More than 400 artists, family members and friends attended the US Bank Celebration of the Arts award ceremony and reception Feb. 24 at WKU’s Kentucky Museum kicking off the largest art exhibition in the region.

More than 180 artists displayed 345 works of art in categories of Painting, Watercolor, Ceramics and Glass, Sculpture, Fiber Arts, Works on Paper, and Photography.

WKU Libraries Interim Dean Connie Foster welcomed the group and US Bank Senior Portfolio Manager Greg Wassom shared a few words on behalf of US Bank.

Kentucky Museum Director Timothy Mullin announced the following winners in each of the categories with Foster and Wassom assisting in award distribution:

•     Best of Show – Steve Clay
•     Purchase Award – Jacqui Lubbers
•     The World’s Greatest Studio Tour Merit Award – Yvonne Petkus
•     Honorable Mention Amateur Ceramic & Glass – Darlene Redmon
•     1st Professional Ceramics & Glass- Meghan Muir
•     2nd Professional Ceramics & Glass – Bob Brigl
•     3rd Professional Ceramics & Glass – Rachael Baumgardner
•     1st Amateur Fiber Art – Jeannine Thames
•     2nd Amateur Fiber Art – Jean Combs-Henry
•     3rd Amateur Fiber Art – Mina Doerner
•     1st Professional Fiber Art – Kris Smith
•     2nd Professional Fiber Art – Colleen Hathaway
•     3rd Professional Fiber Art – Sarah Sperry
•     1st Amateur Painting – Matt Fleishchman
•     2nd Amateur Painting – John Mark Fones
•     3rd Amateur Painting – Pamm Douglas
•     1st Professional Painting – Ivan Schieferdecker
•     2nd Professional Painting – Leigh Rountree
•     3rd Professional Painting – Matt Simone
•     1st Amateur Photography – Donn Miertl
•     2nd Amateur Photography – Erica F. Roberts
•     3rd Amateur Photography – Margaret Crowder
•     1st Professional Photography- Emily Lobb Hendricksen
•     2nd Professional Photography – Michael Ingram
•     3rd Professional Photography – Lauren Bader
•     1st Amateur Watercolor – Pam Jewell
•     2nd Amateur Watercolor – Sonja Byrd
•     3rd Amateur Watercolor – Sharon Wassom
•     1st Professional Watercolor – Rebecca Akers-Kuczek
•     2nd Professional Watercolor – Joe Glaser
•     3rd Professional Watercolor – Lauren Simmons
•     1st Amateur Sculpture – Teresa Lynn Haley
•     2nd Amateur Sculpture – Robert Shymkus
•     3rd Amateur Sculpture – Darren Mason
•     1st Professional Sculpture – Brent Oglesbee
•     2nd Professional Sculpture – Kat Scanga
•     3rd Professional Sculpture – Chris Radus
•     1st Amateur Works on Paper – Nadine Wilkerson
•     2nd Amateur Works on Paper – Scott Durham
•     3rd Amateur Works on Paper – David Cole
•     1st Professional Works on Paper – Laurin D. Notheisen
•     2nd Professional Works on Paper – Gayle Novick
•     3rd Professional Works on Paper – Darlene Postula

The exhibition will be on display at the Kentucky Museum on WKU’s campus until March 31. The Kentucky Museum, located at 1444 Kentucky St., is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, but will be closed March 3-10 during WKU’s Spring Break. For information, visit www.wku.edu/museum.