Mackinac State Historic Parks is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 juried art exhibition, Echoes of the Island: A Journey Through Time, at The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, part of the America250 celebration on Mackinac Island.
From the sacred lands of the Anishnaabe people to the Revolutionary War-era Fort Mackinac, from Victorian summer retreats to horse-drawn carriages, Mackinac Island is in many ways a living museum. Mackinac State Historic Parks encouraged artists working in all mediums to share their artistic vision of what Echoes of the Island meant to them.
Pasqua Warstler, who, over a 26-year career served as Education Director, Gallery Director, and, finally as Executive Director of the Bonifas Arts Center, served as juror and selected Island Horses Past & Present, by Bill Murcko, as best in show. As the overall winner, Murcko will receive The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum Gold Medal and a $2,500 cash prize. Murcko’s name will also be added to the list of annual Gold Medal winners, which is displayed in the museum.
Surreal Mackinac (Mark Twain Returns to the Grand), by Saralee Howard, was named second place, and Past or Present?, by Eric Fadie, finished third. Three honorable mentions were also selected: You Can Hear the Sea, by Philip Rice, Rites of Passage (A New Dad Introduces His Daughter to Father Marquette, Haldimand Bay and a Strait Freighter), by Howard, and Morning on Market St., by Fadie.
The second and third place winners receive cash prizes of $1,000 and $750, respectively, and the three honorable mention winners will receive cash prizes of $250 each. All prizes are donated by the Mackinac Arts Council and Mackinac Associates.
The pieces will be on display in the museum through Sunday, October 4 in the second floor gallery. Admission to the museum is $10.75 for adults and $7.00 for children ages 5-12 and includes the Biddle House, featuring the Mackinac Island Native American Museum, American Fur Co. Store & Dr. Beaumont Museum, and McGulpin House. Admission to the museum is also included with a Fort Mackinac ticket, and is also complimentary to overnight guests of Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau-member hotels.
“The annual contemporary art contest continues to support the mission of The Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum by encouraging new artistic creations inspired by Mackinac Island,” said Steve Brisson, Mackinac State Historic Parks director. “I invite residents and visitors alike to tour the exhibition and enjoy these wonderful Mackinac-inspired works of art.”
Mackinac State Historic Parks is also excited to announce the theme for the 2027 art contest: Legendary Mackinac. Mackinac State Historic Parks invites artists to step into the stories, traditions, and moments that make Mackinac unforgettable. From iconic landmarks and historic figures to local legends and personal memories, we hope artists of all mediums share what Legendary Mackinac means to them.
