'A Mother's Love: She Gave All She Had' by Annamarie Buchanan
Create Appalachia, a local nonprofit operating at the intersection of art, technology, and business, created the Leaf & Root & Berry botanical art exhibit to highlight local talent and the region’s natural abundance and beauty. Dozens of Appalachian artists shared work that celebrates that abundance in this botanical art exhibit and competition.
This year, a panel of three jurors reviewed art submitted by local artists all over the region. Panelists included Judith Hammond (Founder & Director of What’s the Buzz Johnson City, a non-profit devoted to the protection of pollinators and native plants), Brian Serway (Appalachian illustrator specializing in celestial creatures, cosmic dreamscapes, and nature’s nocturnal mischief), and Suzanne Stryk (Appalachian fine artist and author, fascinated and focused on the natural world). Stryk’s newly published book, "The Middle of Somewhere"(Trinity University Press) marries her visual and her written artistry.
Jurors were instructed to select works of visual art that show the artist’s original vision, demonstrate technical skilland highlight theregion’s flora.About the work submitted, the jurors said, “Every piece in the show is a winner. In fact, any time people explore the world through art they get the best award possible, the reward of what it means to be fully human.” Over 50 artworks were submitted by hardworking artists, and Create Appalachia joins the jurors in thanking all who entered the show.
Annamarie Buchanan was awarded Best in Show for her drawing, "A Mother's Love: She Gave All She Had.” Three awards of excellence were awarded. The recipients are Karlota Contreras-Koterbay (for the sculpture, “Tutubi”), Morgan Gilbert (for “Psalm 81:16”), and Jacy Richardson (for “Among the Trees”). Honorable Mention goes to Rebecca Pippin for “Joe’s Backyard.”
Leaf & Root & Berry also features work by Nancy Bouffard, Kristen Olinger Dalpiaz, Richard Graves, Jay Huron, Bonnie Kelley, Mary O’Neill, Kristy Ottinger, Dan Rouse, Mary Ruden, Alice Salyerand Sophia Shultz.
The public is invited to come celebrate with the artists at the awards ceremony, which will take place during Leaf & Root & Berry’s closing reception on June 3. The reception begins at 6 p.m. at the Kingsport Center for Art and Technology at 225 West Center Street in Kingsport, Tennessee. (The old location of Kingsport’s City Hall.)
