Amateur Show

Grace Sheese recently moved to Bloomington from Eugene, Oregon. She is a studio potter. Sheese was born in Taipei, Taiwan and moved with her family to the United States when she was eight years old. She received a BA in studio art and elementary education from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. After teaching elementary school for 8 years, Sheese turned her full attention to pottery. Her porcelain thrown forms evoke the elegance of Asian architecture. Their surface decorations, achieved with a combination of hand carving and slip trailing, are inspired by patterns, textures, and carvings from many different Asian cultures. Sheese teaches ceramic workshops and classes as a visiting artist and instructor at community art centers and schools. Her work has been included in many invitational and juried exhibitions across the United States, most recently at Greenwich House Pottery, New York, NY, The Clay Studio, Philadephia, PA, Crow Valley Pottery, Eastsound, WA, and Robert E. Wilson Gallery, Huntington University, Huntington, IN, and American Crafts Council San Francisco, CA. Additionally her work has been recently published in Emerging Artists: 2006, Ceramics Monthly, May 2007 and The Gallery, Clay Times, July/August 2007.

80th Annual McLean County Amateur Art Competition-Exhibition

Merwin Medal – Best of Show
Stephanie Lebak

ADULTS
Painting – 1st Place – Brad Kalavitnos
2nd Place – Robert Schifano

Graphics – 1st Place - Tim Bratcher
2nd Place – James Baker

Photography – 1st Place – Joyce Preston
2nd Place – Stanley Klopenstein

Sculpture – 1st Place – Brad Kalavitnos
2nd Place – Jack Ritter

Skilled Craft – 1st Place – Martin Adam
2nd Place – Rebecca Locket

Woodcarving – 1st Place – Robert Fairbairn

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Painting – 1st Place – Brian Allen
2nd Place – Susan Emerson

Graphics – 1st Place – Nathan Parks
2nd Place – Matt Martin

Photography – 1st Place – Maren Brucker
2nd Place – Stephanie Baker

Sculpture – 1st Place – Peggy Finnegan
2nd Place – Katherine Allen

Skilled Craft – 1st Place – Susan Emmerson
2nd place – Jan Brandt

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Painting – 1st Place – Katelyn Blary
2nd Place – Jeong Mi Yon

Graphics – 1st Place – Molly Bane
2nd Place – Lianna Bankred

Photography – 1st Place – Justin Schuler
2nd Place – Zack Hinthorn

Sculpture – 1st Place – Kadie Embry-Frank
2nd Place – Kelly Powell

Skilled Craft – 1st Place – Nicholas Gaithes Bray
2nd Place – Jessica Hirschi

Amateur Exhibition Award Sponsors

The Alamo II, Jenny Cheek, The Copy Shop, Corn Belt Carving Club, Francois Associates Architects, The Garlic Press, Ken & Jan Holder, JMC Photo & Digital Services, Timothy Kent Gallery & Framing, Rodney Litwiller, Fred & Lois Mills, The Pantagraph, Louise Smith, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Stefl, Irving & Jobie Tick, Deb & Steve Wannemacher, and Doug & Margaret Williams.

Brandt Gallery
80th Annual McLean County Amateur Art Competition-Exhibition
through April 28, 2007

Awards Ceremony Sunday, March 4, 2007 at 2pm

This juried exhibition features paintings, drawings, graphics, photographs, sculptures, skilled crafts, and wood carvings by amateur adult artists, high school and university art students from McLean County. Cash prizes, sponsored by local individuals and businesses, are awarded for each media in each age group.

Juror’s Statement:

The abstract artist, Arshile Gorky, once said about his own work; "Though the various forms all have specific meaning to me, it is the spectator's privilege to find his own meaning." I considered it a true privilege to have been able to see all of the pieces that were entered in this art exhibition. Artists used a wonderful variety of media and techniques in their personal expressions. I enjoyed seeing this, and along with overall presentation, I enjoyed seeing how each artist employed different elements of design in their work.

This community is very fortunate to have a place like the McLean County Arts Center where the hardworking staff and volunteers provide excellent opportunities for people of all ages to aesthetically learn and grow. This Amateur Art Show continues to be one of these great opportunities--now celebrating its 80th year showcasing a multitude of local talent. Not every community can boast of having such a supportive and encouraging institution in its midst (--however, we can!)

