Local Artists Featured in ‘Vital’ Exhibition

Katie Curry of Goleta won Best in Show, earning the $1,000 James A. McIntyre Memorial cash prize at the opening reception of “VITAL: Tri-County Juried Exhibition” May 21 at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. Beverly Decker of Summerland won the 1st Art Council Award of $500 and Bill Dewey of Santa Barbara won 2nd Honorable Mention for $250. Other awardees included Santa Barbarans Valori Fussell and Ines Labunski Roberts.

The exhibition, juried by Ciara Ennis of Pitzer College Art Galleries, features 37 pieces by 29 artists living and working in the San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

“The Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art’s compelling exhibition VITAL, allowed for exacting and expansive interpretations from a range of artists working in different mediums and genres,” says Ennis, director and curator of Pitzer College Art Galleries. “The artists’ shrewd and inventive responses articulated all aspects of this multi-dimensional theme providing a thoroughly layered visual experience.”

Ennis, who pored over 290 entries by 130 artists, selected a wide-range of media for the show, including painting, drawing, photography, artist’s books, mixed media, collage and sculpture.

The juried exhibition, which Westmont began more than 20 years ago, provides a rare opportunity to showcase the talent of the local area.

The show is sponsored by the James McIntyre Supporting Organization, Loretta W. Hubbard and the Westmont Art Council.

The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. It is closed Sundays and college holidays. For more information, please visit www.westmontmuseum.org or contact the museum at (805) 565-6162.