Anita Campbell
County Reporter
The second annual Benton County Art Walk drew a large number of works of art from both professional and amateur artists from the Benton County area during the Wine Stroll last weekend. The works were on display in the Warsaw Community Building with both paintings and photography available for sale during the show.
“We want to thank our sponsors Jester’s House for cash prizes and Creative Palette for youth ribbons,” Benton County Tourism and Recreation director Lynette Stokes said. “We also want to send a special thank you to the Warsaw Boy Scout Troop #34 for the beautiful new Art Walk panels.”
The goal of holding art-related events is to support Benton County artists with any proceeds going back into the organizing of a Benton County Arts Council to oversee any art-related events and to continue to promote the arts culture of Benton County artists.
Winners of the 2022 Benton County Art adult competition included: Best of Show, Lori Gilmore, “Lake Light” (wet); Best of Category, Stephanie Pate, “Motherhood” (mixed media); Best of Category, Dina Kowal “Gabby” (dry); Best of Category, Lori Gilmore, “Lake Light” (wet); Best of Category, Destiny Brookshier, “Fly Over State of Mind” (photography).
Best of Category, Kathi Gatliff, “Grow in Spite Of” (3D); Most Creative, Royce Ratliff, “In The Stars” (mixed media); Most Creative, Riley Warren, “Birthday Cake” (dry); Most Creative, Jennie Ingram, “Buzzy” (wet); Most Creative, Amy Biggerstaff, “Where the Wild Things Are” (photography); Most Creative, Kiersten Grobe, “Sail Away” (3D).
Artistic Excellence, (overall, regardless of category): Lori Gilmore “C Highway” (wet); Diann Gochenour “Spring Ball” (3D); Dina Kowal, “Spring Fever” (dry); Amy Biggerstaff “Playing in the Creek” (photography); Roman Sebastian “High Tide” (wet).
Honorable Mention, (overall, regardless of category): Roman Sebastian “The Fox and the Rabbit” (wet); Dawn Frye, “Pure Love” (wet); Royce Ratcliff, “Knob Town” (mixed: Kiersten Grobe “Where Do You Grow” (wet); Dawn Frye “Spring Day” (wet).
People’s Choice went to Dawn Frye, “Pure Love”.
Best of Show received $70 cash and ribbon. People’s Choice received $50 cash and ribbon. Best in Category (five winners- one in each category) received $20 each and ribbon. Most Creative (five winners-one in each category) received $15 each and ribbon. Artistic Excellence (five winners – any category) received $10 each and ribbon. Honorable mention (five winners – any category) received a ribbon.
Winners of the 2022 Benton County Art youth competition included: Photography (8-10 years old): first place, Connor Roberts, “Goat”; second place, Henry Adler, “Feeding in the Snow”; third place, Connor Roberts, “Tubing”.
Wet (8 to 10 Years): first place, Bell Fluty, “Lady Bug”.
3D (11 to 13 years old): first place, Ashtyn Danford, “The Rockstar Band”; second place, Jett Fluty, “Never Forget 911”; third place, Ashtyn Danford, “Mini Astronauts”.
Photography (11 to 13 years old): first place, Amelia Roberts, “Rodeo”; second place, Sara Miller, “Crane; third place, Amelia Roberts, “Cardinal”.
Wet (11 to 13 years old): first place, Sara Miller, “Waterfall”; second, Sara Miller, “Colorful Elephant”.
Dry (11 to 13 years old): first place, Sara Miller, “Wild Fox”.
3D (14 to 18 years old): first place, Aleah Minks, “Frog Box”; second place, Aleah Minks, “Frog Cup”.
Photography (14 to 18 years old): first place, J. C. Minks, “Fire in the Sky”; second place, J. C. Minks, “Sierra”; third place, J. C. Minks, “Lake Serenity”.
Wet (14 to 18 years old): first place, Selena Worthley, “Abstract Mustache Man”; second place, Aleah Minks, “Bodies Are Beautiful”; third place, Kyler Kovach-Reyes, “A Normal Teen”.
Dry (14 to 18 years old, Selena Worthley, “The Ryker Guitar”; second place, Megan Tenold, “Still Life”.
Mixed (14 to 18 years old), first place, Cora Oelrichs, “Untitled”.
Seven and under coloring contest: first place, Shay Sherrill; second place, Aubre Eufinger; third place, Braxtyn Whittecar.
The event was organized and hosted by Dina Kowal Creative, Amie Breshears with the Benton County Extension office and Lynette Stokes with Benton County Tourism and Recreation. Anyone interested in being on the committee board, should contact Dina Kowal, Lynette Stokes or Amie Breshears.
