Fine artist Teri Tompkins won the Jean Wagner Troemel Best in Show Award for her oil painting “Cindy’s Oak #2,” on display in the annual Fall Members Show at the St. Augustine Art Association. Tompkins has won the top award four times since it was established nearly ten years ago by the late Jean Wagner Troemel, an acclaimed artist and local art advocate who passed away in early 2018 at the age of 96. Tompkins accepted the award at the First Friday Art Walk opening reception on September 7. “It’s an honor to be recognized again with this award,” said Tompkins. “Jean was an amazing artist who made a real difference in our community.”
In addition to her fine art pursuits, Tompkins is a writer who recently published The Master Artist Within: The Art and Science of Redirecting Your Creative Energy, an insightful manual for transforming and improving creativity.
The Fall Members Show features a record number of original works of art in varied styles and mediums. One hundred forty-two pieces were judged for awards by artist Ed Hall, who is known internationally for his political cartoons.
Artist Xi Guo was honored with the Clark and Alice Alger Artistic Excellence Award for “Tangle #12,” a detailed watercolor painting that is part of her series exploring Spanish moss.
The first place prize was given to Jerry Avery for “Storm #1,” a charcoal landscape drawing. Second place went to Susan Daly for “Orange Sections with Pewter,” an oil still life. John Roppolo won third place for “Saibu,” an Oriental-inspired mixed media sculpture, and Susan Stanton received fourth place for “Blithe Spirit,” a digital photograph.
For the second season, Karen Zander, owner of 97Park Realty, presented a $2500 check to the St. Augustine Art Association to sponsor the monthly awards. “We are very proud to be associated with this fine organization that formed the local art colony and is celebrating 95 years of enriching the cultural life here,” said Zander.
Honorable Mention awards were also given to Marilyn Antram, Gary Garrett, Art Hughes, Paul Ladnier, Ken Jensen, and Robert Shirk.
The exhibit will be on display through September 30. Admission is free. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 4pm and Sundays, 2 to 4pm. For more information, call (904) 824-2310 or go to www.staaa.org.