Irving Art Association hosts national Unconditional Love Juried Pet Show

Written by Phil Cerroni

The opening awards reception for the Unconditional Love Juried Pet Show on Sep. 9 was well attended by 30 or so artists, family and friends at the Jaycee Park Center for the Arts in Irving. This was the second year the pet show was opened nationally for entry and the exhibit was truly outstanding.

The Juror this year was James R. Spurlock, an outstanding portrait artist, sculptor, muralist and teacher from Granbury. James, a self taught artist, spoke of the fundamentals of drawing, color theory, composition and the overall message that the art work should convey. This show will be on exhibit through Sep. 28. J

This is the second year IAA has participated in the Unconditional Love Art Auction in conjunction with the juried show asking artists if they wish to donate a piece of pet artwork to help raise funds for the Irving Animal Care Campus Animal Assistance Fund, to defray medical costs and help animals to be adopted/rescued. This year we had over $4,260 worth of artwork donated.

Fred Sanderson with the Irving Animal Care Campus was at the Awards reception to present the IACC Award of excellence, provided by IACC. Fred also discussed the Irving Animal Care Campus and partnership with DFW Humane Society and the extraordinary work they are doing there since they opened this new facility over two years ago. They have had an unbelievable amount of visitors come through their doors (3,000+) a month and are finding homes for pets throughout the country. He stated he is especially pleased with this new found alliance with IAA and artists and the outstanding artwork donated. This year’s donations are on exhibit right now at Jaycee Park CFA Galleries and will be moved to IACC at the shows end.

2012 Irving Art Association’s Unconditional Love Juried Pet Show winners are as follows:

Best of Show Barbara Mason, TX Purr-fect Perch

IAA President’s Award Helen Bailey, TX Stalking His First Fish

Gamblin Award Ann Dysinger, OH What Do You Mean YOUR CHAIR?

IACC Award Linda Walke, MN Doggone

OIL / ACRYLIC ON CANVAS

First Place Linda Lucas Hardy, TX Surreptitious Gaze
Second Place Sabine Higgins, TX Are We There Yet?
Third Place Josephine Hodos, OH A Bit Shy
Honorable Mention Debbie Mattison, TX Happiness

WATER & MIXED MEDIA

First Place Sharon Giles, TX Guard Duty
Second Place Stephanie Grimes, SC Ready to Go
Third Place Jane Strong, TX   Best Friends
Honorable Mention Jude Delaney, OK Camo Doxies

DRAWING

First Place Geri Dunn, TX   Morning Shadows (On Spook)
Second Place Stephen Bolen, TX Bandito
Third Place Beth Lowell, NJ   Contented
Honorable Mention Tracy Teeter, KS   Leg Warmer

PHOTOGRAPHY/SCULPTURE

First Place Betsy Perkins, TX Dawn
Second Place Jeffrey Driver, TX Majestic
Third Place Carol Lyon, TX   Self Image
Honorable Mention Ellen Whitten, TX Maximus

The Jaycee Park Center for the Arts has a new address, 1975 Puritan Drive, now accessible from the south 183 service road by turning on Bradford and on Puritan at the next corner. Gallery hours are Monday, Wednesday and Sunday 1-4pm and Tuesday and Thursday 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Visit Irving Art Association’s website for more information on other events, shows, workshops, and classes.

Source: Irving Art Association