A watercolor of a great blue heron took top honors at this year’s Alaska Hummingbird Festival Juried Art Show.
In the adult category, Judy Magnuson’s “Kaleidoscope” won best of show. The detailed painting features not only herons, but other fish and wildlife, all cast in gentle colors.
First place went to a sculpture by Matthew West, called “Townsend’s Journey.” Its main feature was a Townsend’s warbler, digitally carved from a block of white plastic.
The anonymous judges bestowed the honorable mention prize on Courtenay Birdsall-Clifford’s “Hoodwinked by Love,” a watercolor of two hooded mergansers.
People’s Choice is “Sir Fluffs A Lot,” a watercolor by Iwana Klappa of a just-hatched great blue heron chick.
In the juvenile category, Best of Show went to Carrie Axelson, First Place went to Bethany Clay, Ezrie Anderson won honorable mention, and People’s Choice went to Miranda Jorgens.
Alaskan artists submitted 89 entries from Cordova, Homer, Craig, Port Protection, Skagway and Ketchikan. There were 31 adult and 58 juvenile submissions for the annual show celebrating the return of migratory birds to Alaska.
The Hummingbird Festival art exhibit will be on display through the end of May at the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center.
