Winners announced in Swannanoa Valley juried art exhibit

The Swannanoa Valley Fine Art League has announced the winners of its 48th annual juried art exhibition.

The show is open through Sept. 27 at the historic Red House Studios and Gallery, 310 W. State St., Black Mountain, next to the beautiful Monte Vista Hotel. Parking and admission are free. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday.

Event curator Susan Lueck and juror Karen Chambers found all of the entries to be exceptional. “Each represented the league’s commitment to helping artists develop their techniques and skills,” they said in a joint statement.

The show exhibits various fine art mediums including photography, sculpture and mixed media. The best in show award went to Cheryl Keefer Memories for “Provence en Plein Air.”

Among the oil painting entries, Mary Cunningham won first place for “Bandit,” Lynn Newhouse won second place for “The Chef” and Sue Sweterlitsch took third place for “Stoney Creek.”

Among the water media entries, Ron Maffett won first place for “Red Woods,” and Johnnie Stanfield won second place for “Troubadour.” Among the pastel entries, Frances Greenberg won first place for “Reflections,” and Meryl Meyer took second place for “Evening Calls.”

In the three-dimensional category, Libba Tracy won first place for “Local Gossip.” In the photography and computer art entries, Herb Way won first place with an untitled piece, and Deb Anderson took second for “Vietnam 1968.”

Among collage, mixed media and printmaking entries, Marianne Larsen Reninger won first place for “The Secret,” and Raquel Egosi Day took second for “Africa.” In the drawing, graphite, pen and ink category, Steve Hue Jay took first place for “Open Life Sketch.”

Chambers, the juror, is a contemporary artist who has been creating for more than 30 years. She is an instructor in pastel, watercolor, ink and graphite. She has taught at numerous workshops throughout the Southeastern and Southwestern U.S. Her paintings have been shown in many juried exhibitions and other venues.

And Swannanoa Valley winners of the Arrowhead Artists and Artisans League annual juried art show, “Anything Goes,” in Old Fort are Martha Raines and “Valley Vista,” first place in the oil/acrylics category; Denise Geiger and “Pastoral Symphony,” third place in the same category; and Lorelle Bacon and “The Reef,” first place in the watermedia/inks category.