BELMONT — Visitors to the T.C. Steele State Historic Site on May 20 had an opportunity to enjoy the final Festival of Flowers PaintOut. The plein air competition has drawn to a close after 18 years.
The historic site will continue to offer the annual September PaintOut, the Great Outdoor Art Contest, one of the oldest plein air painting competitions in the state.
More than 50 artists worked on the site grounds from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Food was provided by Brozinni’s Pizzeria of Nashville.
The Friends of T.C. Steele also celebrated the unveiling of the site’s new historic marker. The new marker is the second in the state dedicated to Steele and highlights the contributions of the painter’s second wife, Selma N. Steele, in the creation of the historic gardens. The president of Friends of T.C. Steele, David Steele, was instrumental in bringing the new marker to the historic site.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Winners of the PaintOut were chosen by judges William Borden, Tricia Hillenburg and Pamela Newell; prizes were awarded in six categories.
Ages 12 and younger
First: Elizabeth Mattos, Bloomington
Second: Thomas Kinder, Nashville
Third: Emma Szalkie, Indianapolis
Honorable mentions: Mason Davis, Bloomington; Caleb Herron, Indianapolis; Ella Lyell, Nashville
Ages 13 to 18
First: Alexandria Robinson, Orleans
Second: Hope Cockerham, Seymour
Adult Oil
First: Mary Ann Davis, Indianapolis
Second: Todd Derr, Owensboro, Kentucky
Third: Thom Robinson, Nashville
Honorable mentions: Anne Karine Bley, Bloomington; Sondra Cromwell, Arcadia; James Stahlhut, Franklin
Adult Acrylic
First: Stephen Miller, Westfield
Second: David Voelpel, Indianapolis
Third: Marilyn Stone, Worthington
Adult Watercolor
First: Kay Fox, Seymour
Second: Nancy Davis Metz, Bloomington
Third: Donnie Mattos, Bloomington
Honorable mention: Betty Wagoner, Bloomington
Adult Mixed Media/Drawing/Other
First: Donna Shortt, Indianapolis
Second: Andrea Cukier, New York, New York
Third: Avon Waters, Converse
People’s Choice, selected through secret ballot by artists and visitors in both the child/teen categories and separately in the adult categories, was awarded to the first-place teen pastel by Alexandria Robinson and the first-place adult watercolor by Kay Fox.
The Festival of Flowers Paint Out is co-sponsored by the Friends of T.C. Steele State Historic Site.