Two Artists Receive Awards for Work in 11th Annual OOVAR Juried Show January 24, 2018 COLUMBUS, Ohio- January 17, 2018 Two artists have received awards for their work that suggests there’s beauty in the everyday experience. Linda Hutchinson and Megan Evans were announced as the winners of the Jurors’ Choice and People’s Choice Awards at the 11th Annual Ohio Online Visual Artist Registry (OOVAR) Juried Show closing reception on Jan. 6. Hutchinson, whose painting “Mission Grocer” was selected as the Jurors’ Choice winner, said she is “thrilled and surprised” to receive the award, which was sponsored by the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). “I am similarly pleased when any of my paintings is selected for exhibition,” said the Kent-based artist. “With the explosion of digital and manipulated work that abounds, I am tickled pink that a simple representational painting, with strokes, imperfections, and decision-making laid bare, was chosen for the Jurors’ Choice Award. For me, emotional content is essential. I am pleased that this was recognized.” Inspired by the sights she observed while walking through neighborhoods in San Francisco, “Mission Grocer” captures the “simple essences” of Hutchinson’s subject through expressive strokes conveying movement and layers of vibrant colors. “This grocer was simply doing his job,” Hutchinson said of the piece. “This job was elevated to something much more beautiful to me. We can all relate to going to the market. Acknowledging the beauty of this simple task is a choice we make.” Evans’ turquoise-hued “Home” also challenges the viewer to reevaluate his or her perception of daily life by exploring similarities in nature. “‘Home’ specifically looks at the bees’ honeycomb, asking the viewer to consider if bees live as we do—within rooms, with each room serving a purpose,” Evans said of her piece, which won the People’s Choice Award. “In this vein, each honeycomb shape was painted individually as I considered the shape’s purpose. I then incorporated the furniture images, grouped by room to parallel our lives within the honeycomb.” Voting for the Friends of the Library-sponsored People’s Choice Award was open to patrons of the Columbus Metropolitan Main Library’s Carnegie Gallery from Nov. 24 through Jan. 6. Evans, who creates her multi-media work in Columbus, said she is “truly honored to be selected for the People’s Choice Award.” “When I saw the show myself and the amazing work hanging with mine, I thought it would be a long shot to win,” she said. “I am grateful ‘Home’ was acknowledged among these other great artworks as the people’s favorite.” This year, 33 works by 31 Ohio artists were selected for exhibition by a panel of three judges including Charles Kanwischer of the Bowling Green State University School of Art, Laura Anthony of Friends of the Library, and Kelly Stevelt of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. The artists on display were chosen from a pool of 95 applicants, with almost 285 works being considered. For more information about the 11th Annual OOVAR Juried Show, visit the OAC’s website. ABOUT THE ANNUAL OOVAR JURIED SHOW Presented by the Ohio Arts Council (OAC), Columbus Metropolitan Library, and Friends of the Library, the exhibition showcases Ohio artists registered in OOVAR, a database of work of more than 1,900 artists from Ohio and all over the world. ABOUT THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Connect with the OAC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or visit our website at oac.ohio.gov. ### Photos by Ohio Arts Council Article by Amanda Etchison, Communications Strategist