December 12, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, please contact:
Janet Buciarelli, SAMA-Ligonier Valley Coordinator

(724) 238-6015

Travis Mearns, Public Relations Coordinator

(724) 238-6015

PRIZES AWARDED FOR SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS EXHIBITION

            Ligonier – Prizes have been announced and awarded for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Council on the Arts 11^th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition, currently on view through February 25 at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley. The exhibition features 76 works in a variety of media created by many of the region’s most acclaimed and talented artists.

            Best of Show honors were given to William DeBernardi of Pittsburgh for his oil painting, Photographers. Second Prize was awarded to Jeanne McGuire of Pittsburgh, while Paul Sirofchuck of Ligonier took Third Prize and Fran Gialamas of Pittsburgh won Fourth Prize. Awards of Excellence were given to Katherine Strutz of Mars and William M. Hoffman Jr. of Ligonier.

            Other honors included five Awards of Merit, given to David A. DiPietro of Uniontown, Ronald Nigro of Trafford, Sherrie Plonski of Coraopous, Steven Sherrill of Altoona and Sallie Zoerb of Somerset. Two works also were chosen by students of Greater Latrobe School District for inclusion in the school’s Special Collection. Those works were Winter’s Voice by Philip Brulia of Ebensburg and Restart by Julia Bernstein Engelmann of Indiana.

            Serving as juror for the exhibition was artist and instructor, William Mammarella. Mammarella has taught at the college level for more than 10 years at Rutgers University and the University of Delaware, and is currently on the faculty of the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster. He has won numerous awards for his artwork and has been exhibited extensively in both solo and group shows.

            The SWPCA’s 11^th annual exhibition includes work in media such as watercolor, bronze, oil, acrylic, photography, clay, wood and steel, among many others. The exhibition is open to artists in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Clarion, Clearfield, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer, Somerset, Venango, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

            The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley is located at One Boucher Lane and Route 711 South in Ligonier. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. weekends. The Museum is a handicapped-accessible facility and is open to the public free of charge. For more information, please call the Museum at (724) 238-6015 or visit www.sama-art.org.