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When a local art gallery initiates a call for art, artists show up and the gallery walls are illuminated with colorful pieces and inspirational artwork.
The Chisholm Trail Arts Council (CTAC) returned for its sixth annual Holiday Art Show and Sale with a reception and awards night during the exhibit Thursday night.
CTAC Executive Director Darcy Reeves said there were 46 artists and 118 pieces of artwork entered for the annual show. She said this year their membership is at its highest over the past 11 years.
“We had a 10% increase from last year,” she said. “We’re at $17,000 in membership.”
During the reception, $3,300 in prizes were given for different categories.
Executive Director Matthew Hughes of the Leslie Powell Gallery in Lawton, who served as a judge, said he’s amazed by how much art is alive in southwest Oklahoma.
“Arts and culture are not usually what comes to mind when one thinks about southwestern Oklahoma – buffalo, mountains and the wind sweeping down the plains, but not art,” he said. “However, the past eight years have shown me that art is alive in Texoma, and we have a significant number of talented artists who never cease to inspire me with their craftsmanship and dedication to enriching this area we call home.”
He said he’s privileged to serve at CTAC’s Annual Holiday Art Show and Sale.
“While art — and the viewing of it — are most certainly subjective, I approached this endeavor as objectively as possible, striving to avoid the influence of subject matter and content,” he said. “In selecting the winning entries for this exhibition, I focused on a few key elements: The quality of craftsmanship, the depiction of light and the illusion of space. As you view this exhibition, and take in those that were selected to receive awards, keep these elements in mind.”
Mark Slagle, first place two-dimensional artist, said he’s always appreciated art, even in college when he took some of his beginning art classes.
Slagle said he really began developing his art when his wife bought him art lessons for his birthday.
“It’s just something I enjoy doing,” he said.
Slagle’s worked with art for around 20 years and typically creates landscapes and the occasional still life.
“It’s just part of life to me, to enjoy any process of making the painting,” he said.
Sage Edsall, Yukon artist, has created art for as long as she can remember. She really began to pursue art while in college. Edsall received her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Oklahoma Panhandle State University and obtained her Master’s at West Texas A&M University.
She said she works with her art full-time and she loves working from old photographs.
“I find these old photos, source them and recreate them,” she said. “Most of them are black and white that I do.”
She noted she has a lot of fun playing with color and giving them new life.
Edsall encouraged artists to keep painting, drawing, pursuing and not to give up.
“There’s always going to be someone better out there than you, but you’re unique and you can only do your style,” she said. “There’s going to be someone out there that loves you for your style.”
Awards were distributed to the following artists:
Best of Show: LaQuincey Reed, Oklahoma City for “Against the Tempest” Bronze Statue
Two-dimensional artwork, oil and acrylic:
• First place: Mark Slagle, Duncan for “Paintbrush”
• Second place: Janet Loveless, Marlow for “View of the Canyon”
• Third place: Connie Moore, Waynoka for “Tyler’s Eggs with Something Blue”
• Honorable Mention: Tamara Sigler, Eufala for “Life of Birds: the Star”
Two-dimensional, other category:
• First place: Lou Baggett, Duncan for “Early Morning Trees”
• Second place: Alyssa Cox, Duncan for “Discerning Truth from Deception”
• Third place: Barbara Nelson, Duncan for “Shades of Gray”
• Honorable Mention: Spanky Davis, Marlow for “Scissortail Flycatcher”
Photography:
• First place: Bernie Pickart, Duncan for “Circle of Life”
• Second place: Scott Smith, Comanche for “Highway to Fall”
• Third place: Dean Sewell, Sulphur for “Foreboding Water”
• Honorable Mention: Marilyn Kitzrow, Lawton for “Buffalo Fantasy”
Three-Dimensional:
• First place: Richard Faulkner, Duncan for “Nuthatch Pair”
• Second place: Rita Lee Worthington, Lawton for “Blue Magic”
• Third place: Clay Cole, Duncan for “Pueblo Dwellings”
• Honorable Mention: Robert Taylor, Duncan for Cruzin’
Reeves said CTAC is a nonprofit organization who thrives on membership, donations, community support, concert attendance and gallery support.
Artwork will remain on the showroom floor for viewing and for sale through Dec. 14.
For more information, call the CTAC office at 580-252-4160 or email [email protected].
The CTAC Gallery is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, unless otherwise posted. CTAC is located at 810 W. Walnut Ave. in Duncan.
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