FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 19 October 2020 Contact Carlene Salazar — carlene.salazar@gmail.com <mailto:carlene.salazar@gmail.com> Winners Announced for Gig Harbor “Virtual” Art Show This year’s Open Juried Show takes place online due to COVID restrictions GIG HARBOR, WA —Gig Harbor’s annual Open Juried Art Show takes a different form this year, switching from an in-person event to a “virtual” format. The show is currently on display at onlinegalleryshows.com <http://onlinegalleryshows.com/> through Dec. 4. It is also available for viewing on Peninsula Art League’s website through fall, 2021. The show is presented by Peninsula Art League and attracts artists from throughout the U.S. Again this year, many of this year’s entries are from Puget Sound-area artists, but others are from artists in California, Kentucky, Oklahoma, New York and North Carolina. Seattle artist Bonnie Bradley served as juror for the show and selected seventy artworks for the exhibition. Bradley also awarded prizes to eight artists for outstanding work. Tacoma artist Mary Schumaker received the Best of Show award for her watercolor portrait titled “Caelan.” Bradley noted that the painting was “exceptionally well executed, taking artistic license to illustrate the dynamic of the piece with color and design.” Schumaker also received the Robin Neiswender Memorial Award for a mixed media painting, “Urban Panther.” First Place went to “A Clear and Present Danger,” a pastel painting of a grizzly by Debra Cepeda of Auburn, WA. Gig Harbor artist Kathy Thurston won the second place ribbon for her birch-and-cedar canoe paddle, “Raven Steels the Sun.” New York painter Regina Quinn received the third place award for an encaustic artwork, “Reservoir.” Four artists received Honorable Mention prizes: Carlene Salazar, Onalaska, WA; Dale Martin, Oilton, OK; Dean Seagren, Gig Harbor and Doreen Koch Allen, Edgewood, WA. Viewers of the show are encouraged to cast their votes for the People’s Choice award which will be presented as the show closes in December. To vote, email your choice to show coordinator Carlene Salazar at carlene.salazar@gmail.com <mailto:carlene.salazar@gmail.com>, with “PAL People’s Choice” in the subject line. The Open Show is one of several art exhibits sponsored by Peninsula Art League every year in normal years. Until corona virus restrictions are lifted, all PAL activities are either postponed or being held virtually. To view the Open Show artworks on the PAL website go to peninsulaartleague.com/shows <http://peninsulaartleague.com/shows>. ##### Photo caption: Tacoma artist Mary Schumaker was awarded Best of Show for this watercolor painting titled “Caelan.” The artwork one of 70 included in Peninsula Art League’s annual Open Show. The show can be viewed at onlinegalleryshows.com <http://onlinegalleryshows.com/> or peninsulaartleague.com/shows <http://peninsulaartleague.com/shows>.