Mena Art Gallery Members Win Big at Regional Art Show

Above are three of Mena Art Gallery’s award-winning photographers with their winning photos: William Rainey, Chris Masters, and Jo Eldridge.

It was award ribbons and prize money galore for members of Mena Art Gallery at this year’s annual Cossatot Arts and Crafts Show. The art competition, held at King, Arkansas, near DeQueen, took place on May 1 – 2. This event offers just under $10,000 in prize money and purchase awards. Each year, artists from Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, and other more distant states enter their best work in an effort to take home some of the money.

Members from Mena Art Gallery outdid themselves this year in the number of winning pieces entered and purchase awards received.

In the Adult Art Division, Jim Brace took Best of Show for his oil on canvas painting of Abraham Lincoln, as well as 1st Place in Portraits for the same painting. In addition, he won a 1st Place in Western and The Coolidge Birge Memorial Award. Other winners included: Judith Cantrell – 1st Place in Animals and a Purchase award of $350; Johnna Alexander – 2nd Place in Animals; Gilda Meyers – 2nd Place and Honorable Mention in Western.

In the Photography Division, winners included: William Rainey – 1st Place in General Photography, 1st Place in Cossatot Country and a Purchase Award for $250; Chris Masters – 1st Place in Landscape; Jo Eldridge – 2nd Place in General Photography, Honorable Mention in Cossatot Country and a Purchase Award for $150; Richard Shull – 3rd Place in Landscape.

Mena Art Gallery wishes to congratulate these individuals. Mena can be proud of these talented artists who are part of our community.

Pottery Show Opens at Gallery

Sunday afternoon, May 2, a reception at the Mena Art Gallery formally opened the exhibit for May: a show devoted entirely to pottery created by local artists.
Five potters have work on display: Suzanne Manis, Lou Alderman, Ruby Thacker, Howard Goins, and Diana Licata. Many of your friends and neighbors in Mena were there to meet the artists and see their latest creations.
There are bowls of all shapes and sizes, mugs and jugs, bread baskets and fruit baskets, pitchers, and some that are simply decorative pieces. Almost all of the pieces are for sale, so this is a great time to pick up something special.
The show will remain on display at the gallery, 607 Mena Street, through the end of May. Gallery hours are noon to 3 pm on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and 1 to 4 pm on Sunday.

Beautiful Grandfather Clock at Mena Art Gallery

If you have not yet seen the Grandfather Clock at Mena Art Gallery, be sure to take the time to go by. It was donated to the gallery by a member as a fund-raiser to help make it possible to bring you the ever-changing display of art work that you have come to expect. It is being disposed of through a raffle. The donor has specified that we are to receive at least $750 for the clock, which is valued at over $1,000, so ticket sales will continue until we reach that magic number: $750. You still have a chance to win!
Tickets for the raffle are $1 each, 7 for $5, or 10 for $7.50. Gallery hours are noon to 3 pm, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, or 1 to 4 pm on Sundays. Location is 607 Mena Street, just across from the Ouachita Little Theater.
And while you are there, plan to see the All Pottery Show; it displays some great work by local potters. Pieces range from the practical like mugs and bowls to the purely decorative, but all are beautiful. I am constantly amazed at the talent our local artists display.