Announcing Art from the heart 2026 awards
- Feb 5
- 3 min read
The Arts Council of Carteret County held the opening reception and awards presentation for Art From the Heart on January 29, 2026. The event was kicked off with a presentation of the February is Arts Month Proclamation by Atlantic Beach Mayor, Danny Navey. Following the presentation the awards in the categories of Photography, 3D and 2D art were announced by the Arts Council president, Melissa Kelley and presented by our former president, Beverly Glover-Wood. The judge for AFTH 2026 was Max Dowdle who traveled from Raleigh to spend time looking at and evaluating the 150 pieces of art in this years show. During the Judge's critique session held the evening prior to the reception, Max told the gathering of artists how impressed he was with the caliber of art in this show and how difficult it had been to make his final decisions.
The awards for Photography were:
Honorable Mention to David Jaworski for "Elegance"
Honorable Mention to Mary Thomason for "Bubbly Morning Walk"
Third Place to Karen Mault for " Rope Rider". The judge's comment was "This photo singles out its solitary, photogenic subject in a jaunty, pleasantly lit, candid moment. Well done."
Second Place to Richard Phillips for "Wheels Up". The judge's comment was "This photo captures its subject in a beautiful crystalline moment. Lovely light."
First Place to Neal Stetson for "When Water Meets Sky". The judge's comment was "This meditative photo compares the enduring mood of a quiet moment with dignity and technical skill."
The awards for 3D were:
Honorable Mention to Chrissy Suralik for "Black Bear"
Honorable Mention to Schae Kelly for "Pretty Pisces"
Honorable Mention to Gretchen Seibel for "Adrift"
Honorable Mention to Maureen Garner for "Nostalgia"
Honorable Mention to Lizzy Lawrence for "Resistance"
Third Place to J Ipock for "Silverware Bird". The judge's comment was "A wonderfully sleek and playful retro-futuristic take on avian subject matter. Refreshing and engaging.
Second Place to Robin Griswold-Ott for "Flow of Life". The judge's comment was "A beautiful work of ceramic. Unafraid to lean into the chaotic natural forms of negative space found in the wild. Wonderful color usage."
First Place to George Walter Cole for "F.O.R.D.". The judge's comment was "This mixed-media work is wonderfully evocative, weaving together the drama of a crumbling empire with the small-scale of a turtle's death. Expertly done."
The awards for 2D were:
Honorable Mention to George Walter Cole for "Fishing for Souls"
Honorable Mention to Leslie Runnels for "Monstera"
Honorable Mention to Joan-Marie Ritter for "Dream Time"
Honorable Mention to Jamison Ipock for "Wave #17"
Honorable Mention to Airlie Wedermeyer for "Cedars on the Horizon"
Honorable Mention to Brook Penick for "Feather Your Nest"
Honorable Mention to Sarah Grenier for "Happy Accident"
Honorable Mention to Jeanne May for "Falling to Pieces"
Third Place to Jada Kellison for " Flying on a Star". The judge's comment was "This subtle painting is quietly sophisticated in its approach. It does not shout, yet it demands to be looked at, rewarding the viewer for close inspection.
Second Place to Chrissy Suralik for "Discernment". The judge's comment was "This compositionally strong work is arresting in its attention-grabbing, confrontational nature. It seems to hold secrets and invites the viewer to unravel it.
First Place to Michael Rhinehardt for "Three". The judge's comment was "This work displays confident command of the brush, remaining playful while not leaning too much into specificity. I'm drawn to the energy as well as the layered approach."
Thank you to all the wonderful artists who participated in this year's Art From the Heart. The show is open noon to 6 pm daily through February 12th so take some time to come in and see for yourself the talent on display.
