O&A: Latrobe Art Center Open Show has artists of all ages

One of the best things about the annual Latrobe Art Center Open Show, center director Lauren Buches says, is the opportunity it provides for young artists to show their work.

And when they say young, they mean young. The show is open to artists beginning at age 3.

Seeing a piece on a gallery wall can have a lifelong effect on a child’s continuing interest in making art, Buches says.

This year’s show, running through June 29, features more than 200 entries from 85 artists, a jump from the number of entries last year, according to Buches.

Awards are given in age categories to the amateur artists, and in separate categories to the professional artists. Honorees announced during a June 13 reception included:

Young artists (ages 3-13): Vania C. Grumbine, first; Avery Kapusta-Nelson, second; Mae Mullen, third

Junior artists (ages 14-17): Alisa Gross, first; Mary Laughlin, second; Tessa Hrubes, third

College artists: Clair Sirofchuck, first; Lily Currie, second; Nadia Jackson, third

Amateur artists: Sophia Herr, first; Julieann Knox, second; Bonnie Gongaware, third

Open division (professionals): Cora Smith, first; Dipali Rabadiya, second; Shelley Poli, third

Awards of distinction: Paul J. Volkmann, Kathy Ward, Pamela Price, John Mayer and Richard Stoner, with honorable mentions to Doreen Currie, Jan Sabatos and Ed Korinko

Latrobe Art League Awards: Rachel Wheeler and Skyler Currie

Best in Show: Mary Ellen Raneri for her painting “Rainy Day at Ruthie’s.”

Judge was Lauren Scavo-Fulk, a recent Indiana University of Pennsylvania master of fine arts graduate, whose work has shown in area and national galleries, including a recent show at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg.

In evaluating the work, Scavo-Fulk said, she looked at technical skill in the artist’s handling of the medium and also looked for unusual aspects that “jumped out,” revealing something about the artist.