WINTER HAVEN | How many ways are there to view the world of flight?
At least 76. That's the number of entries submitted to the aviation art exhibit sponsored by the Ridge Art Association, which opened Thursday at the Winter Haven airport terminal.
Of the 76 entries, 48 were selected for the yearlong show, which closes May 8.
Photographs, digital images, paintings and sculptures represented the human fascination with taking to the skies, and Judge Holly Scoggins, an art professor at Polk State College, said she had a difficult task choosing just a few for the final cut. In all, 30 artists submitted work.
Scoggins has a master's degree in fine arts from the New York Academy of Art, and has studied in Germany and Italy as well as at the Savannah College of Art and Design. In Scoggins' critiques, delivered as each winning piece was announced May 31, she detailed the reasons for her selections.
Honorable mention "Thank you Mr. Weeks, #2," by Joe Lewis, was an homage to Kermit Weeks, founder of Auburndale's Fantasy of Flight attraction. The photograph, digitally enhanced, highlights several aviation and patriotic icons, including a large star, off-center in the left-hand corner.
"I tend to be hard on digitally manipulated pieces, since I know how most of it is done, but this one is outstanding," Scoggins said. "It's very graphic, very powerful and is multi-functional. It could be hung in a number of settings. Good movement, simple colors."
Another honorable mention was "Air Traffic Control," by Sebring artist Jean Cormier; a piece that brought chuckles from the group. Scoggins said that reaction was what made the painting a winner.
"It's playful and funny. The first thing you did was laugh," Scoggins said of the depiction of a white puppy gazing at paper airplanes flying about — no doubt ready to chase them. Scoggins noted that the artist had effectively used three colors for the composition – blue, white and black. "The texture weight and colors used were appropriate to the subject. It's playful and has movement," she said.
There were lots of "firsts" in this show. Two of the winners, Kim Phelan and Courtnee Denney entered the aviation show for the first time this year, and Ilene Phelan scored her first Best of Show with her clay sculpture, "Pilot's Perspective." The clay pegs in varying heights represented a city-scape from the air.
"There are endless possibilities about how this could be interpreted," Scoggins said, "and this was the only piece I saw that represented the pilot's perspective."
Art is a family affair for Phelan's family, with daughter Kim placing third for her photo "Yellowtail," a blue and yellow composition that Scoggins said made it appear the plane could be going in two directions, "Almost a nosedive." Phelan said she took the photo from the ground, from behind the plane, and the image was actually of the tail. She is a volunteer photographer for Sun 'n Fun, and took this photo on the Sun 'n Fun grounds.
Denney, who received an Award of Excellence, was a first-time exhibitor, and her mysterious representation of a steel vintage airplane nose was in black and white photography.
"The plane in this photo is personified," Scoggins said. "It is taking something simple and giving it a new perspective."
The photo had somewhat of a sinister air to it. Denney said, "To me, it looks like a gas mask." Scoggins noted that amid the romance and fascination with flying, this photo represents the peril that some planes have encountered.
Denney said she entered the aviation show in honor of her grandfather, Sharkey Baz, who was there with several family members. He was formerly a pilot for Citrus World, Denney said.
"I wanted to show him that even in hard times, we were there for each other," she said. "He has been a big motivator for me."
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Aviation exhibition, sponsored by the Ridge Art Association.
WHEN: Runs through May 8. Can be viewed any time.
LOCATION: Main terminal, Winter Haven Municipal Airport, 2073 U.S. 92 W., Winter Haven.
TICKETS: Free.
CONTACT: Airport, 863-298-4551, Ridge Art Association, 863-291-5661 or ridgeart.org.
AVIATION ART WINNERS
BEST OF SHOW: Ilene Phelan, Lakeland, "Pilot's Perspective," sculpture.
SECOND PLACE: Don Stone, Winter Haven, "The Night the Hindenburg Flew Over Stage Harbor Light," painting.
THIRD PLACE: Kim Phelan, Lakeland, "Yellowtail," photo.
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: Preston Stafford, Lakeland, "Motor Up," photo.
AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE: Glen Leung, Philadelphia, Pa., "Hovering," watercolor; Courtnee Denney, Winter Haven, "Lustrous Peril," photo.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Tia Rigsby, Lakeland, "Two Planes," mixed media; Dana Daydodge, Haines City, "Admiring the Plane," watercolor; Joe Lewis, Winter Haven, "Thank you Mr. Weeks #2," photography; Jean Cormier, Sebring, "Air Traffic Control," acrylic.
Source: http://www.theledger.com
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