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Photo courtesy of Bluff Park Art Association
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Gary Curtis, a painter from Woodstock, Georgia, won the best in show award at the 2022 Bluff Park Art Show in Hoover, Alabama, on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.
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Photo courtesy of Bluff Park Art Association
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This painting by Gary Curtis of Woodstock, Georgia, titled "The Master's Violin," won best in show at the 2022 Bluff Park Art Show in Hoover, Alabama.
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Photo courtesy of Bluff Park Art Association
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Painter Gary Curtis of Woodstock, Georgia, at left, receives the Best in Show award at the Bluff Park Art Show in Hoover, Alabama, on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. Presenting the award were Linda Chastain (sitting) and Gene and Pam Smith.
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Photo by Meg McKinney
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Laura Vernon, center, purchases a handmade broom made by George Jones, Jr., left, at the 59th Annual Bluff Park Art Show, held at the Hoover Met. Photo by Meg McKinney.
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Photo by Meg McKinney
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Elise Luckham, right, looks at details in a wood-turned bowl, with Tricia Preston, at the 59th Annual Bluff Park Art Show, held Saturday, October 1, 2022, at the Hoover Met. The bowls were made by John G. Sowell, Birmingham. Photo by Meg McKinney.
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Photo by Meg McKinney
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Morning sunshine highlights wood-turned bowls made by John G. Sowell, Saturday, at the 59th Annual Bluff Park Art Show, held at the Hoover Meg. Photo by Meg McKinney.
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Photo by Meg McKinney
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Cake-tester brooms and floor brooms made by George Jones Jr. were among many art works on display at the 59th Annual Bluff Park Art Show, Saturday, October 1, 2022, held at the Hoover Met. Photo by Meg McKinney.
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Photo by Meg McKinney
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Visitors may touch the wood-turned bowls made by John G. Sowell, of Birmingham, at the 59th Annual Bluff Park Art Show, Saturday, October 1, 2022, held at the Hoover Met. Photo by Meg McKinney.
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Photo by Meg McKinney
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Handmade necklaces sparkle, made by Tonia Davis Evans, in the morning sunshine at the 59th Annual Bluff Park Show, Saturday, October 1, 2022, held at the Hoover Met. Photo by Meg McKinney.
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Photo by Meg McKinney
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Ahmad Austin, far left, discusses his semi-abstract paintings with Sarah Gotleib and Stewart Gotleib, Saturday, October 1, 2022, at the 59th Annual Bluff Park Art Show, held at the Hoover Met. Photo by Meg McKinney.
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Photo by Meg McKinney
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Copper bells dangle from copper art works at a display by Whitney Clanton, Saturday, October 1, 2022, at the 59th Annual Bluff Park Art Show, held at the Hoover Met. Photo by MegMcKinney.
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Photo by Meg McKinney
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Handmade brooms made by George Jones Jr. were among many art works on display Saturday, October 1, 2022, at the 59th Annual Bluff Park Art Show, held at the Hoover Met. Photo by Meg McKinney.
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Photo by Meg McKinney
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The eyes of “Mood,” a whimsical painting by Kristin McCaslin, seem to follow visitors to the 59th Annual Bluff Park Show, Saturday, October 1, 2022, held at the Hoover Meg. Photo by Meg McKinney.
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Photo courtesy of Bluff Park Art Association
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Winners in various categories at the Bluff Park Art Show pose for a photo at the show at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama, on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.
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Photo by Meg McKinney
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Among copper art works, Susan groves says she enjoyed hearing the small copper bells ring, Saturday, October 1, 2022, at the 59th Annual Bluff Art Show, held at the Hoover Met. Photo by Meg McKinney.
A painter from Woodstock, Georgia, won the top prize at the 2022 Bluff Park Art Show Saturday.
Gary Curtis, who has been a full-time artist for about 40 years, had a painting of a violin and a glass bottle selected as the “best in show” and collected a $2,500 prize.
He was among about 130 artists participating in this year’s show, and his painting will be added to the Bluff Park Art Association’s permanent collection.
