If you came to the Festival the last weekend in June and saw all the fine artists there you can imagine the difficulty our jurors had selecting the award winners. Ben Withers and Nancy Atcher reviewed booths all day on Saturday. I delivered the awards first thing Sunday morning, then posted the results at the Information Booths, in Piper Dining Hall, and in Francisco's Gallery.

First Place went to Rhanna Nyman of Asheville, NC. This was Rhanna's first year to exhibit at Francisco's Farm and the judges loved her brilliant fabric creations. Ben Withers said, "Her work does what great art should do - attract your attention and then hold it."

We profiled Rhanna in a newsletter in March.You can read it here to enjoy more images of her work and learn what inspires this remarkable artist.

Donna Doane, a fine jewelry designer from Louisville, won Second Place. The judges were impressed with both her artistry and her booth - a beautiful gallery that compliments her stunning designs.
 





Donna incorporates lost wax casting, fusion, and stone-cutting in the creation of sterling silver jewelry with 10K and 24K gold accents.



Third Place Award went to Allen Quandee of Jasper, GA. Quandee turns wood on a lathe to create various shapes and forms, but he doesn't stop there.

Currently he's focusing on enhancing the pieces with a technique called piercing. The pieces are turned to a wall thickness usually less than an eighth of an inch. A dental drill and dental burrs are used to create negative space, resulting in a lacy effect.


Three Honorable Mention Awards were presented, and we happen to have profiled all three of these artists in our newsletters over the past few years so you can follow the links below and learn more about them.

Dan Neil Barnes of Lexington takes stained glass to a new level, incorporating wood and metal to create sculptures and wall pieces that grace homes and corporate offices. Read our Artist Profile on Dan.