Prairie Art Alliance contest yields impressive local talent
PHOTOGRAPHY | Anita Stienstra
Nearly 400 photographs were submitted by 117 Illinois amateur photographers to the first Prairie Art Alliance Images of Illinois Amateur Photography Contest, sponsored by Illinois Times. The images speak a thousand truths as to how passion can push out impressive talent.
“These images are so amazing we want everyone to see them,” explains contest director, PAA Gallery II manager and all-around visual arts mover-and-shaker Jennifer Snopko. “So, we’re projecting and rotating all 400 images digitally onto the wall of the gallery during the exhibition opening. We hope everyone will come out to the reception to see what talent there is in central Illinois.”
The highlight of the evening will be the gallery showing of the 24 winning photos by 19 contestants. Each of these photos will remain on exhibit until the middle of May.
Contest rules required that photos be taken in Illinois within the last two years. A panel of three professional photographers judged entries in three categories – people, places and things – awarding a first, second and third-place winner, and honorable mentions. Best of Show was selected from the winning entries.
Best in Show, awarded to RT McDonald of Springfield for his photograph, “Prairie Barn,” is featured above and on the cover. McDonald captured a stunning interplay between motionless emptiness and strokes of movement and life in cloud, foliage and barn wood. He will be presented with a matted print of his photograph by RMD Gallery along with a print and frame from Russenmeyer Photography and a frame from CVS Pharmacy at South Grand Ave.
First, second and third place winners will receive a PAA gift certificate, besides having his or her work published here in Illinois Times – their first notification that their shots were selected as winners.
Snopko calls the PAA fundraiser, “a success.” She credits Jim Edwards, a local arts teacher and PAA artist member, as the brainchild of the idea to hold a photography contest, adding that the idea floated around for a couple years until coming to fruition this year.
PAA has a history of supporting emerging and established artists of all ages. The nonprofit visual arts organization provides classes to members and the public and operates two galleries where members’ works are for view and sale. H.D. Smith Gallery is in the Hoogland Center for the Arts and Gallery II, where the contest winners will be displayed, is at 2 South Old State Capitol Plaza. Gallery II is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Anita Stienstra is calendar editor of Illinois Times.
The Images of Illinois Amateur Photography Contest exhibit reception is Thursday, March 29 from 5-7 p.m. at Gallery II on the square. It is open to the public. Music will be provided by Pete Sander, and there will be hors d’oeuvres and drinks. The winning photos may be viewed at illinoistimes.com.
