On Friday, November, Arts of The Inland hosted an art showing of local artists at the Barron Park House Gallery located at 471, N. Lee Street in LaBelle. The setting of the event was almost as picturesque as the varied and beautiful pieces inside the gallery itself. Upon entering the the white picket fence to the historic site situated with a stunning view of the Calossahatchee River there was a buzz of excitement amongst all of the volunteers, artists, and patrons. With over 47 donors (not only from LaBelle but neighboring Southwest Florida communities as well) the lawn was filled with hopefuls entering to win the silent auctions of the many fantastic prizes.

The gallery, itself a work of art with its charm of yesteryear, was filled with paintings of all mediums and sizes including oils, acrylics, water colors, and mixed media on which votes were being tallied for the People’s Choice Award of the evening.

The gift shop was as warm, inviting, and delightful as the local members of Arts of the Inland who were mingling around inside of it; members whose mission is to facilitate and nurture the creation, development, promotion, and education of arts and culture in the inland communities of South Florida.

While not all of the art that was on display is in fact for sale a great deal of them are and I urge everyone to head down to the gallery and see for yourself this magnificent display from our local artists. The Barron Park House Gallery and Gift Shop is open from Thursday - Sunday from 12 noon until 5 p.m.

Best of Show was Penny Fox with her water color “Working Farm” (Submitted photo/Val White)[/caption]

The artists featured in this showing were: Kel Bradshaw, Deborah S. Barrett-Smith, Joan Benner, Karen Constantino, Marty Cowen, June DeVincent, Sherry Elliott , Penny Fox, Lisa Gunter, Bayard C. Horn, Connie S. Killebrew, Marty Lonnon, Ronald Nolan, Douglas Patterson, Anne Rasmussen, Mary Nelle Thomas, Shary Weckwerth and Olga Wood

The winners of the Perceptions Art Show Awards 2016 were:

First Place - Anne Rasmussen for “Derek’s Request” her piece in acrylic.

Second Place - Connie Killebrew for “Preening Sandhill Crane” in acrylic.

Third Place - Joan Benner for “Grandmother’s Garden” in oil.

Honorable Mentions included:

Marty Lonnon for “A still life” in oil.

Kel Bradshaw for “Falls” in acrylic.

Sherry Elliot for “Papa Viggo- The Ole Dane” in acrylic.

Best of Show was Penny Fox with her water color “Working Farm”

The People’s Choice award was tied between Sherry Eliott for her “Papa Viggo - the ole Dane” and Marty Cowen’s “Orange Zest” both amazing acrylic pieces.