The Twelfth Annual Salida Valley Visons Art Showcase and Auction closed on Sunday, May 5 after a successful three-day run.
Sponsored by the Salida Council For The Arts (SCFTA), the nonprofit seeks to “enrich the cultural life of our community by supporting the Arts.”
Aside from exhibiting some 70 of the valley’s painters, sculptors, photographers and artisans, SCFTA uses the show to promote the up and coming, new artists.
“One of the things that really made me excited this year was seeing a variety of the younger artists; those in their 20’s and young 30s; seeing how different all their art is and how incredibly talented they all are.” said show co-chair Alyssa Boland, herself an artist. “It makes me extremely excited about the future of Salida arts for the next 10 or 20 years.
Susan Bethany’s bracelet won First Place for jewelry in the 2024 Valley Visions Showcase. Merrell Bergin photo
While it’s nice to see the work of familiar faces (Conrad Nelson, Padgett McFeeley, and Susan Bethany to name just three), other names were also present and many were award winners including Ark Valley Voice columnist, photographer, and retired senior reporter Dan Smith.
A selected gallery
The vibrant colors of the ink piece by Patricia Aguilar are eye-catching. Merrell Bergin photo
Dave Earl’s piece “Redneck Rodeo” is a “welded, repurposed steel objects sculpture” that took home top honors in the 3D category.
Retired after 40 years in construction, Dave Earl now turns others’ discards into fine art.
“Dueling Elephant Seals”, a top-winning photograph by Ark Valley Voice columnist Dan Smith. Merrell Bergin photo
SCFTA awards two scholarships
Keeping with their goal of promoting the next generation of artists, at the Friday opening reception the SCFTA announced that they have awarded two scholarships to Salida High School arts students. Ink stippling artist Opal Juba (whose award winning work has previously been profiled by Ark Valley Voice) and aspiring filmmaker Cooper Everett Hodge will each receive funding to help with the next stage of their artistic training.
Hodge’s piece was described by Boland as a mashup on the “Phantom of The Opera”, filmed at school and involving the school janitor in a ‘riff on Mickey Mouse’ in the Disney classic, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.”
A Student Show was also featured in the upstairs of the SteamPlant Ballroom.
Sponsors and donors attract bidders to the 2024 Valley Vision Silent Auction. Merrell Bergin photo
Referring to the Silent Auction, Boland thanked the many donors and said “All the money [from sales] goes straight back to the community in the form of community grants for artistic projects and for scholarships. The more money we can raise, the more money we can give away and right back to the community.”
Featured image: 2024 Valley Visions Art Show as viewed from the balcony of the Salida SteamPlant. Merrell Bergin photo
