She just celebrated her 90th birthday, and now Estevan artist Evelyn Johnson has joined an elite group of fellow artists whose work has been selected by a respected art adjudicator to advance to another level and provincial exposure.
"I've always attended these shows, often participated, but this is the first time for something like this. I'm totally shocked," Johnson told an audience of about 60 who were attending last Thursday's art show event at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum.
The annual Adjudicated Art Show has been hosted by the EAGM for over 20 years now, said Joyce Evans of the Southeast Connection Sports and Culture Association, sponsors of the show.
This year's art show attracted 11 entrants who were required to produce five associated pieces of their work to be evaluated by adjudicator Debbie Potter who selected two artists she felt should have their work advance to another level of adjudication and possible provincial exposure.
Julie-Anne Wallewein was the other artist whose work won acceptance from Potter.
The entries in the show were varied in terms of materials that were used by the artists to form their creations.
For Johnson, it was a return to old styled rug hooking that captured Potter's imagination while Wallewein won approval for her wood carvings and polishing.
Out of her five pieces, Johnson said she favoured one that depicted her family's homestead as she remembered it back in 1931, the house, barn, garden and yard, complete with family members doing their chores or playing.
Wallewein was not able to attend the opening, nor was Potter, but it was announced that Potter was recommending that both Johnson and Wallewein write an application to have their work approved at the provincial level for further assessment and a potential tour.
Evans then announced the winner of the Peoples' Choice Award and its accompanying $200 cheque.
The prize goes to the artist whose work was most favoured by gallery visitors who viewed all the art work in the show during the month of October and into November. In fact, ballots were allowed to be cast until 7:30 that evening and then counting results in Linda Gudmundson being announced as the winner in that category.
Gudmundson's art work centred on mixed media including newspaper and magazine clippings that ultimately pays tribute to female spies from various eras and countries. The Eye Spy collection captured the most votes and confirmation for Gudmundson that her work was appreciated and that she was heading in the right direction.
In accepting her accolades, Johnson said that while she served as chairwoman of the local arts guild, she led a movement where the members pursued old art forms like traditional tatting, weaving and rug hooking and it was with this in mind that she had returned to this skill set to craft her recent rugs that featured wool hooked onto burlap. She also used a lot of lace and ribbon, cord and even copper wire, she said.
Amber Andersen, curator/director for the EAGM, served as emcee for the evening's program and thanked everyone for attending, even under threatening weather conditions.
Those in attendance later enjoyed refreshments and snacks while socializing with the artists, most of whom were in attendance.
