Breckenridge Texan

Breckenridge is hosting the first juried exhibition of the Texas Chapter of the Portrait Society of America, and several of the artists from around the state were in town Saturday to attend the reception and awards ceremony at the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center.

Gaye Sekula, Texas Ambassador to the Portrait Society of America, right, and Breckenridge Fine Arts Center Director Shalon Wilson announced the winners of the Texas Members of the PSOA juried exhibition on Saturday. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The show, which will be on display through Oct. 26 in the BFAC’s main gallery, features the work of 65 Texas members of the PSOA. Additionally, one of the portrait artists, Kim Roberti, has a one-woman show exhibited in the fine art center’s East Gallery.

Saturday afternoon, local residents gathered with artists and representatives from the PSOA to hear the results of the competition. Gaye Sekula, one of the Texas Ambassadors to the PSOA, organized the show and attended the reception to announce the winners. Also in attendance were the other two Texas PSOA Ambassadors, Mary Hull and Rhonda Lanclos, as well as BFAC Director Shalon Wilson. Breckenridge eighth-grader Levi Adams provided musical accompaniment throughout the reception.

Sekula welcomed the guests to the reception, including the featured artists who could attend. “All of the artists here, I’m so happy you are here. Thank you for participating and making this happen. Your art is gorgeous,” she said. “Everything is a beautiful representation of our organization.”

She explained to the crowd that she and former BFAC Director Victoria MacFarlane had started planning the exhibit about a year ago. Then, Sekula worked with Wilson after she became BFAC Director in June.

The show was judged by Tina Garrett, one of Missouri’s PSOA Ambassadors. As she announced each winner, Sekula read aloud Garrett’s comments about the painting.

The following artists received awards in the competition:

• Nancy Boren – Best of Show for her oil painting, “Queen of the Mirabella”
• Jing Zhao – First Place for her oil painting, “Check My Phone First”
• Tanja Gant – Second Place for her colored pencil portrait, “Sienna”
• Lenore Prudhomme – Third Place for her oil painting, “Acacia”
• Juan Cantavella – Honorable Mention for his oil painting, “Looking Forward”

“Queen of the Mirabella” by Nancy Boren

Regarding Boren’s “Queen of the Mirabella,” Garrett said, “There is so much to entertain in this work with its fabulous color and mark making. I held this one aside from the start and compared all others to it. It is a high bar, and I hope all the artists who attend will take a moment to look closely at it in person and enjoy the power of its simplicity, flavor, and energy. Well done!”

Featured in the show are the following Texas portrait artists: Laura Allee, Deborah Allison, Donna Blanton, Liz Bonham, Nancy Boren, Juan Cantavella, Connie Chadwell, Partha Chinnasamy, Lynette Clauser, Adam Davenport, Margaret Davis, John De Leo, Nora Dempsey, Carol Devereaux, Carol Fairlie, Anastasiya Fender, Linda Filgo, Robbie Fitzpatrick, Margaret Footit, Tanja Gant, Micheal Gillespie, Vicky Gooch, Gary Goodnight, Barbara Hack, Carolyn Hancock, Brenda Hash, Masri Hayssam, Vivian T-N Ho, Francis Huang, Mary Hull, Fontaine Jacobs, Maureen Jistel, Sonja Kever, Steve Ko, Rhonda Lanclos, Patsy Lindamood, Craig Longhurst, Ken MacFarlane, Katherine Martinez, Ellen Moore, Cheryl Moore, Gini Morelock-Bosco, Pam Nichols, Lena Olson, Oliva Pacini, Joe Pena, Barbara Pence, David Philips, Maren Phillips, Jennifer Polnaszek, Lenore Prudhomme, DK Richardson, Kim Roberti, Gail Rutledge, Julie Sanderson, Brittany Scott, Gaye Sekula, Daniel Sorensen, Irena Taylor, Susan Temple Neumann, Julie Wende, Robin Williamson, Tim Woosley, Jing Zhao, Judy Zipkes.

In addition to the portraits in the juried show, there are more than 50 portraits and several still-lifes and florals by painter Kim Roberti on exhibit in the BFAC’s East Gallery.

To see all of the paintings in the exhibits, as well as to cast your vote for the People’s Choice award, visit the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center at 207 N. Breckenridge Ave. The BFAC is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; call 254-559-6602 for Saturday hours.

Kim Roberti’s first one-woman show is featured in the East Gallery of the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center. Additionally, one of her oil paintings is included in the Texas Members of the Portrait Society of American exhibit at the BFAC. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Story by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

Cutline, top photo: Ron Smith (right) Juan Cantavella and Gay Perry, all from Houston, look at some of the paintings on display at the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center on Saturday during the artists’ reception. Cantavella won honorable mention for his oil painting “Looking Forward.” (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)