Eros - Nancy Watterson Scharf
In conjunction with the opening of the Expressions West 2019 exhibition on April 19, juror Geoffrey McCormack announced his selection of prize winners in this 13 state art competition. Expressions West is now in its 23rd year and remains one of the premier exhibitions held annually at Coos Art Museum. This year’s exhibition runs from April 19 through June 29, 2019.
The First Place Prize was awarded to Nancy Watterson Scharf of Oakland, Oregon for her acrylic painting, Eros.
Uneasy - Claire Duncan
The Second Place was presented to Claire Duncan of Ashland, Oregon for her acrylic Uneasy Truce - Broken Truce.
Museum Visit - Stephen Von Mason
Stephen Von Mason of Vallejo, California received the Third Place award for his oil Museum Visit. The three top prize awards are $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place and $250 for third place.
Honorable Mention awards were announced during the opening ceremony. The four Honorable Mention recipients are: Ruth Armitage of Oregon City, Oregon for Petroglyph, mixed media; Sarah Hansen of Bend, Oregon for Collecting Time - Floras Lake, mixed media; Eric Olander of Myrtle Point, Oregon for Millie, powder-coated steel sculpture; and Joan Sowada of Gillette, Wyoming for Air, fiber wall hanging.
Entry of Merit awards were also announced during the opening ceremony. The eight Entry of Merit recipients are: Austin Dwyer, Mukilteo Washington for Catch Me if You Can oil; Alexandra Eyer, Gold Beach, Oregon Everything is Just Ducky, watercolor; Anna Gitchel, Gold Beach, Oregon Meet Delilah, acrylic; Margaret Prentice, Eugene, Oregon Heceta Head Beach, oil; Sally Schwader, Creswell, Oregon, Wide Open Skies, oil; William Selden, Coos Bay, Oregon, Lily Pads and Koi, oil; Victoria Tierney, Bandon, Oregon, Party Politics, watercolor; and Liz Walker, Beaverton, Oregon, Odelisk with Blue Curtain, acrylic / collage
Juror Geoffrey McCormack attended Cabrillo College & San Jose State University earning a Master’s Degree in Art with emphasis on sculpture. Following graduation McCormack taught Visual Art at Cabrillo College for 12 years. After thirty years as a sculptor and illustrator he turned his attention to watercolor painting in 2007.
A few of Geoffrey’s recent achievements include: Best of Show at the National Watercolor Society’s 89th Annual Exhibition and Best of Show in both spring and fall exhibitions of the Oregon Watercolor Society. In 2018, the California Watercolor Association honored him with their Gold Award. He has exhibited in China, Belgium, Italy and Greece. His one - person exhibition Learning to Walk in My Own Shadow runs consecutively with Expressions West.
