“16th and Main” by Jeffrey Jones won first place in the professional category during the Thomas Hart Benton Art Competition. (James Walls | Campus News Editor)
Drew Young
Reporter
The Crowder College Longwell Museum hosted the 19th annual Thomas Hart Benton Art Competition on Saturday, Oct. 11. Competition entries are being featured in the gallery until Oct. 25.
The competition, co-directed by professional artists Becky Golubski and April Davis, brings a crowd of both emerging and professional artists. This year’s competition brought 92 professional entries and 38 emerging, making it the largest show to date.
“What is really impressive about this show is the steady increase in emerging artists entering the competition,” said Golubski.
Golubski spent 19 years as an artist in the competition, with the last three spent as co-director.
“I got involved by taking classes with the late Mary Ellen Pitts, one of the cofounders of the competition,” said Golubski.
Jason Sacran, a professional artist, judged the contest. Sacran led a workshop on “night painting” during the competition.
“It’s always a treat learning from the judge and hearing his ideas,” said April Davis, co-director of the exhibit.
Artwork in the gallery includes many different mediums and artistic styles.
“Instruction” is one of the works on display by the famous artist, Thomas Hart Benton, who was born in Neosho. (James Walls | Campus News Editor)
“It’s great to see this diversity and quality of artwork here in Neosho,” said Sandra Conrad, an emerging artist in this year’s competition.
“I love bringing students to see all of the artwork in the gallery,” said Casey Steuber, who is both an art instructor at Crowder as well as museum director.
The museum, located in the Elsie Plaster Community Center, is typically open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., though this exhibit will also be on display Saturday during usual hours as well as that evening for those who attend the theatre’s performance of the Rainmaker. Visitors to the gallery may vote for their favorite artwork, which has the chance of being awarded “People’s Choice” at the close of this year’s show.
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