Madison
Chautauqua rookies
collect judges' awards
Canadian sculptor wins Best of Show
By
Don Ward
Editor
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It took a first-year exhibitor from Canada to take over
the top spot in the annual judged competition among 278 exhibitors participating
in the Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art. Meanwhile, several other
first-year exhibitors picked up awards.
Dave Rizzo's metal-smithing proved a winner of "Best of Show,"
displaying his elegant, sleek creations that feature artistic blacksmith
sculpture in steel and bronze. The Sherkston, Ontario, artist earned
many accolades from the judges, who scour the festival grounds in search
of what they consider to be the best of the best. They unanimously selected
Rizzo as their overall winner, an honor that recently had been shared
by two returning exhibitors, two-dimensional fabric artist Melanie Kimmel
of Latrobe, Pa., and oil painter Kathleen Green of Groveport, Ohio.
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In fact, it was the first time in her four years of exhibiting
in Madison that Kimmel did not win something. She won First Place in
Fine Art in 2004 and Best of Show in 2003. Green, meanwhile, took First
Place in Fine Art the last two years and Best of Show in 2002. She won
Second Place in Fine Art this year.
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2006 Madison Chautauqua: Best
of Show: Dave Rizzo, |
Barry and Sandi Black of Warsaw, Ind., also have been
a repeat winner in the Craft category the past two years with Barry's
handpainted wood butterflies that look realistic. They won Best Presentation
in 2002 and 2003. They did not win this year.
Instead, the judges were impressed this year with Rizzo's work. "He
understands his media and still experiments on his designs and approaches
beyone his craft," wrote the judges, whose names are not revealed.
On design and form, they wrote, "Unified sense of line and shape
with the repetition of the texture on the metal contrasted with the
fluidity of the line." On display, they said, "Sensitive display
using furniture as pedestal."
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Several other exhibitors also were honored with awards.
First-year exhibitor Sharon Snoeyink of Grand Rapids, Mich., earned
two awards, winning First Place in Craft and "Best Presentation"
with her unique dolls. But these are no ordinary dolls. They are joined
figurative sculptures with head and hands made of clay.
As for her presentation award, the judges wrote, "unique use of
beads and features; beautiful, uncluttered presentation, focused on
craft, clean." Snoeyink used different heights to draw attention
to the viewer's eye.
Scot Schmidt of Oshkosh, Wisc., placed second in Craft with his limestone
tile sculptures. It was his third year in the show. Fourteen-year exhibitor
Jeff and Lynn Vollmer of Cincinnati placed third in Craft with their
decorative wood boxes.
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First-year exhibitor and photographer Brad Kelly of Orlando,
Fla., meanwhile, earned First Place in Fine Art with his "Pictures
of Lily" booth. He features photos of landscapes in China and the
United States.
"His ability to capture the visual excitement in color combined
with the commitment to location and culture yield striking compositions,"
the judges wrote.
Kelly traveled for four years, climbing to get intentional views of
China's diverse countryside. He also explored various uses of light
in his photography.
First-year exhibitor Larry Wright of Louisville earned Third Place in
Fine Art behind Green. Wright is also a photographer who featured natural
and man-made visual environments.
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The judges also presented an Honorable Mention award to
first-year exhibitor Trent Altman of Louisville for his abstract fine
art.
The Chautauqua, in its 36th consecutive year, was plaqued by persistent
rain and the late afternoon forcast for high wind, forcing organizers
to shut down the festival at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Some exhibitors experienced
damage to their tents and one suffered thousands of dollars in loss
when a late night wind late Friday night brokes dozens of handmade pottery.
A few exhibitors packed up and left town before the show even opened
at 10 a.m. Saturday, but for the most part, the artists withstood the
elements and were rewarded Sunday with a large crowd that flooded the
streets of downtown Madison. some Main Street merchants also reported
strong sales throughout the weekend.
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"I had one of my best weekends ever, even on Saturday
when people came into our store to get out of the rain," said Hurley
Adams of The Fabric Shop on Main Street.
Some exhibitors reported steady sales among the few who braved the light
rain on Saturday. That was before a hard rain hit around 1 p.m., forcing
the eventual shutdown of the event until Sunday morning. Sunday's weather
was warm and party cloudy, with a light breeze, with temperatures rising
into the low 70s.
"For all we had to go through with the weather on Satuday, we had
a great day on Sunday," said festival coordinator Georgie Kelly.
Mickey Schwartz, who oversees the riverfront food vendors, said many
of his vendors sold out on Sunday and went home happy.
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Past
Five Year Madison Chautauqua Winners
(Judges selections) |
| 2006: Best of Show: Dave Rizzo, Sherkston, Ont., Canada (metal) Best Presentation: Sharon Snoeyink, Grand Rapids, Mich. (clay figures) First Place, Fine Art: Brad Kelly, Orlando, Fla. (photography) First Place, Craft: Sharon Snoeyink, Grand Rapids, Mich. (clay figures) |
| 2005: Best of Show: Melanie Kimmel, Latrobe, Pa. (2D fabric art) Best Presentation: Jasen Goslin, Indianapolis (photography) First Place, Fine Art: Kathleen Green, Groveport, Ohio (oil painting) First Place, Craft: Barry and Sandi Black, Warsaw, Ind. (wood carving) |
| 2004: Best of Show: Tom Chapman, Dayton, Ohio (glass) Best Presentation: Jennifer Mingione of Lexington, Ind. (everlastings) First Place, Fine Art: Melanie Kimmel, Latrobe, Pa. (2D fabric art) First Place, Craft: Mary Mundy, Dallas (purses) |
| 2003: Best of Show: Melanie Kimmel, Latrobe, Pa. (2D fabric art) Best Presentation: Barry and Sandi Black, Warsaw, Ind. (wood carving) First Place, Fine Art: Kathleen Green, Groveport, Ohio (oil painting) First Place, Craft: Robert Nilsson, Pensacola, Fla. (jewelry) |
| 2002: Best of Show: Kathleen Green, Groveport, Ohio (oil painting) Best Presentation: Barry and Sandi Black, Warsaw, Ind. (wood carving) First Place, Fine Art: Kathleen Green, Groveport, Ohio (oil painting) First Place, Craft: Berni North, Louisville (glass) |
• For more information, call (812) 265-2956 or visit: www.MadisonChautauqua.com.