Art Uptown, Sarasota’s oldest cooperative fine art gallery, has announced the winners of its fourth annual Dog Days Art Show, which drew entries from 87 local artists, according to Rita Rust, exhibits chairperson. She invited the public to a reception to meet the artists on Friday, Aug. 3, 6-9 p.m. at the gallery at 1367 Main St., Sarasota.
Maro Lorimer of Holmes Beach won first place for “Destination Unknown,” an acrylic abstract painting. Second place went to Karen de Leon Stuart of Bradenton for her oil painting “Summer Evening.” Marjorie Hallet of Sarasota won the third place award for “Redhots,” a work in mixed media.
Art Uptown’s judging committee also selected four runners-up. They were Elaine Charney of Sarasota for her watercolor painting “Wild Flowers;” Joan Petras of Sarasota for her mixed media work “Longview;” Patricia Preston Warren of St. Petersburg for her photograph “Full Moon Dancer;” and Miller Brady of Sarasota for “Color of Water I” with pigmented polyurethane.
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“The judging was extremely challenging because of the high quality of the work submitted,” related Exhibits Chairwoman Rust. “The entries were just exceptional – more variety of media and styles than we’ve ever had before,” she added.
Half of the gallery has been devoted to exhibiting the 72 pieces accepted for the Dog Days show, which runs through Aug. 24. The remaining gallery space displays the work of Art Uptown’s 27 member artists.
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“This is a wonderful opportunity to see local art at its finest,” said Ms. Rust. “We have on display paintings, photographs, works in mixed media, sculpture, jewelry, fine ceramics and fabric art. In all, we’re showing the works of nearly 100 local artists and artisans this month. The gallery has never looked better,” she noted.
“We have invited all of the artists whose works are on exhibit to the reception, and we hope art lovers throughout the area will turn out for this exciting event,” said chairwoman Rust. The reception is open to the public at no charge.
Art Uptown is located at 1367 Main St., between Palm and Pineapple avenues. The gallery’s summer hours are Tuesday-Friday, 11-5, and Saturday, 10-4. During the monthly First Friday Gallery Walk, hours are 6-9 p.m. Telephone 941-955-5409. www.artuptown.com.
