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Lowell Arts celebrated the 40th anniversary of the West Michigan Art Competition with an Artist Reception on Sunday, February 8, announcing $3,750 in cash awards to outstanding artists from across the region. The milestone competition received 263 entries from the newly expanded 42-county eligibility area, with 120 works selected for exhibition.
The competition was juried by Cathy VanVoorhis, professor at the University of Michigan's Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, where she teaches drawing, painting, and color. VanVoorhis holds an MFA in Painting from the University of Michigan and an MA in Art History from Michigan State University. Her oil landscape paintings have been exhibited at prominent institutions including the Muskegon Museum of Art, Saginaw Art Museum, and Dennos Art Museum.
In her juror's statement, VanVoorhis wrote: "There's much thoughtful purpose in the work of these Western Michigan artists. For example, one finds the enduring difficult social themes: the search for personal identity, the scars of political violence, the devastation of the environment. Yet much of the art work also features a celebration of life, with rich color and masterful craft. These art works come from the heart; they are uplifting to the spirit."
2026 Award Winners
Award Winners ($500 each):
Janet Lewis, Bluebird Liftoff
Marella Morris, Kindred
Marcia Perry, Prototypes for a New World
Patricia Smetana, Cactus in a Diamond
Annmarie Ventura, shoes on the wrong feet bubbles in the backyard
Gary Wilcox, The Cup
Honorable Mention Awards ($100 each):
Brett Colley, They will be remembered as monsters
Diane Deremo, English Garden
Lee Ann Frame, Stopping By
Laura Grafton, Beach Time
Mary Hilldore, Gently into That Good Night
Potter's Guild Award ($250):
Brenda DeZeeuw, Seed Jar
This year marked a significant milestone for the competition, which expanded eligibility from 25 to 42 counties throughout West Michigan, offering more artists than ever the opportunity to showcase their work and compete for recognition.
The exhibition is open to the public January 31 – March 28, 2026 at the Lowell Arts Gallery, 223 W Main St, Lowell, MI 49331. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Saturday, 12:00pm to 5:00 pm.
For additional information about the competition and exhibition, visit lowellarts.org/gallery-exhibits/west-michigan-art-competition.
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