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An Oxford County artist was recognized with the Best in Show Award at a recent sister city art exhibition that marked the 65th anniversary of the Woodstock Art Gallery’s annual juried show.

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Tillsonburg artist Tabitha Verbuyst’s painting, All Around Me Are Familiar Places, was selected by the show’s four judges as the very best of the works submitted for Visual Elements 65.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be selected,” Verbuyst said in a release. “It is an honour to be exhibiting alongside so many talented artists.

“I’m so incredible grateful to the jurors and to be part of this fantastic exhibit.”

As part of the show’s anniversary celebration, the gallery partnered with the art department at Lourdes University in Woodstock’s sister city of Sylvania, Ohio. Artists from both the Oxford County and Sylvania, Ohio, regions were invited to submit work for the exhibition.

All told, 38 artists from Canada and the U.S. submitted 65 pieces to be juried by Thelma Rosner, Irma Makariunaite, Tamara Monk and Ken Thompson. The winners of the awards were announced at a mid-October opening reception during the 37th annual Sylvania Falls Festival.

“Visual Elements 65 provided artists an opportunity to not only achieve international exposure but then actually collaborate with other artists to create a wonderful show,” Erin Palmer Szavuly, the chair of the Lourdes University art department, said in the release.

In addition to the Best in Show Award, there were four artists who were recognized with a Juror’s Choice:

• Lindsay Liboiron of Mount Elgin for the painting, Maurice;
• Sean Hammond of Woodstock for the painting, Politically Correct Data Corruption;
• Maeven Parsil of Maumee, Ohio, for the photo-based work, The Muses; and
• Judith Greavu of Blutton, Ohio, for the sculpture, Erie Askew.

Ana Tirolese of nearby London was the recipient of the Woodstock’s People Choice Award for her drawing, The Artist Portrays Herself: A Quirky Self Portrait.

“The layers of work to build an exhibition such as this involves community support and partnerships on many levels, and the excitement this event generated for our sister cities is a great foreshadowing of events for the future. In addition, this cross-collaboration was a great opportunity to showcase how art is a common language … and how we all have a creative self somewhere within us,” Szavuly said.

The festival opening reception was attended by Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione, Sylvania Mayor Craig Stough, university representatives, gallery staff and board members, several of the artists and jurors, and members of the sister city committees from both communities.

“The afternoon was a wonderful cross-cultural exchange of arts and ideas,” Woodstock Art Gallery curator Mary Reid said. “I am very thankful for the gallery’s partners for making this project become a reality.

“These include both sister city committees of Woodstock and Sylvania, Ohio, the Sylvania Arts Commission and the Woodstock Rotary Club.

The exhibition, which was presented in Woodstock earlier this year, is now on display at the Canticle Center gallery in Sylvania until Dec. 22. The works can also be viewed online on the Woodstock Art Gallery app.

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