Well, I didn’t expect THAT to happen.
Let me start at the beginning.
The Lake Superior Art Association (LSAA) usually holds their Annual Members’ Show in the summer. We all know this around here. This year, the venue was being renovated during the summer, so the show was postponed until January.
In all the confusion, I thought I had missed it. I checked the LSAA site, and saw that I’d missed the pre-registration deadline. So I decided not to be a rule breaker, and to not enter.
The LSAA President, and my friend, Michele Tuccini, encouraged me to enter anyway. They were being extra flexible because of the construction delays. So I changed my mind, and entered.
We could enter two pieces, but only one would be chosen. So the jurors chose one of my personal favorites, “The View”.
The reception and awards ceremony were last night, January 19th. My wife and I showed up right on time and began to mingle.
I said hello to one of my friends, Nheena. She’s the director of the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum, and a well loved member of the community.
Nheena said “Congratulations!”
I said “For what?”
“Didn’t you do good with your painting?”
“Yeah… I got in. Thanks!”
Nheena is always super friendly. I walked away thinking she was just being her usual peppy, sweet self.
So we mingled and chatted until award time.
They started announcing the awards. Honorable Mention #1 was a great piece, not mine. Honorable Mention #2, another great piece, not mine.
2nd Place went to a large piece by Bernard Park. Great painting!
1st Place went to local freaking legend Kathleen Conover. She’s great! Who can beat her?
So I didn’t win.
But wait, there’s more… I forgot about Best in Show.
Michele made the announcement, in slow motion, while I looked around the room trying to guess which piece won.
“Best in Show goes to the painting entitled ‘The View’…” (Hey, that’s my title!) “…by John French”
What? The words processed slowly through my little brain. Once they did, I was shocked! I was honored! I was in disbelief! My wife was too. People congratulated me, and talked about the painting. I thanked them, and answered their questions, beaming the whole time.
Back to Nheena. I found out she was one of the jurors. When she congratulated me, she thought I knew I’d won. She almost spilled the beans! She quickly figured out that the winners hadn’t been disclosed yet, so she played dumb.
I am honored, and thankful, for this wonderful recognition. There was some absolutely fantastic work in this show. I’ve juried this same show before, and I know how hard it can be to chose award winners. I can still hardly believe that I beat out all that wonderful work.
