Mint Hill Arts was alive Friday night for the Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony for the annual Litaker Exhibit, honoring longtime member Ann and the late Bill Litaker of Mint Hill. Seventy-two pieces of art were entered in five categories. In addition to a Best in Show Award of $200, the following prizes were awarded in each category: 1st Place – $100, 2nd Place – $75, 3rd Place – $50, and two Honorable Mentions – $25 gift certificates.
Jennifer Benton’s photograph “Sisters” won Best in Show. “Sisters” is a black and white photo showing the joined hands of two elderly sisters.
Winners of the awards the five categories are given below.
Photography:
1st – Moon Flower – Carol Hambridge
2nd – Summer Splendor at Rough Ridge – Howie Silinksi
3rd – Canal Garden Christmas – Cristy Kikkert
Honorable Mention – Night Rail – Michael Hutchinson
Honorable Mention – Amber Glass Sunshine – Carol Hambridge
Water Media:
1st – Get Up, Stand Up – Gail Black
2nd – Rainy Night – Judy Mizell
3rd – British D-Day Vet – Rebecca McDuffie
Honorable Mention – Now Me? – Evy Grouse
Honorable Mention – Hollyhock – Judy Mizell
Honorable Mention – Upended – Kathleen Yates
Painting:
1st – Icarus – Luis Ardila
2nd – Young Pow Wow Dancer – Malia Bryngelson
3rd – Hunter Farm Barn – Philip Desano
Honorable Mention – I Gave My Heart to Carolinas – Natalia Leigh
Honorable Mention – Christmas Goose – Sandy Gillig
3D:
1st – Squared Bowl – Max McLeod
2nd – Come dance with Me – Jan Stora
3rd – Starry, Starry Night – Jan Stora
Honorable Mention – Tidal Abstract – Max McLeod
“Other” (mixed media, drawing, graphics, alcohol inks, textiles, digitally altered photographs, etc.):
1st – Flaming Waves – Tiffany Harris
2nd – Enchanted Forest – Cindy Angelelli
3rd – Christmas Stars – Pam Rooney
Honorable Mention – Blue Creek – Kim Dibiasio
Honorable Mention – Adrift – Susan Lackey
Greg Scott judged the show. Greg completed a BFA from East Carolina University and has exhibited his work at the Mint Museum of Craft and Design and The McColl Center for Art + Innovation. He is currently an Art Studio Coordinator at Cornwell Center. As a potter and a painter, he is familiar with various art mediums and has judged numerous shows in the past.
The awards for the show were generously provided by the following businesses and citizens of the Mint Hill area: Ann Litaker, Bob Lucas Allstate Insurance Agency, Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, Daphne’s Bakery, Dunwellz Custom Kitchen and Pour House, Ellington Construction, Fastframe Matthews, First Citizens Bank, Hawthorne’s New York Pizza, Judy and Romie Mizell, Mint Hill Dentistry, McEwen Funeral Home, Tina Ross, and Tony Johnson.
The Litaker Show will hang at the Mint Hill Arts Gallery at 11205 Lawyers Road from now until January 24, 2017. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. For more information, visit our website at www.minthillarts.org or call 980-226-5532.
