125 Mile Exhibition

Denton hosts tenth annual art show

Matt Olson, Copy Editor

The 125 Mile Exhibition is back for its tenth year in Denton. The exhibition’s purpose is to allow artists living within 125 miles of Denton to compete in a juried art show. The showing is held in the Gough Gallery of the Patterson-Appleton Center for the Visual Arts. This year’s exhibition began Jan. 15 and will continue until Sunday, Feb. 21.

Entries for the showing are original 2D and 3D artworks, with media ranging from “oil, water-media (on board and paper), pastel, mixed media, collage, drawing, hand-pulled graphics, prints, photography, ceramics, textiles, fiber, encaustic, jewelry and sculpture,” according to the exhibition prospectus and entry form. Artists are allowed up to three entries.

Elaborating on this year’s entries, gallery chair Angelia Ford said in an email: “For the 10th Annual VAST 125 Mile Exhibition, there were 156 entries from 59 different artists. Of these, 30 were chosen for the exhibition, and 10 of those won a prize.”

She added: “This year’s juror, Dr. John Marcucci, chose the awards based on innovation of the used material and originality as well as references to contemporary art.”

Ford continued: “Dr. John Marcucci is the Director and President of Haley Henman Gallery in Dallas. He is also an advisory board member for the Creative Arts Center in Dallas.”

Speaking on her position, Ford stated: “I have been a member of VAST for the past four years, and [I was] the VAST Artist of the Year 2012-2013.”

Ford shared: “The Best of Show – the Corky Stuckenbruck Memorial Award – was awarded to Karen Jacobi for her oil painting on fabric: ‘The Lion.’” Stuckenbruck was a former professor in the TWU Visual Arts department, and she passed away last year. The award was named in her honor.

Jacobi was awarded $1,000 for her entry; almost $4,000 were given out in prizes for the various awarded entries.

Deciding which entry she most enjoyed, Ford shared: “If I had to choose one, it would be an artist book by TWU alumna Tammi Paul, titled ‘Senescent.’ The book is amazing – it is well made, and the photographs are exquisite.”

She concluded: “It has been exciting to be in charge of this exhibition and work with the artists, juror and VAST members to create an outstanding exhibit that showcases the artistic talent that we have in North Texas.”

The Gough Gallery in the Patterson-Appleton Center for the Visual Arts is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesdays to Fridays and from 1-5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.