Art show packed with delights, surprises

ASHWOOD - The Bath County Art Show is back in town, bursting with color and creativity. There are 721 pieces to ponder over and wonder at, the work of 263 artists who hail from across Virginia and West Virginia, from down in Florida and North and South Carolina, from over in Texas, all the way to California.

Susan Badder, professor of art history at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, judged the 45th annual show, calling it "an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to experience so much intriguing artwork." She added, "The quantity, the variety, and the consistently high quality of the works … are noteworthy. (It) made my task more difficult, but also, most rewarding."

Badder concluded, "The arts are alive and well in Bath County."

This is true. The Bath County Arts Association, which sponsors and mounts the ever-growing show, was a tad worried that current economic woes might throw a damper on this, its greatest annual fund-raiser.

Not so, says BCAA treasurer Janice McWilliams. "We opened Sunday, and we sold as much as we usually do on opening day," she said as she dashed about checking on things Monday. "And we received a comparable amount in donations, too."

Right: "Gatherer with White Hat," an oil by Jeffrey S. Stockberger of Port Republic, Va., took "Best in Show" honors from Judge Susan Badden at the 45th annual Bath County Art Show. Below: "Old Glories," an oil by Bruce Macdonald of Lexington, Va., is one of 721 works of art at the Bath County Art Show, which runs through Sunday, from 1-5 p.m., at Valley Elementary School in Ashwood. (Recorder photos by Margo Oxendine) This year's show is dedicated to Mary Hornbarger Mustoe, who died earlier this year. Those fortunate to have known Mary Mustoe - and most did - knew what a gentle but driving force she could be in the various arts and other charitable organizations to which she donated much time, talent and financial support. This is the first year in decades the energetic Mary was not directing artists where to place their paintings, greeting show visitors, assisting buyers, and bringing treats to her fellow workers. The show program leads off with a lovely photograph of Mary, and notes, "In memory of our good friend and loyal committee member, Mary H. Mustoe, 1931-2009. Mary, this show's for you."

As always, Bath and Highland artists dominated the entries. Featured Bath artists include Hella Armstrong, Lee Brauer, Robert Campbell IV, Alice Campbell, Sally Campbell, Madge Dufour, Charles Garratt, Heather Gladden, Perlista Henry, Heather Kipp, Todd Lacks, Tot Langhammer, Kate Loettler, Jane Lyle, Judy Maliwauki, Sandra McElwee, Gary Norton, Josh Peters, Dianne Ray, Matthew Robertson, Corbin Spurgeon, Claudia Trinca and Sarah Williams.

Highland artists include Amy Baird, Clyde Beck, Susan Blanchard, Margie Boesch, Liz Delahoussaye, Suse Field, Barbara Hevener, Lisa Jacenich, Annette Naber, Barbara Richards and Judy Skeen.

The show is open daily from 1-5 p.m., through Sunday, July 26, at Valley Elementary School in Ashwood, about two miles south of Hot Springs on U.S. 220. There is no admission charge. All art works are offered for sale.

Bath County Art Show

There are pretty, and startling, and remarkable works of painting, sculpture, and photography at the Bath County Art Show. This oil by artist Jamie Nervo of Roanoke is perhaps the biggest attention-getter. (Recorder photo by Margo Oxendine) 2009 Award Winners

Best in show — Gatherer with White Hat: Oil, Jeffrey S. Stockberger; Warm Springs Valley Garden Club Award — Best Flower Painting

Spring Melody: Watercolor, Myrna Nein; Elinor Hopkins Award — Best Flower Watercolor: Daffodil, watercolor, Greg Cooper; William and Louisa Bowles Memorial Award — Judge's Choice Watercolor: Fall Foliage of New River, watercolor, Aili Wang; Warm Springs Gallery Award — Judge's Choice Best Virginia Rivers and Streams: Goshen Daybreak, photography, Wythe Whiting; George and Mary Beach Memorial Award — Judge's Choice, Best Iris, any medium: Iris Abstract, photography, Charles Garratt; Dancing Lady Design Figurative Art Award — Judge's Choice: Best figure as focus of the work, any medium, L'Origine I (Adam), acrylic, Paola Ruggier; Garth Newel Music Center Award — Judge's Choice, any medium, Berries and Grapes I, oil, Cleveland Morris; John Thiemeyer Memorial Award — Bath County Impressions, any medium, Tree in a Pasture on 220, photography, Anne Conway Jennings; Wm. Grover Galleries Award — Best Traditional Landscape in Oil, March Snow, oil, Richard W. Young;

"Bikael the Archangel," a sculpture by Lynchburg artist Tom Morris, won an honorable mention in that category. (Recorder photo by Margo Oxendine) Watercolor — First: A Roanoke Building, Bechtel Shepherd; second: Blue Mist, Rose Dobbins; third: Winter Hide Away, Rita Carroll; honorable mention: Bruton Prish, Ranny Aultice. Oils — First: Anticipating Memory, Barbara Crawford; second: Summer View, Jean Tremmel; third: Winter at the River, Barbara J. Wachter; honorable mention: Roanoke City Market, Karen Carter. Charcoal, Pastels and Graphics — First: Evening at Abbott's Lake, James Underwood; second: Summer Glory, Trina Moor; third: Rush of Color, Arlene Daniel; honorable mention: Torn-Ado, Barbara Crawford.

Sculpture — First: Compelling Bear, J. Gail Geer; second: A View to the Neighbors, Michael Hough; third: 3 Little Birds, Kim Lashley Sutliff; honorable mention: Catch a Falling Star, Bill Johnston; Mixed media — First: Marsh Grass at Twilight, Lee Penny Baker; second: Purple Moon, Donna Ramsey Nevers; third: Sunrise on House Mountain, Martha A. Olson; honorable mention: Series 40, Terry Ward.

Photography — First: Autumn Sun, J. Tyler Pugh; second: River Walk, San Antonio, Barry Wolfe; third: Sylvan Veins, Heather M. Gladden; honorable mention: USS Wisconsin, Whitman "Pete" Cross. Judge's Choice — Honorable Mentions: A New Day, oil, Rodney Laughon; A Perfect Pair, acrylic, Corbin Spurgeon; Abstract in Yellow, Purple and Peach, oil, Anne Weede; Around the Bend- Maury River, photography, Gail Macleod; Bikael The Archangel, sculpture, Tom Morris; City Rain, oil, Gay Tucker; Crooked Lamp II, photography, Susan Lockwood; Grey Skies and Lavender Fields, oil, Audrey Watson; INFERNO, acrylic, Joanne J. Frazier; It's About Color, mixed media, Dorothy Blackwell; Landscape, monotype, Patricia Hobbs; Lee Chapel, oil, John Schoultz; Misty Morning, Jackson River Valley, photography, Annette Naber; Moon Rising in Monterey, Watercolor, Amy Baird; Parrot Tulip, mixed media, Martha Rhodes; Play, photography, Christi A. Wonderly; Rearview, pastel, Rose Dobbins; Red Storm, oil, Kelly Mattox; Reflections (in droplets), photography, Debbie Maurer; South African Fishing Boats, oil, Sharon Kincheloe; Speed of Sound, acrylic, Mary Chiaramonte; Spring Creek, oil, Z. Feng; Spring Time Near Blue Grass photography, Barbara Richards; Sunset Farm, oil, Elyse Gerard; WalkingThru Little Valley, photography, Lee Brauer.