-Sheila Asbell Allen, Juror

Sheila Asbell Allen received her BFA in printmaking and a MS in painting from Illinois State University. For many years she owned and operated Paintin’ Place Art Supplies in Normal. Asbell Allen is an active member of our art community and a generous supporter of the arts in McLean County.

Walking straight ahead into the gallery, spectators are greeted with a black and white painting of a buckle that rests on what appears to be a man's pair of jeans. Making a left from the painting hangs the familiar faces of singer Avril Lavigne and actress Audrey Hepburn.

The McLean County Arts Center of downtown Bloomington is hosting their 80th annual amateur art competition-exhibition located in the Brandt Gallery. Members of the community are invited to come see the works of amateur adult, high school and college students' artwork.

"Having a show like this is very unusual for a small town like this," Sheila Asbell Allen, a Bloomington resident and juror of competition said. "More artists should definitely take advantage of this."

The art center received 164 entries for this year's competition, but only 88 were selected. Of the entries selected, 46 were high school students, 22 were college students and 20 were from adult members of the community.

"I had fun seeing all the different kinds of artwork from all the different age groups," Allen said.

Thirty-two amateur artists were given cash prizes. Prizes included $75 for first place, $50 dollars for second place and $200 for best in show. The first and second place awards were given to each category of media including painting, graphics, photography, sculpture, skilled craft and woodcarving.

Allen said she judged the competition based on the artists' own originality and overall personal expression.

"I was looking at different techniques the artists used and how the artist used it. Something that was unique and not copied," Allen said.

Among the winners of the competition were some ISU art students, including the winner for best in show.

Stephanie Lebak, a senior BFA student was the winner for best in show for her painting "I Fit with You."

"It was a pretty big honor. I was just standing in the back of the room when they called my name. I definitely did not see it coming," she said.

Most of Lebak's work has a sentimental nature for her love of old buildings and finding the beauty in the decaying residue.

"I like to beautify something others find ugly," Lebak said. "My subject matter is mostly from my dad. He's a building inspector and it just rubbed off on me."

Lebak said she has already found a way to spend her $200 cash prize.

"I bought paint already," Lebak said, laughing.

Other ISU students who placed in the competition included Maren Brucker, a senior BFA student. Brucker won first place for her photography piece.

"I wasn't even at the award show when I found out. I was shocked. One of my faculty mentors called me over the phone to tell me the good news," Brucker said.

Brucker's piece was a picture of dresses she had collected from the Salvation Army taken from the snap of a Polaroid camera.

"I do a lot of work with the body. Clothing and fabric is a way to suggest a body without the physical form there," Brucker said.

Brucker's inspiration for using a Polaroid camera for her piece came from her interest on the temporary nature of things.

"Polaroids are dispensable. They are very temporary. It's something you want to hold onto, but can't," Brucker said.

Along with ISU students, amateur adult artists from the community also submitted work into the competition. Bob Fairbairn, a Normal resident won first place for his woodcarving piece.

"I've been competing in it for about 15 years now. It's strictly a hobby," Fairbairn said.

Fairbairn's piece was called "Tall Man" and consists of the head and shoulder of a Native American Indian. Most of his woodcarvings are of the busts of Native Americans.

"I hope people won't be offended by my work. I admire much of the things [Native Americans] stood for," Fairbairn said.

Another member of the community who received a cash prize was Stan Klophenstein, a Bloomington resident and second place photography winner.

"Last year I won first place for adult photography, and so I entered again this year. It's exciting and fun," Klophenstein said.

Klophenstein said he mostly paints but also has a love for abstract photography. He said he plans on entering the competition again next year.

"It's fun, especially when you win," Klophenstein said, laughing. "It was totally unexpected this year."

The art show runs through April 28 at the McLean County Arts Center, located at 601 N. East Street in downtown Bloomington.

"There's lots of time and effort that went into this art competition," Allen said.

"[The McLean County Arts Center] deserves a lot of recognition for this. It's great that they do this for the community."