Members celebrate conclusion of 2015 Exhibition

With wonderful refreshments and lots of guests to heighten the excitement, DAFA members gathered on Monday, April 27, for the Reception and Awards Ceremony celebrating the guild’s 2015 Member Exhibition, FOCUS: Fiber. Show chair Sherrie Tootle presided over the awarding of prizes and introduced the show’s juror/judge, Metroplex-area artist Julio Suarez. Suarez explained his approach to jurying and judging the works and emphasized the importance of good photography to show the high quality of entries.

Winner of the Best of Show Award was Brenda McKinney for her mandala-styled piece “Lotto.” Debbie Snider won the Juror’s Choice Award for her complex, basket-structured piece “Split Personality.” Heather Pregger took First Place for her art quilt “Subdivision #9.” They and other winners are shown below.

Carol Kovacs and JoAnn Musso, who co-chaired the 2015 Member Challenge, presented awards to the winning entrants in the exhibit titled Dreaming Wildly in a Primary Color. DAFA’s honored, long-time member Ruth Anderson was the challenge judge. Those winning pieces are also shown below.

 

Members and guests fill the hallway gallery at The Point. Petit fours grace the reception table arranged by vice president Patsi Davila.

Juror Julio Suarez (left center) chats at the punch table with Deborah Boschert, one of the exhibitors, as Vet concentrates on announcements. Next to the fruit platters, the yummiest colors at the show could be seen on president JoAnn Musso and her whimsical paper ball gown.

Refreshments beckon, and tables full of guests enjoy the reception. Show chair Sherrie Tootle and juror Julio Suarez begin the awards with an honorable mention to Gay Young (center).

Best of Show winner Brenda McKinney with "Lotto.’"Juror’s Pick winner Debbie Snider with "Split Personality." First-place winner Heather Pregger with "Subdivision #9."

Second place winner Diana Pemberton with her "Hooded Scarf." Third-place winner Natalie Friedman with her mixed-media piece “RAVELations." Vet with her honorable mention piece "Unraveled."

Gay Young and her honorable mention winner "Solar Panels." Lisa Covert and her felted tea set, "Duet," another honorable mention winner.

2015 Challenge winners: Lu Peters for "Red, Read, Red," best interpretation of the theme; Carol Kovacs with "The Owl and the Pussycat," best use of materials, and Katina Hronas with "You Are What You Eat,” most imaginative.

To wrap up an exciting evening, DAFA members posed for a new group picture, circa 2015.

--Carolyn Skei and Patsi Davila