https://phmc.info/AOS50.
Painting
1st Susan Marie Brundage - Marshmallow Building
2nd Dorine Lerner - Copse II
3rd Elyce Abrams - The Ending
Photography
1st Richard K. Kent - New Holland & Franklin, 1st Series, 5x
2nd Fred Scruton - Jeff Elersic; Harpersfield, OH 2106
3rd Linda Benzon - J.R. The Woodcarver
Craft
1st Michael Brolly - Homage to My Mother
2nd Don Nakamura - Pair
3rd Thomas Ferrie - Comb Back Arm Chair
Sculpture
1st Marie Manski - Purgatory
2nd Nikki Moser - Springville Fracking Well and Pond
3rd Lorraine Glessner - The Space Between
Work on Paper
1st Andrew Guth - Where We Used to Go When Everything Was Wrong (I Watched the Lilies Grow Until They Got Old)
2nd Geoffrey Beadle - Thirty-Six Weeks
3rd Joseph Opshinsky - Floating Self-Portrait
The State Museum Purchase Award
Marie Manski - Purgatory
William D. Davis Memorial Award for Drawing
Geoffrey Beadle - Thirty-six Weeks
Robert Stickloon – Self-Portrait at 70
Jump Street Spirit of the Arts Award
Mary Lee Kerr - Resist
Art Docents Choice Award
Michael Brolly - Homage to My Mother