Highland County artists honored at 32nd annual Senior Citizens Art Show

The artwork of local seniors was recently showcased at the Area Agency on Aging District 7’s (AAA7) 32nd Annual Senior Citizens Art Show and Essay/Poetry Contest that was held at the Esther Allen Greer Museum, located on the campus of the University of Rio Grande in Rio Grande, Ohio.

This year, a total of 159 art pieces were entered in the Contest with 61 essays/poems. Special awards were presented: “Victor Potts Best of Show Award” in the Amateur Category and the “People’s Choice Award” both went to Gretchen Huffman of Highland County for her oil piece entitled, “Molly at 14;” “Victor Potts Best of Show Award” in the Professional Category went to Pat Thompson of Adams County for her pastel piece entitled “Moving in for the Tackle;” the “Mary Peck Friend of Animals Award” went to Jacki Byers of Ross County for her photography piece entitled “The Snow Bandit;” Best Overall Essay went to Jim Downard of Jackson County for “On the Seas of Regret: A Lyrical Essay;” and Best Overall Poem went to Charles Murray of Gallia County for “John Hunt Morgan.”

Ohio residents age 55 or older were eligible to participate in the Art Show and Essay/Poetry Contest. Winners announced from Highland County included:

• Victor Potts Best of Show Award (Amateur) – “Molly at 14” by Gretchen Huffman”
• People’s Choice Award – “Molly at 14” by Gretchen Huffman
• Third Place Acrylic/Animals and Birds – “My Baby” by Vicki Triplett
• First Place Acrylic/Portraits – “Good Friends” by Joyce Fannin
• Second Place Acrylic/Portraits – “Annabelle Lee” by Joyce Fannin
• First Place Counted Cross Stitch/Other – “Map of Our Marriage” by Janet Widman
• First Place Oil/Portraits – “Molly at 14” by Gretchen Huffman
• Second Place Pastels/Portraits – “The Tears of a Clown” by Mary Owenna Reed
• Third Place Pastels/Portraits – “Our Father Who Art in Heaven” by Mary Owenna Reed
• First Place Pastels/Still Life – “Enter Yesterday” by Mary Owenna Reed
• First Place Pencil/Animals and Birds – “Hoot-ter” by Becky Howard
• Fifth Place Photography/Animals and Birds – “Repose Times 3” by Janet Widman
• Sixth Place Photography/Animals and Birds – “Curious Raccoon” by Cheryl Collier
• Fourth Place Photography/Floral – “Amaryllis” by Cheryl Collier
• Fifth Place Photography/Landscape – “Morning Fog” by Cheryl Collier
• First Place Watercolor/Floral – “Pink and White Water Lilly” by Barbara Hodge
• Third Place Watercolor/Floral – “Red Peony” by Barbara Hodge
• Second Place Other/Framed Art (Collage) – “Balloon God” by Janet Widman
• First Place Essay/Highland County – “Home Sweet Home” by Gretchen Huffman
• First Place Poem/Highland County – “Au Revoir” by Darrell R. Larkin
• Second Place Poem/Highland County – “Through Dark of Night or Any Plight” by Gretchen Huffman

To learn more about next year’s Art Show, which is typically held in May/June each year, please call 1-800-582-7277.

Your local Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. provides services on a non-discriminatory basis. These services are available to help older adults and those with disabilities live safely and independently in their own homes through services paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, other federal and state resources, as well as private pay. The AAA7’s Resource Center is also available to anyone in the community looking for information or assistance with long-term care options. Available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., the Resource Center is a valuable contact for learning more about options and what programs and services are available for assistance.

Those interested in learning more can call toll-free at 1-800-582-7277 (TTY: 711). Here, individuals can speak directly with a nurse or social worker who will assist them with information surrounding the programs and services that are available to best serve their needs. The Agency also offers an in-home assessment at no cost for those who are interested in learning more. Information is also available on www.aaa7.org, or the Agency can be contacted through e-mail at info@aaa7.org. The Agency also has a Facebook page located at www.facebook.com/AreaAgencyOnAgingDistrict7.