Curtis, a native of southern California who spent many years in corporate management with a Fortune 500 company, began his art business shortly after moving to the Atlanta area in 1980, according to his website.
Among his favorite subjects are mirror-like reflective silver vessels and transparent glass, such as the bottle in the piece that won the Bluff Park Art Show. Curtis said on his website that he has always been fascinated by the way objects become distorted as seen through cut crystal.
His paintings have been featured in American Artist and on the cover of Artist Magazine, and he has work in the Daytona Beach Museum of Arts & Sciences and the Ohr-O-Keefe Museum in Biloxi, Mississippi, as well as numerous corporate collections.
This year’s Bluff Park Art Show was moved outside of Bluff Park for the first time in 59 years due to construction at The Park at Shades Cliff, where the show has long been held.
The Bluff Park Art Association chose to move this year’s show to Hoover Metropolitan Stadium — a decision that upset some people who treasured the historic location in Bluff Park.
Heather Skaggs, a board member and spokeswoman for the association, said many people missed the beauty and coziness of The Park at Shades Cliff. However, board members overall received a positive response about this year’s show, Skaggs said.
One guest indicated her mother had always visited the show over the years but recently could not attend because she was in a wheelchair and found the terrain at the park difficult to navigate, Skaggs said. She was able to attend the show for the first time in several years this year, Skaggs said.
“Guests have also said they liked the layout of booths because they felt like they did not miss a booth and got to see all the artists,” Skaggs said.
Artist booths this year were lined up in a more orderly fashion in the parking lot in front of the Hoover Met.
That said, the decision to move the show to the Hoover Met was approved as a one-year change, Skaggs said. No decision has yet been made about the location of the 2023 show, which will be the 60th anniversary of the show, she said. Plans for the 2023 show likely will start in March, Skaggs said.
This year’s show, as always, included a variety of mediums, including painting, woodworking, pottery, jewelry, leather, textiles, metal, glass, photography and mixed media.
The judge this year was Anne Perry-Uhlman, director of the Fayette Art Museum.
Here is the complete list of awards given out this year, the winners and the type of art for which they won:
- $2,500 Best In Show: Bluff Park Art Association Permanent Collection Purchase Award (in honor of Linda Chastain and sponsored by Gene and Pam Smith) — Gary Curtis of Woodstock, Georgia, painting
- $1,750 Bluff Park Art Association President's Award (in memory of Donna Leigh Jackins and sponsored by her family) — Lindanne Phillips of Hayden, ceramics
- $1,000 Show Judge Award (in honor of Uhlman) — Trina Ross of Florence, painting
- $1,000 August A. and Cary Moore Artist Appreciation Award — Jim Brown of Homewood, printmaking
- $1,000 Bluff Park Art Association Board of Directors Award — Laura Walker of Cullman, 2D/3D mixed media
- $1,000 Award for Artist New to the Bluff Park Art Show — Krel Buckelew of Hanceville, painting
- $1,000 Five Divas of Bluff Park Award (for excellence in 2D art — Scott McQueen of Northport
- $500 Hoover Arts Alliance Award (for excellence in painting) — Sundi Hawkins of Pell City
- $500 Morrison Honea Award (for excellence in woodworking —John Sowell of Birmingham
- $500 BenchMark Physical Therapy Award (for excellence in jewelry) — Theresa Clements of Athens
- $500 Award (for excellence in metal work) — Robert Taylor of Birmingham
- $500 Award in honor of Henley Hager — Melissa Holbein of Huntsville, ceramics
- $500 Hendricks Subaru Award (for excellence in sculpture) — Jeanie Stephenson of Decherd, Tennessee
- $300 EW Motion Therapy Award (for excellence in ceramics) — Peggy Wood of Wilsonville
- $300 award in honor of Madge Sidwell (past BPAA president) — Stephen Reid of Headland, woodworking
- $300 Popular Vote Award — Hannah Lewis of Montevallo, printmaking
