Visitors to this year’s 33rd Annual Minnetrista Juried Art Show had the opportunity to vote for their favorite artworks in the exhibit. Close to 300 votes were cast from art lovers of all ages and walks of life. Many of them included kind, thoughtful, and even funny notes about their choices.

Enjoy a selection of those notes and celebrate our first ever People’s Choice Award Winner and all of the wonderful Indiana artists who made the 33rd Annual Juried Art Show such a success!

“The People’s Choice” - Winner
33rd Annual Minnetrista Juried Art Show, 2023.

Voter comments on The Bunny Masquerade:

• “Beautiful, elegant. The lighting and detail keeps pulling right back to it. She looks as though she is going to step right into the room with us.”

• “The artist talent is shocking. My brain couldn’t get over how realistic the subject’s facial features are! Well done!”

• “It does not shy away from color and it offers a very modern feel to an ancient practice.”

When asked why they chose this piece, even our youngest visitors had comments to add!:

• “Because it looks pretty. There’s flowers and [a] bunny!”

• “I like bunnies & I like pink”

“The People’s Choice” – Runner Up

Christel Gutelius, *From the Pond’s Edge*

Voter comments on From the Pond’s Edge

· “Eye-catching contrast in dark green vs. light blue attracted me to the work. Accurate & beautiful portrayal of peaceful glimpse of nature.”

· “Leading lines, lighting, and color make me want to travel on this water and see what lies beyond the bend. The painter must be interesting.”

· “The depth and color combination on the piece is brilliant. Also glitter.”

· “Looked like viewing on a TV screen.”

· And from one young visitor: “I like frogs and it’s a swamp!”

Just about all of the 73 works of art in this year’s Juried Art Show received People’s Choice votes! What follows is a random selection of additional voter comments that made the writer of this blog smile.

About Carol Sexton’s Blue-Green Cabbage: “It pulled me in from across the room. Its colors are rich but capture the delicate powdery dust of the top layer that conveys, if you were to touch it, it would come right off. From looking at it, I can feel the thickness of the leaves. I would’ve been proud to grow that cabbage!”

About Denise Engel’s Devoted: “This doggo is a good boy – we can see it through the painting!”

About Peggy Breidenbach’s Treasure Chest: “This is our first outing since my wife had a lumpectomy right where the hole is in “her” chest. It reminded me to be thankful and that what’s inside is more beautiful than the skin outside.”