December 3, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, please contact:

Janet Bucciarelli, SAMA-Ligonier Valley Coordinator

(724) 238-6015

Travis Mearns, Public Relations Coordinator

(724) 238-6015

WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN SAMA'S SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS ANNUAL EXHIBITION

            Ligonier – Prizes have been announced and awarded for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Council for the Arts 12^th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition, currently on view through February 24 at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley. The exhibition features 71 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 John A. Fobes of East Pittsburgh for his photography print, Dixmont State Hospital. Second Prize was awarded to Joyce Werrie Perry of McKees Rocks, while Sandra Trimble of Indiana took Third Prize and William T. Perry of Harmony won Fourth Prize. Awards of Excellence were given to Ceres M. Rangos of Upper St. Clair and Cliff McGuire of Vandergrift.

            Other honors included three Awards of Merit, given to Robin Grass of Everett, Anna Marie Legler of Pittsburgh, and Beverly Young of Indiana. Two works also were chosen by students of Greater Latrobe School District for inclusion in the school’s Special Collection. Those works were New Florence Power Plant by William M. Hoffman, Jr. of Ligonier, and Penny Candy by Richard Newill of East Conemaugh.

            Serving as juror for the exhibition was Nancy Maguire, Deputy Director/Internal Affairs and Gallery Curator for Stedman Gallery, Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts in Camden, N.J. Since joining the gallery in 1988, she has curated more than three dozen exhibitions of various media. Maguire has juried numerous regional art exhibitions and has served on a local college’s art gallery steering committee.

            The Council’s 12^th Annual Exhibition includes work in media such as watercolor, bronze, oil, acrylic, photography, wool and metal, 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, call the Museum at (724) 238-6015 or visit www.sama-art.org.