Emberlight art show winners announced

By ZACHARY MARANO

[email protected]

Ironwood — As part of its mission to celebrate performing and visual arts and highlight local and international talent, Emberlight Festival featured more than 30 art shows, a film festival and other events over the last two months. The top submissions for these shows were highlighted at an award show in the Historic Ironwood Theatre on Saturday, the last night of the festival.

The Range Art Association’s 67th annual art show was produced under the Emberlight Festival’s banner, so the winners were announced at the award show on Saturday evening. The art show was held at the Ironwood Memorial Building included a regular art show, a “master’s” section featuring copies of work by famous artists and a student’s section for artists who are 18 years old and below.

The regular art show winners were: best in show – Wally Erickson, “Canoe Hitch with Buck;” technical award – Doug Kikkebusch, “The Balance of the Elements;” awards of excellence – Susan Lansdown, “Barnyard Shadows,” and Norman Korpi, “Series 278.”

The masters show winners were: best in show – Connie Greeny, “Smoked Squab;” technical award – Arlene Sarkela, “The Geographer;” awards of excellence – Paul Lackman, “Portrait of Gauguin,” and Terry Hudson, “Peasant Digging.”

The students awards were: best in show – Ariana Lund, “Broken Pot;” Technical Award – Marlo Brand, “Mouse Family;” awards of excellence – Bella Gaiser, “Another Part of Me,” and Elin Brand, “Tex.”

“I would say the arts are alive and well and on exhibit in our community. I am so proud of what we do here,” Emberlight Festival Creative Director Cindy Franck said of the Range Art Association art show winners.

The Emberlight International Film Festival entered its second season this year. Film Festival Director Colton Pometta said that 771 films from 78 countries were submitted to this year’s festival.

“The Emberlight Internation Film Festival stands out amongst the many film fests around the globe as it is distinctively part of a larger arts festival,” Pometta said. “In addition to supporting independent filmmakers, we’re on a mission to give back to the community that makes our programming possible. Communities thrive and experience economic spurs when they welcome the film industry, often bringing new opportunities, jobs and redevelopment.”

Of the 43 films that were screened during the film festival at Theatre North in August, “Hunger,” directed by Carlos Melendez, of Mexico, proved to be a favorite among both audiences and the panel of judges.

“Hunger” won the following awards: best director, the audience choice award (including a $200 cash prize) and the Emberlight Choice Award (including a $500 cash prize and a guarantee of 150+ volunteer hours if you decided to return to Ironwood and make a film.)

Melendez and the producer of “Hunger,” Mar Mercado, traveled to Ironwood to accept the awards in person on Saturday night.

“When we decided to come to Emberlight … there was a feeling of something really special going on here, but we couldn’t really articulate what it was. And now that we’re here, we can, and its people and its community. And just the talent and the way that you embrace the arts and create such a passionate project that really crosses boundaries – we are grateful for that,” Melendez said.

Other film festival awards included: best sound design – “Heart of Gold;” best editing – “Day X;” best costume and makeup design – “Moira;” best dance film – “Reverie;” best experimental short – “If I Stop, I May Explode;” best cinematic writing – “Asylum;” best female filmmaker – Victoria Thomas for “A Birthday Party;” best foreign film – “Day X;” best microfilm – “Bingo Bitch;” and best animation – “Solitare.”

Art in the Park was held in Miners Memorial Heritage Park in Ironwood. The award for best use of the Emberlight theme – Heritage, Horizons and Harmony – went to Anne Atwood for “Reflections.” The Emberlight People’s Choice Award went to “See the Magic in Nature” and grand prize winner was Terry Hudson for “Untitled.”