By Jessica Dillon
Piedmont Arts and Lynwood Artists have announced the winners of Expressions 2026: America 250, a special exhibition commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The exhibit was judged by Katie Hirsch, deputy director of exhibitions at the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke. Winning works were selected from 146 entries submitted by 84 artists from Virginia and North Carolina. Cash awards were presented for first, second and third place in seven categories, along with the Lynwood Artists Award, Best in Show and the America 250 Award, which recognized the best interpretation of the exhibition’s theme.
“This year, we had a theme, America 250. That’s the first year we’ve ever had a theme. And some of our entries adhere to the theme, and some do not. Customarily, artists can contribute to two works in seven different categories,” said Bernadette Moore, director of exhibitions and marketing.
“We have a lot of returning artists. We have two, actually three, I think, working here right now. Steve Eans is going down the stairs. Artemisian Blankenship, and Colby Klein are all here today, helping out. So a lot of our Linwood artists enter every year. It’s fantastic.”
Best in Show was awarded to “O Rusty Nuts” by Greg Cooper, sponsored by Jackie Thornton. The America 250 Award went to “Covering History” by Donald Towns, also sponsored by Thornton, while the Lynwood Artists Award was presented to “American History” by Fred Motley.
Student
Sarah Campbell received the Award of Distinction for “Rain, Rain Go Away.” Aubrey Spence earned third place for “The Last Watch,” Ivan G. Torres took second for “Viva La Raza,” and Madison Cline won first for “The House of Dissolution.” Evan Abram Williams also received the Special Student Award for “Big Red.”
Drawing
Colby Cline received the Award of Distinction for “Marching Script.” Karen Sigmon placed third for “A Brief Landing,” Kaitlyn M. Gallop placed second for “Venus,” and Genie Elgin won first for “Come Out and Play.”
Photography
Artemisia Blankenship earned the Award of Distinction for “The Original Submarine.” Rick Dawson placed third for “Sunbeams,” Rocky Wall placed second for “Blur Together,” and Kandice Drizake won first for “Veterans Day.”
3D
Edna Whittier received the Award of Distinction for “A Fragile Democracy.” Melanie Kendrick Holley placed third for “No Means No, Sir,” Kristin Weldin placed second for “Capybara Tea Jar and Tree Cup,” and Colby Cline won first for “The Power of the Pen.”
Mixed Media
Mercedes Fleagle received the Award of Distinction for “Redacted.” Scott Kitts placed third for “Chopin Ballades,” Mindy Wegener placed second for “America, Where Are You Now?,” and Pippi Miller won first for “Inevitable Ascension.”
Oil and Acrylic
Lou Pappas received the Award of Distinction for “Still Going Strong.” Donna Koger placed third for “Sunset Draper USA,” Michelle Bloomer placed second for “She’s My Favorite,” and Jack Adkins won first for “¿Dónde Está Mamá?”
Watercolor
Jane Carter Vaughan received the Award of Distinction for “Singing at the Sink.” Rosalie Howell placed third for “Puzzle (Big Apple Mash),” Paula Melton placed second for “Patriot,” and Rosalynn Arnold won first for “Iris.”
Purchase Awards were presented to Shawn VanSickle for “Fancy Tail Goldfish”; John Ranson for “Civil Rights Monument, Richmond, VA”; Ed Dolinger for “Acquire a Choir”; Kimberly Brugger for “Lake Superior” and “Scarlet Elf Cups”; Kelly Willard for “Fractured Liberty”; Naomi Hodge-Muse for “What”; Gina Louthian-Stanley for “Moonrise”; Susan Biscay-Hopkins for “Sam – Mosaic Fish”; Lou Pappas for “Still Going Strong”; Julie Palmour for “Solar Drift”; Paula Melton for “Patriot”; Kelly Gravely-Mattox for “Three Coves”; and Ashley Ullstein for “Summer, 250 Years Later.”
“Expressions are important, because it is a way to showcase our local and regional artists who are very, you know, they’re integral to our community, and they not only do amazing work, but they help us out in the galleries. All Linwood Artists, which is our local artist guild, actually curates their own gallery. So they’re part of everything we do, and this is just an opportunity to really showcase them and their amazing talents,” Moore said.
Many of the works are available for purchase and may be picked up after the exhibition closes.
“Lots of these pieces are for sale. The labels will have an indication, they’ll say, NFS, if they’re not for sale or if someone has purchased them already, they’ll have a red dot. Other than that, they are available,” Moore said.
“We’re just really excited to showcase all these artists, and especially the America 250 theme. This will be up through the 250th anniversary of the nation. So, we just have everybody come in and enjoy themselves.”
A complete list of participating artists is available at PiedmontArts.org.
The admission-free exhibition is on view at Piedmont Arts through Aug. 14. It is sponsored by VisitMartinsville, Brightspeed, the Helen S. and Charles G. Patterson Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust, Lynwood Artists and What’s Your Sign.
Piedmont Arts is located at 215 Starling Ave., Martinsville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
