Out & About: Westmoreland Art Nationals bestow 2nd round of awards

Shirley McMarlin
Sunday, July 2, 2023 12:01 a.m. | Sunday, July 2, 2023 12:01 a.m.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

From left: Kathy Fieser, winner of the Executvie Director’s Choice Award for “Here Kitty Kitty” (top left) with her husband, Walter Fieser, and friend, Mary Ann Regula, all of Johnstown, at the Westmoreland Art Nationals awards reception, June 24 at Twin Lakes Park, east of Greensburg.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival Assistant Director and featured artist Erin Shrader (left) with co-curators Sarah Hunter and James Kuhns at the Westmoreland Art Nationals awards reception, June 24 at Twin Lakes Park, east of Greensburg.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

Amy Soich (right) of Latrobe, winner of the graphics award-winning piece, “Smash!”, with her son, Alec Soich, at the Westmoreland Art Nationals awards reception, June 24 at Twin Lakes Park,, east of Greensburg.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

Esther Ulery of Unity with Greensburg residents, Jane and George Church, a Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival board member, at the Westmoreland Art Nationals awards reception, June 24 at Twin Lakes Park, east of Greensburg.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

Francine and Walter Mizwa of Monongahela with his photograph, “Mr. Stump,” at the Westmoreland Art Nationals awards reception, June 24 at Twin Lakes Park, east of Greensburg.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

Paula and Mike Ziemski of Nroth Huntingdon at the Westmoreland Art Nationals awards reception, June 24 at Twin Lakes Park, east of Greensburg.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

Susanna L. Sonnenberg of Pittsburgh provided music for the Westmoreland Art Nationals awards reception, June 24 at Twin Lakes Park, east of Greensburg.

Walter Mizwa of Monongahela was accepted into the Westmoreland Art Nationals for a photo titled “Mr. Stump,” an image of a craggy face carved into a tree in Washington County’s Mingo Park.

Unfortunately, viewers intrigued by the photo won’t be able to go find the source of his inspiration.

The tree has been cut down, he revealed at the awards reception held June 24 in the activity center at Twin Lakes Park, east of Greensburg.

The annual Art Nationals comprise two exhibitions, held in conjunction with the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival, with the first held in May at Westmoreland County Community College and the second running concurrently with the festival at Twin Lakes.

Though the majority of the featured artists were from Western Pennsylvania, the show also included artists from Ohio, Florida and Mississippi.

Juror was Jessica Roscio, director and curator of the Danforth Art Museum at Framingham State University in Massachusetts.

WAHF Executive Director Diane Shrader said she always chooses an out-of-state juror to avoid the potentially awkward situation of a local juror knowing who created a piece just by being familiar with the work of area artists.

Roscio chose a “good representation of photography, oils, pencil, watercolors and mixed media,” Shrader said.

Curator was Sarah Hunter, with her husband, James Kuhns, serving as assistant curator.

Honorees included George Radaeschi of Bedford, Best in Show; Yelena Lamm of Pittsburgh, Curator’s Choice; Kathy Fieser of Johnstown, Executive Director’s Choice; and Kim Williams of Johnstown, Committee’s Choice.

Also, Joseph Ryznar of Lower Burrell, painting; Amy Soich of Latrobe, graphics; Sandra Moore of Glenshaw, craft; Passle Helminski of Erie, sculpture; Jim Meehan of Pittsburgh, photography; Melissa Reed of Greensburg, mixed media, Debra Tobin of Ambridge, digital media/digital art; and Alexis Kovalovsky of New Kensington, new entrant.

Visitors to the exhibit also are encouraged to vote for a People’s Choice Award. Steve Hamilton of North Huntingdon was announced as winner of that honor from the WCCC show.