Kimmel a repeat winner
in Chautauqua judging

By Don Ward
Editor

Photo by Don Ward Madison Mayor Al Huntington (far left) poses with some of the 2004 Madison Chautauqua winners from judging that took place Saturday, Sept. 25, during the two-day festival. They are (from left) Melanie Kimmel (1st-Art), Latrobe, Pa.; Jennifer Mingione (Best Presentation), Lexington, Ind.; Stephanie Hutson (3rd-Craft), Fishers, Ind.; Amber Poole (2nd-Craft), Tecumseh, Okla.; Sharon Stolzenberger (2nd-Art), Kettering, Ohio; Tom Chapman (Best of Show), Dayton, Ohio. Kimmel is pictured below.

MADISON, Ind. (October 2004) – Melanie Kimmel on Sunday, Sept. 26, became a two-time winner at the 2004 Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art after being selected by judges during the 34th annual show in downtown Madison.
Kimmel, of Latrobe, Pa., won first place in the Fine Art category for her realistic two-dimensional fabric art. She won Best of Show at last year’s show. Her Fabric Art by Melanie booth earned these comments from the judges this year: “Unique, layered, dimensional.” The award was sponsored by Mundt’s Candies-JWI Confectionery.
First place in Crafts went to first-time show entrant Mary Mundy of Dallas for her Lunacy Designs booth. She makes purses and other decorative items. The judges said this about her work: “Clever, creative, nicely finished.” The award was sponsored by The Attic.
This year’s Best of Show award was given to Thomas Chapman of Dayton, Ohio, for his Shiloh Hotglass creations. The judges said: “Original pieces, each piece is unique in design, nicely presented.” The award was sponsored by Eckert, Alcorn, Goering & Sage Attorneys at Law.

Photo by Don Ward Madison Mayor Al Huntington (left) poses with Art category winner Melanie Kimmel.

Best Presentation was awarded to a local entrant, Jennifer Mingione, who has participated for several years in the event as Mingione’s Primitive Gardens. She makes all sort of artful creations out of sticks and wood and other materials at her shop in nearby Lexington, Ind. She wholesales her items all over the country. The judges said of her booth: “Well done, high quality product, beautifully packaged, marketable.” This award was sponsored by the Madison Bank & Trust/National City Bank.
Madison Mayor Al Huntington presented the awards on the north lawn of the Lanier Mansion State Historic Site on Sunday morning. He praised the work of the volunteers, the staff of the Madison Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and show coordinator Georgie Kelly.
“It’s been a great show, and the success is attributed to many things, especially all the great exhibitors who come to town, because we know they are the best of the best,” Huntington said. “The whole community points to this as the major event of the year.”
For the third consecutive year, the Madison Chautauqua enjoyed beautiful weather, contributing to another large crowd. Although no official estimate is provided, tourism officials say about 70,000 people visit the town over the two-day period. The Pilot Club of Madison’s Old Court Days also enjoyed a large crowd during its three-day run, Friday through Sunday.