The Art at the Center opening reception on July 8, 2021, was a huge success. The Community Center was filled with beautiful art, and with individuals happy to reconnect after such a long hiatus.

Individuals attending the event love to vote for their favorite art pieces. It helps them to slow down and take more time to observe and look at the art in the show. Votes were counted, and awards were presented. Coordinator Annie Thayer said that she would love to recognize each artist. It takes a lot of time, effort and gumption to enter a show, and every artist in the show had one or more pieces worthy of recognition and praise.

Thayer said, “There were multiple artists showing their work for the first time, and it is not easy to put yourself out there for the first time. All of the art in the show is amazing and beautiful. I’m sure everyone found it difficult to vote for just three of their favorites.”

First place went to Loren Merrill for his incredible wildlife photography, with the favorite being his Cold Morning Coyote. Loren said he took the shot at minus 8F! “The snow on the nose makes the photo!” one observer wrote.

Second place went to Leslie Rothman for her amazing collages, filled with light and detail. My favorite was The Power of Nature. One voter wrote that he has many times looked into such clouds, pondering their intent.

Third place went to Maddie Perry, age 11, for her beautiful watercolors. She showed her versatility with three very unique pieces in the show, a lovely poppy piece titled beautiful and realistic, a blue crab (which she had more than one offer to purchase), and one of waves crashing on rocks with a sunset in the background. The wave piece, White Waters was a crowd favorite.

The Coordinators Choice Award went to first-time artist Mary Waddell for her beautiful poppies and her mountain wildflower painting.

Other artist’s work to look for when you go to the community center to check out the art are:

- Kirk Byers beautiful landscapes, uniquely finished with a wax coating. His Indian Sunset, Diamond Sunrise and Shoshone Storm, dynamic with lightning and soaring clouds against implacable rock,

- Evan Cantor’s beautiful landscapes in oil,

- Judy Fisher’s Buffalo Returning to Boulder Dream and her other unique acrylic paintings,

- Barbara Ferries Henderson’s beautiful rose painting,

- Theresa Jordan’s beautifully painted watercolor Roses and fire breathing Dragon,

- Lee Kennedy’s florals (especially her well-done Orchid Up Close),

- Nancy Kirkendall’s butterflies and her stunning Wild Rose in cold wax and oil,

- Max Krimmel’s mesmerizing Spacescapes with all their gorgeous colors,

- Lisa Navarre’s delicate watercolor landscapes,

- Lorelei Stumbo’s Totem, and other burnt wood sculptures;

- Annie Thayer’s sassy Jewel Thieving Fiery Dragon, as well as her landscapes, and seascapes,

- Wolfy Wolf’s Nederland scenes. Wolfy’s Return to Ned Mountain had one viewer imagining himself stumbling home to a cabin from the PI in about 1970 and the scene looking like his painting. Others loved the hidden objects in this painting.

Thanks to all who helped hang this wonderful show, those who made the reception happen, to Jim McVey for his music, and for all of you who came out to support Art at the Center. It was a fun evening!

The art show will hang in the Nederland Community Center until the end of September.