Andre Benoit’s ‘Mermaiden’ Best in Show
Andre Benoit’s mixed media “Mermaiden” won Best In Show at the 2019 ARTinME opening and awards. Courtesy of BRAF
Caroline Sheridan Loose’s “Foreboding” was Juror’s Choice, 2019 ARTinME. Courtesy of BRAF
Second Place 2019 ARTinME: Pemaquid artist Marcia Brandwein’s “First Snowfall.” Courtesy of BRAF
Mark Coates of Boothbay Harbor won third place in 2019 ARTinME for “Outback Nocturne.” Courtesy of BRAF
Honorable Mention: Newcastle artist Helen Warner for “Deep Tide Pool” at 2019 ARTinME. Courtesy of BRAF
Jerri Whitman of Dresden received an Honorable Mention for “Trees” at 2019 ARTinME. Courtesy of BRAF
Corinna-based artist-sculptor Judith Long’s impressive “Free Your Mind” in terra cotta clay.
A surprised Andre Benoit accepts the Best In Show prize from juror Roy Germon. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register
Close up of Somerville artist Nathan Allard’s egg tempura “Taurpaulin.” One of the three Honorable Mentions.
Hilary Bartlett’s “Monuments” - acrylics.
Andre Benoit’s mixed media “Mermaiden” won Best In Show at the 2019 ARTinME opening and awards. Courtesy of BRAF
Caroline Sheridan Loose’s “Foreboding” was Juror’s Choice, 2019 ARTinME. Courtesy of BRAF
Second Place 2019 ARTinME: Pemaquid artist Marcia Brandwein’s “First Snowfall.” Courtesy of BRAF
Mark Coates of Boothbay Harbor won third place in 2019 ARTinME for “Outback Nocturne.” Courtesy of BRAF
Honorable Mention: Newcastle artist Helen Warner for “Deep Tide Pool” at 2019 ARTinME. Courtesy of BRAF
Jerri Whitman of Dresden received an Honorable Mention for “Trees” at 2019 ARTinME. Courtesy of BRAF
Corinna-based artist-sculptor Judith Long’s impressive “Free Your Mind” in terra cotta clay.
A surprised Andre Benoit accepts the Best In Show prize from juror Roy Germon. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register
Close up of Somerville artist Nathan Allard’s egg tempura “Taurpaulin.” One of the three Honorable Mentions.
Hilary Bartlett’s “Monuments” - acrylics.
Boothbay Region Art Foundation’s annual ARTinME show always draws a large crowd and this year’s opening and awards night was like the previous nine on that score.
Juror Roy Germon chose 70 works of art for the show from among the 149 submitted by artists across the state ... paintings, drawings, assemblage, mixed media, printmaking and sculpture. Germon told the audience how impressed he was with the media, subjects, and processes in all of the work.
“I made every attempt to give each artwork a fair shake; some could be judged for quality of design, color and technical skill while others had to be seen in terms of personal and creative expression. Or visual impact,” Germon said. “And there were many that expressed emotion and a great number demonstrating mastery and excellent technical skill ... which made the judging process very difficult!”
Mark Coates announced BRAF decided to do away with the People’s Choice Award beginning this year and replaced it with the Juror’s Award. “There were many reasons, but for the most part, it was because this is a statewide show,” Coates said.
Award winners
Germon selected Andre Benoit’s wood assemblage “Mermaiden” for Best In Show. “I loved the humor about it, the unique assemblage ... “ Germon said. Mermaiden attracted a lot of attention before the awards announcements; after them, many more attendees made their introductions to the eye-catching sea creature.
Benoit was quite blown away that the work was named Best in Show. “I had no expectations. I was just happy to get in. One of the interesting things is the background that really sets it off; it looks like she didn’t use sunscreen ... a kind of photo aging.” Benoit received a $500 cash prize (Sherman’s).
Juror’s Choice: Topsham-based artist Caroline Sheridan Loose’s minimalist painting of layered Akua monotype, “Foreboding.” Sponsored by Knickerbocker Group.
Second Place: Marcia Brandwein of Pemaquid for “First Snowfall.” Marcia was awarded $300 ( First Federal Savings in Boothbay Harbor).
Third Place: Mark Coates of Boothbay Harbor for “Outback Nocturne.” Mark received a cash prize of $250 (The First National Bank in Boothbay Harbor).
Honorable Mentions: Nathan Allard of Somerville for his egg tempura “Taurpaulin,” Jerri Whitman of Dresden, “Trees;” and Newcastle artist Helen Warner for “Deep Tide Pool.” Each of these artists received $100 thanks to the generosity of Gleason Fine Art, Pinkham’s Gourmet Market and the BRAF Board of Trustees.
Germon is manager of Greenhut Gallery in Portland and currently has an exhibition of his work at Cove Street Arts, 71 Cove St., also in Portland. Germon, Kathi Smith and Timothy Wilson will give an artists’ talk about their show, “Real and Remembered” at Cove Street Arts Nov. 14.
The ARTinME show runs through Nov. 23 at the BRAF gallery at 1 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor.
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