by Bob Bahr, Editor PleinAir Today
Who did judge Jeff Legg choose for Best of Show in New Mexico?
The 8th National Juried Members Show of the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico (PAPNM) is on view now at Sorrel Sky Gallery in Santa Fe, through November 27. Roger Williams of Santa Fe won Best of Show for his oil painting “Below and Beyond.”
“I am honored to have received Best of Show — thank you, PAPNM and artist and judge Jeff Legg for all the hard work that was put into the exhibition,” says Williams. “Additional thanks goes to Gina Ward of PleinAir magazine for suggesting I join this wonderful organization. There is a quote by Robert Henri that expresses how I felt about painting ‘Below and Beyond,’ the winning piece: ‘The object of a painting is the attainment of a state of being. The painting becomes a trace, the footprint of that state.’”
The other awards given at PAPNM’s show included Best of Signature Members, which went to Kathleen Elsey for her “Rio Pueblo Morning,” Best of Artist Members, won by Donal O’Toole for “Kitchen Mesa,” the Louisa McElwain Memorial Award, won by Mary Ann Warner for “Old Friends,” and the Jeffrey Potter Memorial Award, which went to Tobi Clement for “Passing Through.”
Artists’ Choice was won by Thomas Wezwick for “Sunlight and Snow,” and Teena Robinson won People’s Choice for “Storm Dance.” Wezwick and Jason Sacran earned Honorable Mention.
The Award of Excellence in Oil went to Richard Prather for “Jemez White Rock,” Excellence in Pastel went to Betty Efferson for “Canyon River,” and Excellence in Acrylic/Watercolor went to Teena Ronbinson for “Storm Dance.” Honorable Mention in Oil/Acrylic was won by Val Mouttet, and Margi Lucena won Honorable Mention in Pastel. Jane Chapin won Excellence in Architectural Subject for “Lower Colonias Road.”
