Out & About: First Westmoreland Art Nationals show opens at WCCC

At the opening of the Westmoreland Art Nationals, exhibiting photographer Brandon Flume of Jeannette said, “I got the greatest award there is.”

It had nothing to do with his work, though. He was referring to his engagement to another exhibiting photographer, Jessica Schulte of Davidsville.

They said they only told one person, but word got passed along to Diane Shrader, executive director of the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival, which hosts the exhibit.

Shrader announced the happy news along with the awards, and the happy couple got a round of applause — along with the actual award winners: Marcy Koynock of Greensburg, Best in Show; Richard Harydzak of Murrysville, Curator’s Choice; Shirleah Kelly of Greensburg, Executive Director’s Choice; and Steve Parsons of Jeannette, WCCC President’s Choice.

Also, Henry Craig of Turtle Creek, painting; Jack Puglisi of Pittsburgh, graphics; Ron Koehler of Cleveland, Miss., craft; Bryon Draper of Provo, Utah, sculpture; Alexis Dillon of Greensburg, photography; Gina Judy of Richmond, Ohio, mixed media; Lynda Kirby of Baden, digital media/digital art; and Steve Hamilton of North Huntingdon, New Entrant Award.

The Art Nationals comprise two shows held in conjunction with the annual festival, drawing entries from around the country.

The WCCC segment runs through June 7 in the Health & Culinary Center at the college near Youngwood. The second installment will be held during the festival itself, planned for June 29-July 2 at Twin Lakes Park east of Greensburg.

Visitors have the opportunity to vote for a People’s Choice Award at each one.

This year’s jurors are Blair Martin Cahill, an artist and art educator from Ojai, Calif.; and Jessica Roscio, director and curator of the Danforth Art Museum at Framingham State University in Massachusetts.

Curator is artist Sarah Hunter of Greensburg, assisted by her husband and co-curator, James Kuhns.