By By JONATHAN CLAYBORNE
jonathan@wdnweb.com
Staff Writer
The Beaufort County Arts Council has announced the award-winning selections featured in the 46th-annual Fine Arts Show.
The Frances M. and William R. Roberson Jr. Best in Show Award went to “Karma,” a mixed-media composition by Elizabeth Darrow of Wilmington.
This year’s Fine Arts Show represents 132 artists, 67 of them from Beaufort County.
The number of entries reached 369, and 56 of those works were “juried,” meaning they were selected for special recognition by juror Bob Rankin.
Rankin outlined his basic judging criteria in a document released by the arts council. An artist and educator, Rankin wrote that he was looking for originality, content — the “message” of each piece — and technical capability.
“I was extremely pleased with the overall quality of work submitted to this (year’s) competition,” Rankin wrote. “It easily rivals that of other regional shows that I have juried in the Southeast.”
Though Rankin selected a relative handful of pieces for juried exhibition, all of the show’s entries are on display to the public from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. today through Saturday at the Washington Civic Center.
“That’s what makes this juried show unique, is that all entries are displayed,” said Joey Toler, executive director of the arts council.
On Wednesday morning, Toler and his staff were preparing for an evening preview party for arts council guests, artists and members at the civic center. These preparations were part of a weeklong observance of the Fine Arts Show.
Among the participating artists whose works are included in the show is Don Miller of Blounts Creek.
“For me, it’s tradition,” Miller said. “I always send a piece, or I try to. I have for a very long time.”
Miller said the Fine Arts Show — colloquially referred to as the FAS — is “a very inclusive exhibit” that draws from East Carolina University plus local areas, and from as far away as Virginia and South Carolina.
“It draws a lot of different visions, I should say,” Miller commented. “The exhibits have always been very kind to me, and the people are always very pleasant. It’s one of the most pleasant atmospheres to carry your work into and to retrieve your work from.”
Miller’s painting, “Morning/Tapestry,” scored an honorable mention in the oils and acrylics category this year.
Norm Robins of New Bern said he has participated in the FAS for 10 straight years.
“I have won something in every one since I started,” Robins said. “I’ve always consistently won some awards and sold quite a bit over the years.”
Robins, now retired, said he started his career as a sign painter. He painted and took photos while serving in the Korean War.
“This is the best show in the entire region. There’s no comparison,” Robins said. “It’s the general feeling of the show. It’s the setup — that old building adds to it.”
And the food served at the reception “can’t be beat in any show,” he added.
“It’s the best,” Robins concluded.
Robins’ painting, “Cocktail Hour,” also picked up an honorable mention in oils and acrylics.
For more information on the Fine Arts Show, call the arts council at 252-946-2504 or visit its website at www.beaufortcountyartscouncil.org.
