2019 Art League Winners Honored

The winners of the 2019 Pine Bluff Art League Annual Exhibition are (from left) Crystal Jennings (Best in Show and Honorable Mention), Elizabeth Sadler (First Place), Dell Gorman (Second Place), Melissa Abernathy (Third Place), Rhonda Fleming Holderfield (Honorable Mention) and juror Ricky Sikes. The winners were announced during the exhibition’s opening reception Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, at The Arts & Science Center.

Crystal Jennings Awarded Best in Show During Aug. 8 Opening Reception for 2019 Exhibition

The talents of local artists were honored Thursday, Aug. 8, during the opening reception for the 2019 Pine Bluff Art League Annual Exhibition at The Arts & Science Center. Juror Ricky Sikes presented awards for Best in Show; First, Second and Third Place; and two Honorable Mentions. 

Crystal Jennings’ graphite drawing “Lily” was awarded Best in Show in the 2019 Pine Bluff Art League Annual Exhibition.

The 2019 winners are:

•   Best in Show: Crystal Jennings, Lily, graphite

•   First Place: Elizabeth Sadler, Blue Lady, alcohol ink on Yupo paper

•   Second Place: Dell Gorman, Window With A View, acrylic

•   Third Place: Melissa Abernathy, Sandpipers, photograph

•   Honorable Mention: Crystal Jennings, Chrysalis, graphite

•   Honorable Mention: Rhonda Fleming Holderfield, Summertime, acrylic

Art league members selected for this year’s show also include Jimmie L. Burton, Richard Davies, Gerry Delongchamp, Jenny Holley, Glenda Mullikin, Inis Danley Ray and Claudia Spainhour.

“Once again, the Pine Bluff Art League artists have submitted beautiful pieces for this wonderful exhibition,” said ASC Curator Dr. Lenore Shoults.

The Arts & Science Center hosts an exhibition of works by Pine Bluff Art League (PBAL) members each year. ASC invites an independent juror to select 25 pieces for the show and determine the winners. For the 2019 exhibition, 21 artists submitted 63 works for consideration.

Ricky Sikes is an artist-in-residence at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he teaches two-dimensional design, drawing and painting. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree, specializing in studio art, from Louisiana Tech University’s School of Design in 2018. 

The exhibition is sponsored by Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel Company. The reception was sponsored by volunteer group Art Krewe and MK Distributors. 

The exhibition remains on view in the International Paper Gallery through Saturday, Nov. 9. 

The Pine Bluff Art League meets 2-4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Services Center, 211 W. Third Ave. The meetings include guest artists and speakers, demonstrations and hands-on projects. The PBAL has gallery space in the Reynolds center concourse; it is open to the public 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Membership is open to any adult interested in fine art.

For more information about PBAL, contact president Vickie Coleman at 870-879-3825 or 870-540-9975, or vickiecoleman981@yahoo.com.

Rhonda Fleming Holderfield (right, with juror Ricky Sikes) was awarded an Honorable Mention for her acrylic painting Summertime.

Rhonda Fleming Holderfield, Summertime, acrylic. 2019 Honorable Mention.

Crystal Jennings (right, with juror Ricky Sikes) won an Honorable Mention for her graphite drawing Chrysalis.

Crystal Jennings, Chrysalis, graphite. 2019 Honorable Mention.

Melissa Abernathy (right, with juror Ricky Sikes) was awarded Third Place for her photograph Sandpipers.

Melissa Abernathy, Sandpipers, photograph. 2019 Third Place.

Dell Gorman (right, with juror Ricky Sikes) was awarded Second Place for her acrylic painting Window With A View.

Dell Gorman, Window With A View, acrylic. 2019 Second Place.

Elizabeth Sadler (right, with juror Ricky Sikes) was awarded First Place for Blue Lady.

Elizabeth Sadler, Blue Lady, alcohol ink on Yupo paper. 2019 First Place.

Crystal Jennings (right, with juror Ricky Sikes) was awarded Best in Show for Lily.

Crystal Jennings with her daughter, Lily, model of her award-winning drawings.

Juror Ricky Sikes, who is an artist-in-residence at University of Arkansas-Little Rock, speaks during the opening reception.

The winners of the 2019 Pine Bluff Art League Annual Exhibition are (from left) Crystal Jennings (Best in Show and Honorable Mention), Elizabeth Sadler (First Place), Dell Gorman (Second Place), Melissa Abernathy (Third Place), and Rhonda Fleming Holderfield (Honorable Mention).