Awards Conclude 2014 DAFA Member Show

DAFA artists and members celebrated the closing of the 2014 Member Show and Special Exhibit with a reception and awards ceremony at the guild’s April meeting. The juried show, The Fine Art of Fiber, included 34 pieces of art made by 17 artists and one group. The exhibit was on display at The Point on the C.C. Young campus from March 28 to April 28, along with a special exhibit, The Textures of Indonesia Challenge (details below).

The Best of Show award went to a large collaborative piece made by a group of eight DAFA friends whose months-long project yielded 72 fiber art “Tarot” cards inspired by a deck showing the work of Leonardo da Vinci. DAFA thanks our juror, DFW-area artist Teri Muse, and our hard-working Annual Show chair, Sherrie Tootle.

This year’s Member Show winners

• Best of Show – “The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot: A Wonder's Collaboration,” Connie Akers, Flo    Barry, Michelle Knoerzer, Sara Miller, Lu Peters, Carolyn Skei, Brenda Wyatt, and Gay        
   Young

• First Place – “Poule Aye,” Alisa Banks

• Second Place – “Big Figure #8,” Heather Pregger

• Third Place – “Modern Target Practice,” Robin Wiliiamson

• Juror's Choice – “Chaos III - Hoyle's Cosmology,” Connie Akers 

• Honorable Mention – “Blue Chair Mantra,” Deborah Boschert 

• Honorable Mention – “Flower Garden,” Janet Avery

Note: Watch the DAFA website for photos of all show entries.

Left to right: Val Guignon (center) chats with Deborah Boschert at the reception table. Annual Show chair Sherrie Tootle prepares to announce the winners. Artists and show visitors fill the gallery with excitement at the closing reception.

Left to right: Four of eight members who won a collaborative Best of Show award for "The Da Vinci Enigma," Carolyn Skei, Gay Young, Lu Peters and Michelle Knoerzer. Alisa Banks with “Poule Aye.” Heather Pregger with “Big Figure #8.”

Left to right: Robin Williamson with “Modern Target Practice.” Deborah Boschert with “Blue Chair Mantra.” Janet Avery with “Flower Garden.” Lu Peters (center) accepts the Juror’s Choice award on behalf of her friend and collaborator Connie Akers. Show chair Sherrie Tootle is at left, juror Teri Muse on the right.

Leading up to a special exhibit titled The Textures of Indonesia, DAFA veterans Mary Masal and JoAnn Musso challenged members to make art using a challenge fabric – pieces of a recycled quilt top with an Indonesian flavor. In addition to the challenge fabric, finished entries had to include “one button, one snap, and one bead,” as well as “something round, something square and something purple.” The inventive entries sparked the imaginations of show visitors and DAFA members alike.

This year’s Challenge winners

• First Place – “Daphne's Good Fortune Cookie” purse, Daphne Huffman

• Second Place – “Myriad of Journeys” vest, Sheila Hill

• Third Place – “Wildflower” quilt, Janet Avery

• Judge's Choice – “Long-Leg Rag Doll #3,” Binnie Tomaro

Left to right: Challenge winner Daphne Huffman with her fortune cookie purse. Sheila Hill with her challenge vest. Janet Avery with her challenge quilt. Binnie Tomaro with her Judge’s Choice rag doll.

Left to right: Challenge instigators JoAnn Musso and Mary Masal prepare for a light-hearted announcement of their winners. Jules Rushing’s “MRI Mirage” reminds guests of the seriousness of Alzheimer’s Disease. Artists and show visitors examine and discuss details of the work. Sculpture at right is “Wild Thing I” by Debbie Snider.

Contributors: Sherrie Tootle, Mary Masal, Carolyn Skei