Area artists awarded at BGSU regional show

BOWLING GREEN, O.—Residents of Wood, Lucas and Henry counties took home top awards from the recent opening reception at the second annual Northwest Ohio (NoWOH) Community Art Exhibition at Bowling Green State University.

Best of Show honors went to Tommy Frank of Bowling Green for his sculpture, “Mission Accomplished: Here’s to Reconstruction.” The piece includes three luster-glazed, bullet-shaped stoneware mugs neatly displayed in felt and encased in a wooden box with a glass top. Each mug is imprinted with symbols commonly referred to in construction.

“The basis of the piece came from a conversation among friends about the job market, construction and the war,” Frank explained. “The bullet shape came from a movie in which golden guns and bullets were used to commemorate an achievement, and I chose the mug form as a way to say ‘Cheers, here’s to reconstruction.’”

First place in the two-dimensional art division went to Amy Bullano of Maumee for her political print, “American Gas Can,” while Thomas Verner of Waterville earned the top 3-D award for his distinctive metal ring, “Ring for Two.” Christina Reynolds of Napoleon received the Best Young Artist award for her colorful glass artwork.

The People’s Choice Award, selected by popular vote during the opening reception, went to Ronald Gosses of Bowling Green for his three-part series, “Journey into Dementia—Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.”

Hiroshi Hayakawa, an associate professor at the Columbus College of Art and Design, chose the award winners, which he said “are not only aesthetically pleasing but also intellectually stimulating.” Their creators are among roughly 75 northwest Ohio residents exhibiting more than 200 pieces of art in the show.

Hayakawa also selected seven honorable mention recipients, including John Cramer, Alisha Jones, Michael Adams and Kristen Renda, all of Toledo; Amber LeFever and Daniel Mauk, both of Bowling Green, and West Vayo of Perrysburg.

The exhibition continues through Saturday (Aug. 1) in the Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery of BGSU’s Fine Arts Center. Hours are 1-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday.

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(Posted July 27, 2009 )