The Joshua Tree National Park’s ninth annual art expo, having just concluded, announced their award winners. Arts & Entertainment Reporter Charlie Thomas shares the accolades…
Awards for the ninth annual Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo were announced on Saturday, Nov. 6, during a reception at the historic 29 Palms Art Gallery.
Sixty artists from the desert region and across California and the United States are featured in the juried exhibition, which is on display at the gallery through November 28 and features artwork depicting or inspired by Joshua Tree National Park.
Eleven artists received awards for their artwork, with awards totaling $4,000.
In the 2-Dimensional category, first place went to “Oasis of Mara Evening Display” by Naomi Brown of Queen Creek, Arizona. Second place was “The Garden in Early Fall,” an oil painting by Christine White of Redlands. Third place went to Kristin Czech of Morongo Valley for her oil on canvas titled “Tourists.”
For 3-Dimensional art, first place was “Coyote Friend,” a sculpture by Robin Raznick of La Quinta. Second place went to “Agave Sunshine,” an assemblage by Julia Briest of Desert Hot Springs. Third place was “Snake Pit,” an acrylic and carved wood panel by Ehrick Wright of Rancho Mirage.
In the Photography category, first place went to “Ghostwater” by John Van Vliet of Kingman, Arizona. Second place went to “Untracked” by Mitch Miller of Joshua Tree. Third place went to “Catch the Wave” by Mark Robben of Rancho Palos Verdes.
Best of Show was presented to Lisa Loudin of Cathedral City for her pen and ink creation, “La Copine.”
And finally, the Superintendent’s Award, a non-monetary award personally selected by Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent David Smith, went to Rose Irelan of Poway, for her oil painting “Joshua Tree Glow.”
The artwork is on display and for sale at 29 Palms Art Gallery through Sunday, Nov. 28. The gallery is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, at 74055 Cottonwood Drive on the corner of National Park Drive in Twentynine Palms. You can also view the artwork online at jtnparts,org.
Judges for this year’s awards were: Photographer Bill Leigh Brewer, desert artist Chuck Caplinger, and abstract expressionist Francesca Spoonhower.
The Art Expo is presented by Joshua Tree National Park Council for the Arts, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Twentynine Palms
