Great Lakes Showcase exhibit in Rozsa Gallery continues through March 30

Artist Susanne Kilpela, winner of the Best of Show award in the three-dimensional category at the Great Lakes Showcase exhibit, is pictured here with her porcelain sculpture, "Temporal Touchstone," in the Rozsa Gallery during the opening reception March 12. Kilpela also won a third place award in the 3D category for her piece "Communciation Issues." (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HOUGHTON -- The Great Lakes Showcase in the Rozsa Gallery will conclude tomorrow, Friday, March 30. If you missed the opening reception, check out the exhibit by these talented local artists now!

The opening reception for the Great Lakes Showcase on March 12 attracted a large crowd.

Awards worth more than $2000 honor outstanding work this year in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional categories. The three top prizes are being sponsored by the Michigan Technological University President, Provost, and Dean. This year’s juror was Dr. Stephen Perkins, Curator of Art at the Lawton Gallery, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.

In his awards speech, Dr. Perkins said that he was particularly impressed by work that surprised him, that made him "look at things in a slightly different way," and he stressed the importance of artists continuing to "just do the work, that perseverance is the key to success."

Wayne Walma and Pamela Beal won second place in the 3D category with their mixed-media piece "Mocha Wine and Joe," pictured here between them.

Winners were announced as follows:

Three Dimensional:

Best of Show -- Susanne Kilpela, "Temporal Touchstone"
First Place -- Jess Kane, "Corroborate"
Second Place -- Wayne Walma and Pamela Beal, "Mocha Wine and Joe"
Third Place -- Susanne Kilpela, "Communication Issues"

The Rozsa Gallery is equipped with special lighting to illuminate paintings such as these.

Two Dimensional:

Best of Show -- G. Tim Flannery, "The Silence in Here is Deafening"
First Place -- Steven Hughes, "The King is Dead"
Second Place -- Darrin Moir, "Rooftop"
Third Place -- Thomas Co, "Ella"

Artist Tom Co is pictured here with some of his entries, including "Satchmo," at left. Co won third place in the 2D category for his piece "Ella."

Artist and beekeeper Melissa Hronkin is pictured here with several of her encaustics entries.

Honorable Mentions:

Kevin Breyfogle, "Early Copper Miner"
Andrea DaVinci Braun, "Jacqueline's Tattoo"
John D. Hubbard, "BP Trickle"
Joyce Koskenmaki, "Owl and Two Birches"
Sue Stephens, "Talking with Richard"
Fredi Taddeucci, "Spirit of Joy"

Photographer Eric Munch is pictured here at the reception with his photography entry "Birch Perch."

Artist Susan Robinson and her husband, George Robinson, view paintings during the March 12 opening reception of the Great Lakes Showcase in the Rozsa Gallery.

As always, the show includes a Community Favorite Award voted on by gallery visitors. The public is invited to view the work of area artists and vote for the "Community Choice Award," in the gallery, open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. through March 30, 2012. The Community Choice Award Winner will be announced on the Department of Visual and Performing Arts website after the show closes. Throughout the Showcase, most exhibition works will be available for purchase through Ticketing Operations by calling (906) 487-2073.

The Great Lakes Showcase is sponsored by the Michigan Technological University Visual and Performing Arts Department.