---------P R E S S   R E L E A S E --------
For immediate distribution:
From the Santa Rosa Art Association, Inc.
Contact person:  Marianne Richardson, 850-995-7056

                At  the Santa Rosa Art Association’s annual art show for scholarships, ArtFest,  held February 9th and 10th at the Santa Rosa County Auditorium in Milton, FL, sixteen ribbons were awarded in four categories.   Judges for the event were Dona Stenstrom, Gulf Breeze, FL,  Kathleen Tracey, Pace, FL, and Curt Derby, Milton, FL.   All three judges have years of experience in teaching and in commercial art.

                In the category of Painting, which included oil, acrylic and watercolor, First place was given to Janie Seals of Pace FL.  Second place went to  Dr. M. Hakima of Flomaton, AL.  Third place was awarded to Linda Koehler of Pace Fl and Honorable Mention was given to Scott Stahler of Pensacola, FL.

                In the category of drawing, mixed media, pastels, and photography, First place was given to Pam Johnson of Navarre Beach Fl.  Second place was given to Mark Dennison of Pensacola, FL.  Joanne and Bruce Byrd of Milton took third while honorable mention was awarded to Priscilla Bonjour of Niceville, FL.

                Jewelry was the third category and “The Two Michelles” of Gulf Breeze FL, Michele Peak and Michelle McIlwain, took First place.  Neomi Caban of Cantonment FL took Second and Marlene East of Panama City Beach FL was awarded third.    Aimee Monahan of Defuniak Springs FL was awarded Honorable Mention.

                The last category included woodwork and gourds and First Place was awarded to Ralph Thomas of Gulf Breeze Fl.  Lonnie Rich of Navarre Fl took second and Robert McBroom of Milton FL was awarded third.  Jan Dempsey of Milton FL was given an honorable mention award.

                Jim Berry of Milton FL won Best of Show.  A “People’s Choice Award” was presented to Lonnie Rich at the close of the show on Sunday.

                ArtFest was the seventh annual art show sponsored by the Santa Rosa Art Association, Inc.  The Association, founded more than forty years ago by county teachers and artists, awards scholarships to Santa Rosa High School seniors wishing the pursue the study of art on the college level.  Applications for these scholarships are sent to the Art Teachers in all the county high schools in February and are awarded in April for the following year.  Students interested in applying may contact their Art teachers.  In the past six years, the Association has awarded over $9000 in scholarships.

                Membership in the Association is open to anyone interested in the visual arts, not just artists.