Winners Announced for 'Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2011' Exhibition

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The State Museum of Pennsylvania today announced the winners of the "Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2011" exhibition, which showcases the talent, creativity and diversity of Pennsylvania's established and emerging artists.

First-, second- and third-place honors were awarded in painting, photography, sculpture, crafts and works on paper. Cash awards for each category are first prize, $500; second, $300; and third, $200. In addition, the William D. Davis Memorial Award for Drawing, the Rose Roy Memorial Award, and The State Museum of Pennsylvania Purchase Award were selected.

The 2011 winners were selected from among 133 finalists and a total of nearly 2,000 submissions. This year's first-prize winners are from Berks, Schuylkill, Westmoreland and Cumberland counties. Special awards went to artists from Philadelphia, Dauphin, Chester, Juniata and Montgomery counties.

The 44th annual exhibit runs through Sept. 11, and includes 152 works by 133 artists from 35 counties. This year, the exhibit offers a special program entitled "Artists Conversations." Each installment of the three-part series pairs "Art of the State" featured artists with show jurors taking visitors on a special tour, sharing their perspectives on the 2011 exhibition. "Artists Conversations" will take place on Sundays, July 17, Aug. 14 and Sept. 11. Find details online at www.statemuseumpa.org.

The exhibit is co-sponsored by The State Museum and The Greater Harrisburg Arts Council, which present over $5,000 in cash awards to the winners.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania, located at 300 North Street, is one of 25 historic sites and museums administered by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission as part of the Pennsylvania Trails of History®. It is the commonwealth's official museum, holding 4.5 million objects in its collections. The museum's permanent and temporary exhibits cover 100,000 square feet and feature Pennsylvania's social, industrial and economic history, decorative, fine and industrial arts, and archaeology, zoology and paleontology.

Media Contact: Howard Pollman, 717-705-8639

Editor's Note: The following prizes were awarded at the 2011 Art of the State competition:

Photography
1st prize - Lydia Panas, Kutztown, Berks Co., "Figs" (also awarded Best in Show)
2nd prize - Heather Joy Puskarich, Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., "Avalon"
3rd prize - Lori Ryan, Tafton, Pike Co., "Grief Series 5"

Honorable Mention
Rolfe Ross, Scranton, Lackawanna, Co., "Cup & Straw"
Michael McCullogh, Biglerville, Adams Co., "Shed Door"

Painting
1st prize - Peter Schnore, Boyertown, Berks Co., "Allentown Panorama"
2nd prize - Jeff Bye, Hershey, Dauphin Co., "Terminal"
3rd prize - Nathan Marzen, Allentown, Lehigh Co., "Sickelm's Eye"

Honorable Mention
Cathy Noto, Jermyn, Lackawanna Co., "Thunderland"
Denny Bond, East Petersburg, Lancaster Co., "Guardians of Time"

Works on Paper
1st prize - Robert Stickloon, Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., "Shaving Brush"
2nd prize - Peter Smyth, Upper Darby, Delaware Co., "…In Her Mirror"
3rd prize - Shelly Lependorf & Stan Shire, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., "Glyph II"

Honorable Mention
Margery Amdur, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., "Wisp #6"
Patricia Ingersoll, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., "Stick Chart"

Craft
1st prize - Paul Sirofchuck, Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., "Hall's Rock"
2nd prize - Drew Zimmerman, Merion Station, Montgomery Co., "Atlas"
3rd prize - Jane Ogren, Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., "Jefo #627 Triptych"

Honorable Mention
Sue Reno, Columbia, Lancaster Co., "Watt & Shand #9"  
Sun Young Kang, Bryn Mawr, Montgomery Co., "Memories Unfolded"

Sculpture
1st prize - Shawn Williams, Lemoyne, Cumberland Co., "Push Pull"
2nd prize - Debra Rosenblum, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., "Recto Verso"
3rd prize - Steve Dolbin, Shippensburg, Cumberland Co., "Flotsam"

Honorable Mention
James Gallagher, Duryea, Lackawanna Co., "Oranges & Lemons (Say the Bells of St. Clements)"
Paul Saberin, Chambersburg, Franklin Co., "Totem"

William D. Davis Memorial Award for Drawing
Gregory Brellochs, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Co., "Gamete"

The Rose Roy Memorial Award Honoring Volunteerism
David Bottini, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., "Flowing into the River"

The State Museum Purchase Award
Donna Festa, West Grove, Chester Co., "Conversation"
Michael B. McFarland, Mifflintown, Juniata Co., "Cygnus"
Sun Young Kang, Bryn Mawr, Montgomery Co., "Memories Unfolded"

Best in Show
Lydia Panas, Kutztown, Berks Co., "Figs"

SOURCE Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission