The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts is proud to announce the award winners for its second annual Fulton Montgomery Art Show and Sale. The show is a recreation of the former Fulton County Art Show that the Congregational Church in Gloversville held for many years. It includes work from artists who live and work in Fulton and Montgomery Counties and a special exhibit of the work of featured artist Rhea Costello, a painter and ceramic artist from Gloversville. The show also features work created by students from Boulevard, Kingsborough and Park Terrace Elementary Schools, Gloversville Middle School, and Canajoharie, Gloversville and Mayfield High Schools.

The public opening reception for the 2018 Fulton Montgomery Art Show was attended by Miss Fulton County Chelsea Cirillo and Miss Montgomery County Sara James, who presented the awards to the winners. Pictured, clockwise from top left, are Melissa El… — The public opening reception for the 2018 Fulton Montgomery Art Show was attended by Miss Fulton County Chelsea Cirillo and Miss Montgomery County Sara James, who presented the awards to the winners. Pictured, clockwise from top left, are Melissa Ellis with Sara James; Katelyn Frisch with Sara James; Paul Steenburgh with Chelsea Cirillo; “Avery” by Paul Steenburgh; “Ceci N’est pas une Pomme” by Katelyn Frisch; and “Sea Salt” by Melissa Ellis.

Awards were presented at a public opening reception on Thursday, April 19. The reception was attended by hundreds of artists and members of the community.

Artists who submitted work to the Fulton Montgomery Art Show selected the winners of the Community Artists’ Award from the work submitted by high school students. Katelyn Frisch of Mayfield High School won first place with her oil painting “Ceci N’est pas une Pomme.” Juliana Buyce, a senior at Mayfield High School, won second place with her painting “The Storm.” Louie Hand, a senior at Canajoharie High School, won third place for his drawing “Hands.” The runner up in this category was Naomi Liebers, a freshman at Mayfield High School.

Local artist and former art teacher Kathie W. Raneri sponsored and selected the Kathie W. Raneri Award for 3-D Design, given to a student who shows skillful and creative use of form and space. The winner in this category was the soapstone sculpture “Untitled” by Zoe Spanga Santoro, a senior at Gloversville High School.

Local artist and former art teacher Cindy Sheeler sponsored the Cindy Hood Sheeler Award, given to a student whose 2-D or 3-D work shows vivid, imaginative use of color. The winner in this category was the painting “Is This Love?” by Sierra Luck, a senior at Mayfield High School.

The Traditions Award, given by local artist and former art teacher Kathryn M. Zajicek, was presented to a young artist whose work shows the inspiration, creativity and excellence that best reflect the tradition of this show throughout the years. The winner in this category was the painting “Sea Salt” by Melissa Ellis of Johnstown.

The winners of the Best in Show categories among the community artist exhibition are as follows:

Best in Show – Photography
First Place: “Just Intonation” by Jane Riley
Second Place: “Cattails” by Bob Buck
Third Place: “Predator at Square Falls” by Sandra Peters

Best in Show – Drawing
First Place: “Avery” by Paul Steenburgh
Second Place: “New Years Eve at Fallingwater” by Thomas Armstrong Third Place: “Farm Days” by Lynda Naske

Best in Show – Other Media
First Place: “Mergansers on the Mohawk” by Karen Slezak
Second Place: “Nesting Bird of Paradise” by Kathryn Bartscht
Third Place: “Brown Trout” by Jonathan Swartwout

Other artists featured in the show include Amy Andujar, Jeffrey John Ardizzone, Christine Biche, Linda Biggers, Margaret Bromford, Joshua Brooks, Ross Carangelo, David D’Amore, Richard Joel Davis, Francis Dempsey, Katherine L. Ehle, Melanie Fay, Richard Freeman, Katey Germain, Warren Greene, Dolores Haberek, Deborah Handy, Carol M. Hesselink, Alexandra Higgins, Linda Hinkle, Jack Horning, Michele Johnsen, Nancie Johnson, Carl Jurica, Gail Kessler, Juliet Konieczny, Marion Kratky, Nancy LaPorta, Maria Licciardi, Garlyn MaGinnis, Carrie Moxham, Christian O’Callaghan, Laura Penge Burda, Sarah Ralson, Thelma Senecal, Cindy Sheeler, Sandra Ann Sparks, Beth Spraggs, Julie Takacs, Paul Valovic, Lynne Vokatis and Kevin Wright.

The Fulton Montgomery Art Show and Sale will hang until May 14 at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, 2736 State Highway 30, Gloversville. The majority of the pieces on display are for sale. The public is welcome to view the show throughout its run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. The admission fee for the gallery is $5 per person. Members of the Nigra Arts Center and artists who have work in the current show are exempt from the admission fee. For more information, please call (518) 661-9932 or visit www.pncreativeartscenter.org.

Saratoga Arts made this program possible with a Community Arts Grant funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.