FAS winners
Frances M. and William R. Roberson, Jr. Best in Show AwardElizabeth DarrowWilmington, NC “Karma”
East Carolina Wildfowl Guild Award
Norlina Kelly
Washington, NC “First Watch”

Pamlico-Tar River Foundation Award
Jeffrey A. Jakub
Washington, NC
“Goose Creek Getaway”
Margaret Hodges Hackney Best in Beaufort County Award
Pat HolscherWashington, NC
“The Class Clown”
Washington Garden Club Members’ Memorial Award
The Garden World
Verena J. HerouxNewport, NC
“Sunglow”
Richard W. Tripp Best Landscape in Watercolor Award
Jeffrey A. JakubWashington, NC“Chaos &Calm”
Franke K. Rumley Textile Award
Annette BrooksGreenville, NC
“Blue Moon River”
Irene Glover Forbes Pottery Award
Andree Richmond
Bath, NC
“Rajah”
Mark &Suzette Bardill Purchase Award
(2 works)
Marion AdamsNew Bern, NC
“Brothers”
Jeannette RothGrifton, NC
“Just Chillin’
The Lane People Prize
Gayle George Pollocksville, NC
“Pink Cap”
The “Young Ones” Floral Award
Betty Christian
Washington, NC
“Just Peachy”
WATERCOLORS
First Place
Pat Holscher
Washington, NC
“The Class Clown”
Second Place
Jeffrey A. Jakub
Washington, NC
“Goose Creek Getaway”
Third Place
Linda Griffin
Winterville, NC
“White Iris”
Honorable Mentions
Gayle George
Pollocksville, NC
“Opal”
Linda Griffin
Winterville, NC
“Longwood Gardens Girl”
Verona J. Heroux
Newport, NC
“Wild Roses”
Pat Holscher
Washington, NC
“Fish Dish”
“Too Cool Character”
Carol Mann
Chocowinity, NC
“Sunlit Serenity”
Bailey Phelps
Jamesville, NC
“San Souci Ferry”
Jeannette Roth
Grifton, NC
“Just Chillin’”
GRAPHICS/OPEN/ MIXED MEDIA
First Place
Elizabeth Darrow
Wilmington, NC
“Karma”
Second Place
Georgia Mason
Emerald Isle, NC
“Doily Down and Dirty”
Third Place
Kristine Pierce
Castle Hayne, NC
“Sometimes”
Honorable Mentions
Marion Adams
New Bern, NC
“Brothers”
Diana Coidan
Raleigh, NC
“After The Storm”
Mary Dementev
Snow Hill, NC
“A Year’s Worth”
Robert Jones
Snow Hill, NC
“Mystic I”
Georgia Mason
Emerald Isle, NC
“Geometry of Life”
Tara Nelson
Winterville, NC
“Blown Away”
Johnnie Lee Scott
Richlands, NC
“Inside Cavanaugh House”
Johnnie Lee Scott
Richlands, NC
“The Dead of Night”
OILS AND ACRYLICS
First Place
Terry Rosenfelder
Wilmington, NC
“Life Imitates Art”
Second Place
Norm Robins
New Bern, NC
“Artist’s Day”
Third Place
Jan Hoppe
New Bern, NC
“Fall Line Up”
Honorable Mentions
Fred L. Brooks, Jr.
Greenville, NC
“Tube Flex”
Elizabeth Darrow
Wilmington, NC
“A Terrible Fright”
Katirie Leach
Washington, NC
“Matthew”
Don Miller.
Blount’s Creek, NC
“Morning Tapestry”
Terry Rosenfelder
Wilmington, NC
“Creekside Cottage”
Nancy Scoble
Washington, NC
“Boll Buggy Drive”
Erskine Spruill
Washington, NC
“Hope Plantation”
Karen Van Gamper
Oriental, NC
“Blazing Sunset”
Bill Walker
Chocowinity, NC
“All Dressed Up”
“Washington, NC circa 1910”
THREE-DIMENSIONAL
First Place
Andree Richmond
Bath, NC
“Rajah”
Second Place
Valerie MacEwan
Washington, NC
“MacEwan Manifesto – Can You Hear The Sound?”
Third Place
Steve Ainsworth
Washington, NC
“Ambrosia Maple Hollow Vessel”
Honorable Mentions
Steve Ainsworth
Washington, NC
“Maple Burl Natural Edge Bowl”
Milton Bland
Simpson, NC
“Blue with Ladies Vase”
Scott Bradley
Washington, NC
“Turning Point”
Fred L. Brooks, Jr.
Greenville, NC
“Visitors”
Richard Cooper
Washington, NC
“Twice In A Blue Moon”
Diane Lee
Washington, NC
“Raku – Copper-Matte”
Andree Richmond
Bath, NC
“My Bunnies”
Johnnie Lee Scott
Richlands, NC
“Children of the 1800’s”
Chip Shackelford
Asheboro, NC
“A Spin Of Color 90”
Carolyn Sleeper
Washington, NC
“Fishin’ Hole”
Dottie Anne Walker
Washington, NC
“Tobacco Time”