The 25th Sooke Fine Arts Show opened on Thursday night with purchasers waiting in line to get into the show and see the latest works from the 275 artists who submitted entries.
The adjudicators chose 375 pieces from the 551 artists who responded to the call for entries to the juried art show and sale.
The 10-day show was once again staged in the SEAPARC Leisure Complex where a group of talented and hard working volunteers transformed the cavernous space into an amazing gallery.
“We had a lovely weekend and a lot of people,” said Sally Manning, show coordinator. “It is a colourful and happy show.”
Many Sooke artists stood out as the winners in the 25th Anniversary Artists Awards. They included Patrick Irwin for his acrylic and oil two-dimensional painting “Port Alberni,” Best Two-Dimensional work.
The Best Three-Dimensional work award was awarded to Jan Johnson for his “Minotaur Overseeing Intake,” while Debbie Clarkson took the award for the Best Photography for her “La Habana Elegante #3.” Dana Sitar’s “When I Do Not Follow the Rules” took the award for Best Fibre. Honourable mentions were given to Chuck Minten for his “Circle of Friends” wood table and Anne Boquist’s “YoYoTokTik” gourd and found object piece.
Other winners include Heather Hamilton’s “Internal Reflections” pendant (Best Jewellery); Jo Ludwig’s “No Title” glass piece (Best Glass); Metchosin’s Judi Dyelle won Best Ceramic for her “White Series #1”; and Jeff Molloy’ for his mixed media piece “A Man of the Cloth.
Other honourable mentions went to Debbie Jansen for her fused glass, “Untitled”, Eliza Heminway’s fibre wall piece, “The Haberdasher’s Garden” and Leonard Butt’s “Uchi” raku sculpture.
The adjudicators each chose a work for Juror’s Choice. Richard White gave full marks to Nicolas Vandergugten’s lino block print “Bridgework #3”; Grant Leier (substituting for Carol Sabiston) awarded Dee de Wit’s “Still Life with Mango” his kudos; and juror Nixie Barton chose Johannes Landman’s oil painting “Benchwarmer.”
Manning said the attendance was keeping in line with past years as were the sales.
