Exhibit to flaunt best in area artists

White River Valley Museum and the City of Auburn Arts Commission recently announced a large selection of artists who will be participating in the Small Works, Big Presents: The Gift of Art exhibition.

The show, which will be on display Nov. 18-Dec. 20 at the museum, celebrates the diversity and creativity in the regional arts scene. It showcases the work of emerging and established Pacific Northwest artists while the community is offered an opportunity to purchase fine artwork.

The judges – Margaret Bullock, Rosemary Ponnekanti and Paul Metivier – selected 89 artworks from the 279 total entries submitted. They selected the following 52 artists for the exhibition:

Billie Andrew, Rocky Barrick*, Lea Bishop, Laurie D. Brown, Robin Butler, Teri Capp*, Cal Carpenter, Deb Casso*, Darlene Dihel, Mike Dilbeck, Sharon Ely, Jessica Eskelsen, Penelope Evans, Kathleen Frugé-Brown, Marion Fukuma, Susan Gans, Suzanne Gardner, Paul Glasoe*, Virginia M Hill, Anna Hoey, Fran Holt, Eden Hopkins, Tis Huberth, Sue Jackson-André, Linda Jacobus, Kris Ellen Jenott, Mary Johnson, Matthew M. Johnson, Zachary Kolden, Lena Leitzke, Elaine Mahler, Robert Matinjussi, Wanda McArthur, Nataliya Mirgorodskiy*, Peggy O’Heron, Jim Oliver, Janie Olsen, Kristi Orcutt, Jennifer Preston Chushcoff, Wendy Ray, Debra Rexroat, Erika Rummell, Jesse Schwartz*, Shirley Simpson-Nielsen, Lisa Snow Lady*, Karen St. Clair, Lydia Strange*, Ken Strange*, Lydia Sutton, Frances Tanner, C. Turley, Susie Wind

*Honorable Mention

In addition, the following were chosen award winners:

• Best in Show: Zachary Kolden, “Moth and Needle”, liquid emulsion

• First place: Linda Jacobus, “God Made the Flowers for You”, oil

• Second place: Sue Jackson-André, “Bird’s Eye View - Jersey Wooly Rabbit”, colored pencil

The People’s Choice Award will be announced Dec. 1.

Sale of the artwork will be available throughout the exhibition of which 25 percent of the proceeds benefits the museum. Examples of some of the artwork that will be available at this year’s show can be viewed at www.auburnwa.gov/Community/arts_entertainment.asp.