Bigfork artist second in Hockaday people's choice
Susan Guthrie, Darlene Morgan and Gail Hansen won the People’s Choice Awards in the Hockaday Museum of Art’s 11th annual Members Salon. Over 120 Hockaday members participated in the salon this year, sharing a diverse range of works in oils, watercolors, wood, metal, glass and stone.
Each year, the public votes for their favorite pieces in the People’s Choice Awards.
Susan Guthrie of Kalispell reclaimed first place with her original oil on panel, “Suffolk Churchyard” for the first time since 2007. This year, she received a $250 cash prize and a gift certificate from the Evergreen Art Center.
Guthrie, a native Montanan, has been an art educator in Kalispell at Flathead High School for 26 years and at FVCC as an adjunct faculty member for 12 years.
Guthrie considers herself an artist, teacher, mentor and musician. She enjoys travel and derives the inspiration for her art from the beautiful places she has visited.
Last year’s winner, Darlene Morgan of Bigfork, placed second with her striking India ink wash, “Any Way the Wind Blows.” Morgan received a $100 cash prize and took home an award certificate to complement her first place award from last year’s Members Salon.
For the past 45 years, Morgan has loved painting Native American people and strives to capture their pride and ethnicity. Morgan concentrates on the very old and the very young, as she finds the innocence of youth and the wisdom and character of the elderly to be captivating.
Whitefish resident Gail Hansen claimed third place with “Cactus Blooms.” For her current work, Hansen derives her inspiration from viewing the varying qualities of light on and through a sunlit blossom. Hansen maintains a full time studio in Whitefish. Painting was the central focus of her life for the past 40 years. Hansen received a $50 cash prize.
Many of the participants are selling their artwork at the Museum and a portion of the proceeds from each sold piece is donated to the Hockaday’s exhibition and education funds.
The show will be at the Hockaday Museum of Art through Dec. 29.
Admission will be free during their Holiday Open House on Dec. 27-29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Hockaday Museum of Art is located in the cultural district of downtown Kalispell at 302 Second Ave East. It is housed in a 1904 Carnegie Library building that appears on the National Register of Historic Places. The Museum is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, open year-round, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A wheelchair accessible entry and elevator are provided. For more information, go to www.hockadaymuseum.org or call 755-5268.