February 26, 2017… Wilton artist wins top prize at the Rowayton Arts Center’s Inspiration exhibition. Leslie Concannon of Wilton won Best In Show not once but twice for her two oil paintings, “Afternoon August” and “Morning August,” and was awarded the cash prize of $250. The exhibition had 196 entries with 88 accepted. The show runs from February 26 through March 26. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday: 11-5pm, Sunday: 1-4 pm.

The other awards were: 1st place: Mixed Media: “Untitled 1” by Katie Lethbridge (Yonkers) Photography: “National Art Gallery” by Azar Behjati (Easton), “Chandelier” by David Lindsay (Norwalk), “Forgotten Goodbyes” by Monique Michaels (Armonk) Drawings: “Dusk” by Kathy Coe (Redding) Acrylics: “Battle for the Fort” by Heide Follin (Norwalk), “Above and Below” by Kendall Klingbeil (Pound Ridge) Watercolor: “Four Trees, Maine” by Jo Ann Davidson (Westport) Sculpture: “Fossil #1” by Peggy Thomas (Ridgefield) 2nd place: Mixed Media: “Untitled II” by Katie Lethbridge (Yonkers) Acrylics: “Coastal Colors” by Ann Kromer (Ridgefield) Watercolor: “Free Spirit” by Marianne Rothballer (New Canaan) Oils: “Pyrenees, France” by Yuko Ike (Darien) Photography: “Saga” by Kirsti Holtan (Stamford) Pastels: “Better Times” by Ken Dusyn (Windsor) Sculpture: “Magpie’s Lair” by Meg Tweedy (Darien) 3rd place: Mixed Media: “Jewels” by Gregg Welz (Norwalk) Photography: “Rising Rubble, View from a Train” by Laure Dunne (Norwalk) Oils: “Autumn Window” by L. Richard Koleszar (Rowayton) Watercolor: “My Studio” by Maria Formoso (Riverdale) Pastels: “Autumn” by Ken Dusyn (Windsor) Acrylics: “Awakening” by Melissa Orme (Ridgefield) Honorable Mention: Oils: “Heart and Hearth” by Lynn Harrington (Pound Ridge), “White Roses” by Margaret Esme Simon (Greenwich), “Bavarian Dream” by Kathleen Weinstock (Darien) Mixed Media: “Molly” by Karen Kent (Fairfield) Photography: “Old Things Nicaragua” by Tom Kretsch (Westport), “At the Putnam” by Barbara O’Shea (Stamford), “Geneva Window” by Azar Behjati (Easton) Pastel: “Sepia Study” by Joel Sobelson (Weston)

The juror for the exhibition was Dean Fisher, faculty member of the Silvermine Arts Center. Chairs were Chris Perry and Sandy Mills.

For almost 60 years, the Rowayton Arts Center has been a cultural gem in the community. It is an exceptional gallery where regional artists may exhibit and sell their art as well as a wonderful venue for art workshops and classes. The Art School offers classes to children and adults at all levels. The RAC Gallery and Art School are located on the bank of the scenic Five Mile River in Rowayton, CT at 145 Rowayton Avenue, Rowayton, CT. www.rowaytonartscenter.org