Reception for Art Uptown Dog Days Art Show Exhibition

Art Uptown Names Winners in Dog Days Art Show

Sarasota, Fla., Aug. 2, 2010 – Art Uptown, Sarasota’s oldest cooperative fine art gallery, has announced the winners of its second annual Dog Days Art Show, which drew entries from more than 50 local artists, according to Barrington DeMers, gallery president.

Carolyn Ritter of Bradenton won first place for her acrylic painting of “Bounce,” a Golden Retriever. Second place went to photographer Sally Smith Clemens of Sarasota for her thermal wax print on rag paper “Centris III Over NYNY” from her “Alien Snapshot” series. Maro Lorimer of Holmes Beach was awarded third place for her acrylic painting “Rookery.”

Art Uptown’s judging committee also selected four artists for Honorable Mention. They were Charlene N. Yoder of Nokomis for her oil pastel “Did Someone Say Walk?”, Marsha Schamber of Sarasota for her acrylic painting “Follicles,” Jean Trask Ehlis of Bradenton for her watercolor “Smooth Reflections,” and Marjorie Pesek of Naples for her mixed media work “Dachsunds.”

“The judging was extremely difficult because we had so many excellent works to consider,” related Rita Rust, Exhibits chairwoman. She noted that half of the gallery has been devoted to exhibiting the Dog Days show, which runs through Aug. 27. The remaining space is being used to display the work of Art Uptown’s 27 member artists.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to see local art at its finest,” said DeMers. “We have on display paintings, photographs, works in colored pencil, mixed media, leaded glass, sculpture and fine ceramics. In all, we’re showing the works of more than 75 local artists and artisans this month. The gallery has never looked better,” he added.

A reception for the Dog Days Art Show is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 13, at Art Uptown, 6-9 p.m. “We have invited all of the artists whose works are on exhibit, and we hope art lovers throughout the area will turn out for this exciting event,” said chairwoman Rust. The winning entries and honorable mentions will be showcased in the gallery's front window for two weeks, from Aug. 7 through Aug. 20, when they will be moved into the main gallery, she added.

Art Uptown, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in November, is located at 1367 Main St., between Palm and Pineapple avenues. The gallery’s summer hours are Tuesday-Friday, 11-5, and Saturday, 10-4. During the monthly First Friday Gallery Walk, hours are 6-9 p.m. Telephone 941-955-5409. www.artuptown.com.

[Photo Attachment: First Place Art Uptown Dog Days.jpg] - Bradenton artist Caroline Ritter's painting of "Bounce" won first place in Art Uptown's 2nd Annual Dog Days Art Show, running now through Aug. 27 at the gallery on lower Main Street, Sarasota.

Editorial Contact: Richard Stewart, Tel. 813-289-8149, email: rstewart@writerstew.com.