Two awarded Best in Show at 15th annual Feast for the Eyes

Paul Mondoux’s award winning “Towel Boy” welcomed guests to the 15th annual Feast for the Eyes Juried Art Exhibition April 6 at the Southampton Art Gallery.

Hub Staff

The 15th annual Feast for the Eyes Juried Art Exhibition presented by the Southampton Art Gallery showed off a smorgasbord of creativity and talent, with nine award categories and over $1,000 given out at the exhibition’s celebratory kick-off April 6.

The night’s biggest award that showcases excellence in any medium - Best in Show - had the judges, Paul Schendel and Sharon Barfoot, split down the middle with Schendel choosing Tania Klimasko-Hoffman’s “Content to be Who I Am” as his winner; and Barfoot choosing Jenny Iserman’s field book “Hawk Language” as her winner.

Klimasko-Hoffman also won in the Courage for Your Conviction category; with Iserman winning in the Mixed Media & Printmaking category.

Barfoot joked that although she and Schendel had a few disagreements, it worked out pretty well and she welcomed another chance to once again be a juror with Schendel. “The artists should probably know that both Paul and I are both critical when we jury a show, in a positive way. And there wasn't one painting in this exhibition that didn’t have positive remarks,” said Barfoot.

Paul Schendel said that it’s pleasure to judge all the fabulous work. “We were hours with this judging and having a ball so it wasn't work; and, well you can see for yourself, it’s all terrific.”

Southampton Art Gallery Director April Patry was happy to report that the exhibition had the most submissions it’s ever had. “Exactly half the submissions are from new artists to ‘Feast’ so that’s really cool that we’re encountering new artists.” Patry went on to say that the Gallery received a lot of Southampton Art School students submitting their work, as well. “We get lots of students and people who follow us on Facebook, you know social media really helps cast that net. And the work is great. We’ve got a ton of different mediums represented.”

Other award winners include: Photography Award - Elizabeth Cartier with “Ball”; Ellen Park Award - Paul Mondoux with “Towel Boy”; Art Appreciation Award - Karen Botting with “Watercolours”; Excellence in Fine Craft - Andrew Vereecke with “Vessel # 1”; Blooming Brilliance Award - Bella Brough with “The Abyss”; Juror’s Choice Award - Julie Bremner with “Modern Day Warrior”.

Throughout the exhibit’s duration, Art Gallery guests had the chance to vote for the People’s Choice Award. The Art Gallery asked all its artist to donate non-perishable food items for the Port Elgin Salvation Army Food Bank and organic seed for the Southampton Community Garden at G.C. Huston Public School. The Gallery will be collecting food items throughout the Feast for the Eyes exhibit which runs until April 30.

Award sponsors included: The Southampton Art Centre, Valerie Cargo, the Family of Ellen Park, Hills Insurance, Sophie Champagne, Sandy Esplen, Southampton Rotary Club, Infinity Network Solutions, Sharon Barfoot Fine Art and the Shoreline Artists.

Judge Paul Schendel awarded Tania Kilmasko-Hoffman with one of two Best in Show awards April 6 at the opening of the Feast for the Eyes exhibit at the Southampton Art Gallery.

Judge Sharon Barfoot (left) with her pick for Best in Show, Jenny Iserman.

Photography Award winner Elizabeth Cartier with “Ball”, her piece which includes her dog Riley.

Craftsman Andrew Vereecke with his number one fan, daughter Mimi, won the Excellence in Fine Craft Award at the Feast for Eyes juried Art Exhibition April 6.