Salt Fork Arts and Crafts Festival award winners announced

Special to The Daily Jeffersonian
·3 min read

The 52nd Salt Fork Arts and Crafts Festival community was saddened this year at the death of artist Virginia Price, 101, who had been part of the festival for more than 50 years. Prices' family created an award in her memory for Excellence in Creativity and Craftsmanship. The first-year award went to Wayne Dyer for his detailed wood carvings.

The Best of Show Award this year went to Russ Shaffer, who has been at the festival for more than 30 continuous years. His embossed engravings are unique as he makes the paper that becomes his artwork.

The People's Choice Award is a special award that lets the artists know the general public enjoys their artwork and not just the judges. Each artist is permitted to enter one item, which is numbered, and all the visitors have a chance to vote on their favorite.

Sponsored Awards and Recipients:

  • Daniel Eikenberry Award - Art in Living Things, Crystal Black, Photography

  • George Eikenberry Award - Natural Beauty, Paul Courtright, Wood

  • Alice Eikenberry Award - Beauty in Nature, J.K. Mateer, Colored Pencil

  • W.B. Green Award - Any Medium, Barbara Bloom, Fiber Art

  • Robert W. Amos Founders Award - Any Medium, James Matee, Colored Pencil

  • Parnell & Associates, Inc Award - Any Medium, Said Oladejo-Lawal, Acrylic Painter

  • Bill Saling Memorial Award - Whimsical Work, Jack Valentine, Ceramic Tea Pot

  • Dick McCoy Memorial Award - Glass, wood, or pottery, Michelle Cheng, Mixed Media

  • Something of Interest to a Child Any Medium, Wayne Dyer, Wooden Toys

  • The Simcox Family Jude Award - Michelle Chang, Mixed Media

  • Biegler Family Award - Outstanding Jewelry, Suzanne Fideli-Krongold

  • Marietta Coal Co. Award - Any Medium, Scott Creed, Mixed Media

  • Holly Phillips Creativity Award - Any Medium, Donald Persinger, Copper Metal

  • Virginia Price Award for Excellence in Creativity & Craftsmanship, Wayne Dyer, Wood

  • Best in Show - Any Medium, Russ Shaffer, Mixed Media

Ohio Arts & Crafts Foundation People’s Choice Awards Popular Vote

  • First Place - Wayne Dyer (Wood, Lowboy with backhoe)

  • Second Place - Jonathan Blake (Wood sculpture “Mountain Pass")

  • Third Place - Scott Creed (Mixed Media “Mirror and wood”)

  • Fourth Place - Sarah Andreas (Oil “Bear & Bees”)

Student Award Winners

Hailey Mitchell of John Glenn High School received the Christ and Marie Lekorenos Outstanding Student Artist Award, which is given in memory of a family that supported the festival over the years.

Other special awards:

  • Spirit in Nature Award: Elise Abrams - John Glenn

  • Sienna Woods: Lydia Fuchs - Barnesville

  • Sienna Woods: Sophia Harper - Cambridge

  • Americana Award: Cy Foraker - John Glenn

  • Photography Award: Brayden Snider - John Glenn

  • Digital Award: Hailey McAdams - Meadowbrook

  • Kathy Jeanne Milligan Award: Hailey McAdams - Meadowbrook

  • Salt Fork Student Art Scholarship: Hailey McAdams - Meadowbrook

  • Salt Fork Student Art Scholarship: Averey Roof - Muskingum University

Grades K to Second Awards:

  • First place - Aiden Arick - Caldwell

  • Second place - Khloe Miser - Caldwell

  • Third place - Sadie Callahan - St. Benedict

  • Honorable Mention - Mila Smith and Lillian Milam – Caldwell

Grades three to five:

  • First place - Luke Fuchs - Barnesville

  • Second place - Xavier Rittenhouse - Duncan Falls

  • Third place - Gillian Finnicum - Cambridge

  • Honorable Mention - Jaxon Nau – Caldwell; Aiden Starr - Barnesville; Macee Mumaw – Caldwell; Connor Forshey- Caldwell; Wyatt O’Brien – Caldwell

Grades six to eight:

  • First place - Noah Wharton - Barnesville

  • Second place - Kyle Goodhart - Barnesville

  • Third place - Maya Harris – Cambridge

  • Honorable Mention- Blaize Barlow – Cambridge; Ryland Wehr – Barnesville; Ginger Blagg –EMMS; Ta Niah Andrews – Cambridge; Sophia Imholte – Cambridge; Alexis Carte – Cambridge; Isabella Valentine – Cambridge; Max Miller – Barnesville; Asilynn Jendresik – Barnesville; Brooklyn Lawson – Shenandoah

Grades nine to 12:

  • First place - Alivia Lake - John Glenn

  • Second place - Johnathon Moore - Caldwell

  • Third place - Emma Smith – John Glenn

  • Honorable Mention: Averee Knaup – Cambridge; Alivia Lake – JGHS; Makiah Smith – Zanesville; Kayci Wilson- John Glenn; Mady Webster – John Glenn; Willow Linger – Caldwell; Anastasia Bergeson – Cambridge; Mattea McDaniel – John Glenn

Submitted by Beverly Kerr

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Salt Fork Festival winners announced