TWENTYNINE PALMS ARTIST TAKES “BEST OF SHOW” IN JTNP ART EXPOSITION

An oil painting by a Twentynine Palms woman was named Best of Show at the Joshua Tree National Park Art Exposition Saturday. Whitney Gardner’s painting of a desert scene, “Ocotillo Sky” won the top honor. “Eastern Outpost,” a photograph of the desert near the Coxcomb Mountains, by Mark Robben won the Superintendent’s Award. First place winners in the other categories were Mitch Miller of Joshua Tree for his photo “Upload;” Marcia Geiger of Joshua Tree for her oil painting “Ohlson Ruins;” and Valerie Messervy Birkhoff for her clay sculpture “Praeservare.”

Best of Show: Whitney Gardner, Twentynine Palms, “Ocotillo Sky” oil painting

Superintendent’s Award: Mark Robben, Rancho Palos Verdes, “Eastern Outpost” photography

2D Category

1^st Marcia Geiger, Joshua Tree, “Ohlson Ruins” oil painting

2^nd William Casolara, Sheridan, Montana, “Skull Rock Landscape” wood marquetry

3^rd B.E. Baxter, Palm Desert, “Quiescence: Solitude” pencil and chalk

Photography Category

1^st Mitch Miller, Joshua Tree, “Upload”

2^nd Rick Strobaugh, Yucaipa, “Storm over Joshua Tree”

3^rd Robert Miramontes, Desert Hot Springs, “Mysterium”

3D Category

Valerie Messervy Birkhoff, Grass Valley, “Praeservare” clay sculpture

Laurie Schafer, Yucca Valley, “Desert Vista from My Screen Door” fiber art

Nichole Vikdal, Yucca Valley, “Joshua Tree in Bloom” porcelain ceramic