Artists Awarded at Animals in Art Exhibit Opening

January 21, 2024, Midland, MI. – The Creative 360 exhibit opening of Animals in Art, featuring the work of regional artists, opened Friday, January 5th at Creative 360. The exhibit features the work of more than 50 visual artists and every piece features an animal.

The Jurist for the exhibit was Donovan Entrekin, Director of the Art School at the Flint Institute of Arts. In addition to the prizes the jurist awarded this year, Donna and Andy Rapp, sponsors of the Living with Animal Series at Creative 360, also awarded the Rapp Prize for pieces that best exemplify the value of our relationship with animals.

Winners were announced in the following categories:

Visual Art Awards:

Best Photography – “Grazing Sheep Behind Rail Fence”, by William Herr from Midland

Best 2-Dimensional Art – “Improbable Waltz”, by C. Sharon Berkan-Dent from Midland.

Best 3-Dimensional Art- “Breath in Mother Nature” by Heather DeoGracia from Midland.

Best in Show & Rapp Prize- “Waiting” by P.J. Perkins from Coleman, MI

Rapp Prize – “Pippin: The Bestest Boy” by Ruth Enamorado from Pittsboro, IN

Honorable mentions included Robin Abbott (Saginaw) “The Fox” –Stone & Polymer Clay; Heather DeoGracia (Midland) “Holy Ghosts of Boomer” –Ink; Sarah Eckersley (Midland) “Who is Watching Who?” – Photography; Sarah Gornicki Pancost (Midland) “I Gotta Feeling” –Multimedia Collage; Tonya Huber (Midland) “Looking for a Helping Hand” –Multimedia; Dawn Kehr (Midland) “Startled Cat” –Block Print; Alan Maciag (Midland) “Morning Stroll” – Oil; Allise Noble (Saginaw) “Belonging” –Acrylic & Mixed Media; Regina Rodriguez (Saginaw) “Emptiness in My Soul” – Acrylic; and Julia Rohde (Saginaw) “Squirrel Peeking Through an Old Window” –Watercolor.

The exhibit will be on display through Feb 11^th and, like all of Creative 360’s gallery shows, is free and open to the public. Many of the works on display are available for purchase. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9 am until 5 pm.  Call for weekend hours – 989-837-1885.

About Creative 360
Creative 360 is a not-for-profit community arts and wellness organization founded in 1994. Its mission is to create environments that allow people of all ages and abilities to experience the creative process, and to enhance physical, mental and spiritual wellness through the arts and humanities. The organization’s core values of inclusiveness, creativity, respect and community drive the culture at Creative 360. Activities at Creative 360 are supported in part by the Michigan Arts and Cultural Council, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, Midland Area Community Foundation and The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation. Visit www.becreative360.org for information about the offerings at Creative 360, or call (989) 837-1885 to request a mailed copy of the current schedule.