NAPLES.- The Naples Art Association at The von Liebig Art Center on Friday announced the 23 winners who will share $10,000 in award monies as part of the 45th Founders Juried Awards Exhibition, which runs now through Jan. 7. The exhibition features 179 pieces by 142 NAA artists in various media, selected from more than 500 works submitted for jurying. Most of the works are for sale, and the majority are by NAA instructors and professional artists. The center is located at 585 Park St. in Naples. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free.

Internationally-acclaimed artist Faith Ringgold of New Jersey served as juror for the exhibition and selected the works for the exhibition by viewing the individual pieces on Nov. 4 and 5. She also selected the award winners, including the top three artists who will each receive $1,000 and participate in a three-person exhibition at The von Liebig Art Center next season. Of these top winners, Ringgold said, “These three pieces were thoroughly memorable. The more I looked at them, the more I wanted to look at them. They were not to be denied.”

Grace Lake Founders Award = Pat Kumicich of Naples, War Cries. Elsie Dorey Upham Founders Award = Doris Ramos of Naples, Remembrance. George Rogers Founders Award = Bettina Edwards of Bonita Springs, Got an Idea. Award of Excellence in Digital Art = Pam Broderson of Sanibel, Evening Light. Award of Excellence in Drawing = Gisela Miller of Naples, Preponderance. Award of Excellence in Fiber Art = Natalie Guess of Naples, Tuscany. Award of Excellence in Mixed Media = Kathleen Bradford of Bonita Springs, Infinitum. Award of Excellence in Painting = Barbara Fink of Naples, Tomboy. Award of Excellence in Pastel = William Ward Moseley of Naples, Gateway. Award of Excellence in Photography = Jim Chamberlain of Naples, Val D’Orcia. Award of Excellence in Printmaking = Mollie Doctrow of Sebring, Fakahatchee Swamp. Award of Excellence in Sculpture = Don Gilmore of Naples, Quixotic Times. Award of Excellence in Watercolor Painting = Mary Crawford Reining of Marco Island, Narragansett Rocks #20. Honorable Mention in Digital Art = Gunther Weber of Naples, Corkscrew Sanctuary. Honorable Mention in Drawing = Helen Brown Conner of Naples, Pears in Repose. Honorable Mention in Fiber Art = Che-Ke Moore of Naples, A Day Outside. Honorable Mention in Mixed Media = Henri Meillier of Naples, Local Hazard. Honorable Mention in Painting = Richard Demko of Naples, Venice. Honorable Mention in Pastel = Karen Stone of Naples, A Little Place in the Country. Honorable Mention in Photography = Maureen Aughton of Naples, Fanfare. Honorable Mention in Printmaking = Joyce Colvario of Naples, Ancestors. Honorable Mention in Sculpture = Richard Rosen of Naples, Gotham IX. Honorable Mention in Watercolor Painting = Bernie Roer of Naples, Park Shore Sunset.

The Naples Art Association was founded in 1954 by approximately 30 artists, including Grace Lake, Elsie Dorey Upham and George Rogers. The Founders exhibition honors these visionaries.

The 45th Founders Juried Awards Exhibition is sponsored by The Second Chance Foundation, Delores and John Sorey, Elizabeth and Alan Harris, and The Leonard C. and Mildred F. Ferguson Foundation, with additional support from the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs. Awards were generously sponsored by Physicians Regional Medical Center, Publix Super Market Charities, n media group, the NAA Members’ Gallery, the Southwest Florida Pastel Society, TCA Graphics, Koenig Art Emporium, and Tocco Custom Framing and Restoration.